Build Your Network Before You Need It

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [02:21] Aida Rodriguez’s work in legal recruiting, executive search, and professional development for attorneys.
• [04:32] Her Cuban-American background and growing up in Miami.
• [06:30] Why lawyers need more than legal knowledge to build successful careers.
• [07:37] The importance of emotional intelligence and executive presence in the legal profession.
• [09:14] Why reputation and how you treat people can matter as much as your book of business.
• [10:33] Why attorneys should start building relationships and developing business early in their careers.
• [13:01] How AI and other emerging technologies are changing the skills legal professionals need.
• [14:53] Why Aida has remained involved with the HNBA for nearly two decades and her passion for building the pipeline of Latino lawyers.
• [16:59] How uncomfortable periods in life can become opportunities for tremendous growth.
• [18:06] Aida’s message to the Latino legal community: “We belong.” Pasted text

In this episode…

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with Aida Rodriguez, founder of Ascension Global Staffing & Executive Search and Ascension Legal Studies Institute.

Aida shares lessons from her career in legal recruiting and explains why emotional intelligence, executive presence, relationship building, and business development are essential skills for attorneys. She also discusses the changing legal industry, the growing importance of AI, her longtime involvement with the HNBA, and why creating opportunities for the next generation of Latino legal professionals matters to her. Pasted text

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Gomez Trial Attorneys: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
• John Gomez on LinkedIn 
• David Arreguin on LinkedIn
• Aida C. Rodriguez on LinkedIn 
• Ascension 

Quotable moments

• “It’s not always about the money. It’s first, do I want to work with you?”
• “Start early. Start building those relationships early.”
• “You gotta keep up with it.”
• “Sometimes out of being uncomfortable, you really get to grow.”
• “Everything is temporary.”
• “We belong.”

Action steps

1. Develop more than legal skills. Emotional intelligence, communication, and executive presence can have a major impact on your career.
2. Start building relationships early. Don’t wait until you need clients or referrals to develop your professional network.
3. Learn business development. Understanding how to generate business can make you significantly more valuable as your career progresses.
4. Protect your reputation. Being talented isn’t enough; how you treat colleagues and clients matters.
5. Stay current with technology. Learn how tools like AI can complement your existing legal skills.
6. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Some of the biggest periods of professional growth can begin when things feel uncertain.
7. Give back. Use your experience and network to create opportunities for the next generation.

Sponsor for this episode…