Many lawyers dismiss conferences as a drain on time and money. And frankly, they’re right—unless you know how to make the most of them. With the right approach, conferences can transform from missed opportunities into a cornerstone of your business development strategy.

In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman shares actionable insights on how to unlock the full potential of industry conferences. She provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap for maximizing every phase of the event, ensuring your efforts yield measurable results. Discover how to turn conference attendance into a powerful tool for rainmaking and client attraction.

WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE ABOUT GETTING THE MOST ROI FROM CONFERENCES

2:29 - Two primary reasons why conferences are worth attending from a business development perspective

5:46 - Some of the potential downsides to attending industry conferences and why it’s worth looking at this issue

7:53 - Intentional questions to ask yourself before going to your next conference so you can wring every bit of value possible out of attending

13:32 - How to create a timeline and take action before the conference (and how most approach this incorrectly)

18:28 - The importance of setting aside time to recharge (especially if you’re an introvert)

20:38 - Timeline creation and actions to consider taking during your next conference (including how to exit uncomfortable conversations gracefully)

23:03 - How to handle the aftermath of a conference and why people lose a tremendous amount of opportunity at this stage

26:14 - A consideration once you determine a conference is a good fit for you and a brief word about raising your profile at conferences

MENTIONED IN HOW TO GET THE MOST ROI FROM YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE

3 Essential Pillars of Business Development For Lawyers

Managing Partner Forum

John Remsen | Essential Characteristics of Effective Law Firm Leaders

Legal Marketing Association

Get Connected with The Coaching Team at [email protected]

The Lawyer’s Edge

SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…

Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession. 

Early Bird Registration is now underway for our 2025 Ignite cohorts. If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.