Like other businesses, relationships are at the core of the legal profession. Clients expect attorneys to be able to draft documents, write briefs, argue motions and manage legal transactions. While these skills are necessary, today’s legal profession also requires attorneys (especially more junior attorneys) to forge lasting relationships with clients. In other words, clients are people too and it’s important to build and sustain both professional and personal relationships with them even when you are not representing them in an active litigation or transaction.

Ideally, attorneys would find time to meet face-to-face with clients regularly but work, family and scheduling conflicts often prevent repeated face-to-face interaction. As such, attorneys should consider turning to technology to fill some of the gap. Used strategically, technology can amplify your business development potential and show your clients that you are thinking about them and understand their business needs. A word to the wise though: be strategic but don’t be creepy! Figure out if a client wants to communicate—or perhaps wants to be left alone—and how the client wants to communicate.