Silvia L. Coulter, Managing Partner at CoulterConsultingGroup in Manchester, MA (www.coulterconsulting.net), recently moderated a NY City Women's Bar GC panel. Here are some highlights on what the women GCs like/general comments:

Spa invites -- for those companies that can't accepts gifts, they suggested a CLE component to make it acceptable

Breakfast or lunch networking programs (unanimous that they prefer over dinner/after work) They all said they LOVED good programs where they were able to network with other women decision-makers

Favorite topics include: women's health issues; cutting edge issues (they said know the company to know what's cutting edge to them or ASK!); work/life balance issues

Events that allow you to spend 4+ hours with them -- enough time to build relationships. Examples included: afternoon event; golf; family outing event; dinner and theatre

Some exceptions to after work events and things they thought were terrific:

• Private reception at a shoe salon where guests were invited to also shop at a discount
  
• Wine tasting
  
• Chocolate tasting
  
• Art gallery private viewing and reception
  
• Cooking class at a restaurant -- lots of time to develop relationships
  

Other key points of session as an FYI:

• Make calls as soon as you hear about a legal update -- don't wait to do an e-alert -- too late and your competition might beat you to the punch
  
• Unanimous that Web sites are playing a greater role in confirming referral recommendations. Provide lots of examples of client work on your bio page
  
• Send information relevant to their company's business and industry -- they all receive about 30-40 newsletters/client updates, etc. a month!
  
• Build advocacy into all client relationships -- recommendations by colleagues go a long way
  
• Don't bring a token woman to a presentation unless she has specific applicable expertise and does the talking
  
• No time for a true cold call but warm calls are fine
  
• Anyone who comes to a presentation must play a role
  
• Women need to be more assertive and brag about their successes -- this was unanimous -- they felt men do a better job of this! You will not appear too aggressive -- if you don't ask you don't get!

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Silvia L. Coulter is also the author of The Woman Lawyer’s Rainmaking Game, published by and available online at Thomson/LegalWorks or at Amazon.com

From an article in the PR Newswire, "Harry Anderson, who has amazed and amused audiences for more than twenty years on television and in comedy and magic clubs, will be the featured speaker on Monday, May 22nd at the luncheon for the New Orleans, New Law: Community Revival with Technology seminar. The 2 day event is being held at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans on May 22nd and 23rd, 2006 to help jump start the areas’ legal community by providing attorneys with the technology tools and resources they can access and utilize to help them revitalize their practices."

Here is the full link to that article: Night Court

An article at Law.com pointed out that more men are now taking CMO positions.

Here is a quote from that article "Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen CMO Julie Amos, who is also president of the local chapter of the Legal Marketing Association, said that as the profession provides more opportunities for growth, a more structured role and the chance to contribute to the firm, both men and women will want to join the industry.

She did point out, however, that the last few CMOs that have been hired in Philadelphia other than herself were all men.
The article also detailed the salary structure for CMO's at large law firms.

Duane Morris CMO Edward M. Schechter said "major law firms in this area are paying, at a minimum, $200,000 per year for their CMOs. Some in the industry have said it's over $300,000."

Want to work in the legal industry but pass up law school? Head straight for that Masters in Marketing.