By: Teresa Pernini

If I had a dollar for every time I looked up an attorney on LinkedIn and thought, “This profile doesn’t do them justice,” I’d probably be retired by now.

Over the years, I’ve reviewed thousands of attorney profiles. Some belonged to lawyers with exceptional credentials, thriving practices, strong client relationships, impressive business development skills, and reputations that had been built over decades. 

Yet if I had only reviewed their LinkedIn profiles, I never would have known about it. That’s not because they weren’t accomplished. 

It’s because they were busy practicing law. 

Most attorneys spend their time serving clients, preparing hearings, negotiating deals, mentoring younger lawyers, managing teams, and trying to maintainsome semblance of work-life balance. They’re not spending their evenings thinking about personal branding, search algorithms, recruiting visibility, or how a stranger might perceive them online. 

The problem is that everyone else is. 

Today, LinkedIn is often the first place a recruiter, managing partner, general counsel, referral source, conference organizer, journalist, or potential client goes when they want to learn more about you. 

Whether you’re actively exploring opportunities or perfectly happy where you are, your LinkedIn profile has become part of your professional reputation. 

And the good news is that most attorneys can dramatically improve it with a few thoughtful changes. 

A Lesson I Learned Years Ago 

Several years ago, I was recruiting for a position that would have been a fantastic fit for an attorney I knew personally. 

This lawyer had everything the client wanted: excellent credentials, strong experience, a great reputation, valuable industry knowledge, and significant client-facing experience. 

The challenge? 

If I hadn’t known that attorney personally, I never would have found them. 

Their LinkedIn profile barely reflected their actual practice. Their industry experience wasn’t there. Their strengths weren’t there. Their accomplishments weren’t there. 

That experience reinforced something I’ve seen repeatedly throughout my career: many attorneys are significantly underselling themselves online. 

Not intentionally. They simply haven’t taken the time to tell their story. 

Your Headline Matters More Than You Think 

One of the most common mistakes I see is attorneys using only their job titles. 

Examples include “Associate at XYZ Law Firm,” “Partner at ABC LLP,” or “Counsel at Smith & Jones.” While technically accurate, those headlines don’t tell me much. 

One of the themes you’ll hear from me repeatedly is this: clarity creates opportunity. 

If someone lands on your profile and immediately understands who you are, what you do, and who you help, you’ve already made their job easier. 

Consider More Descriptive Headlines 

• Real Estate Partner Representing Developers, Investors, and Lenders 

• Employment Attorney Advising Employers on Workplace Strategy and Risk Management 

• Healthcare Regulatory Counsel Serving Hospitals, Health Systems, and Healthcare Providers 

Don’t Waste the “About” Section 

If there’s one section of LinkedIn that attorneys consistently overlook, it’s the About section. 

Many attorneys leave it blank. Others copy and paste their firm biography. Neither approach takes full advantage of the opportunity. 

Your About section should sound like you. It should help readers understand the type of work you enjoy most, the industries or clients you serve, what drives you professionally, what clients appreciate about your approach, and what differentiates your practice. 

People connect with stories. Not resumes. Not lists of credentials. Stories. 

The About section is your opportunity to introduce yourself before you’ve ever met someone. 

Focus on Accomplishments, Not Just Responsibilities 

Many attorney profiles read like job descriptions. They explain what the attorney was expected to do. They don’t explain what the attorney actually accomplished. 

There’s a big difference. 

Rather than focusing exclusively on responsibilities, consider highlighting significant matters, important transactions, trial experience, industry expertise, leadership positions, speaking engagements, publications, professional recognitions, and community involvement. 

You don’t need to disclose confidential information. You simply need to help people understand the depth and breadth of your experience. 

Remember That LinkedIn Is a Search Engine 

Many attorneys forget this simple fact: LinkedIn is also a search engine. 

Recruiters use LinkedIn search tools every day. Managing partners do too. So do legal departments. So do clients. 

If you are a labor and employment attorney, healthcare attorney, real estate attorney, corporate attorney, intellectual property attorney, or insurance coverage attorney, those terms should appear naturally throughout your profile. 

I have seen excellent attorneys become nearly invisible online simply because the keywords people search for weren’t included anywhere in their profile. 

A Professional Photo Matters 

This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. 

You don’t need a magazine-quality photo shoot. You don’t need glamour shots. You simply need a professional photograph, good lighting, appropriate attire, a current image, and a friendly, approachable appearance. 

First impressions happen quickly. Your photo is often the very first thing someone sees before they read a single word about you. 

You Don’t Need to Be a Social Media Influencer 

This is one of my favorite conversations. 

Attorneys often tell me, “Teresa, I don’t want to live on LinkedIn.” 

Good. I don’t think you should. 

You don’t need to post daily. You don’t need thousands of followers. You don’t need to become an influencer. 

But occasional visibility matters. 

Consider posting about industry developments, speaking engagements, articles you’ve written, community involvement, awards and recognitions, legal trends, or firm announcements. 

A few thoughtful posts each month can do far more for your professional visibility than most attorneys realize. 

Here’s What I Really Believe 

Most attorneys think LinkedIn is about finding jobs. 

I don’t. 

I think LinkedIn is about relationships. 

When I look back on my own career, the most meaningful opportunities almost never came from submitting an application. 

They came from people. People who knew me. People who trusted me. People who thought of me when an opportunity arose. 

The legal profession has always been a relationship business. Always has. Always will. 

LinkedIn is simply another way for people to find you, learn about you, and understand what you bring to the table. 

Sometimes We’re Too Close to Our Own Stories 

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that most attorneys struggle to write about themselves. 

That’s normal. 

In fact, some of the most accomplished lawyers I’ve worked with have had the hardest time identifying and articulating their own strengths. 

They know how to advocate for clients. They don’t always know how to advocate for themselves. 

That’s why I often encourage attorneys to seek an outside perspective, whether from a trusted colleague, mentor, recruiter, or professional career advisor. 

Sometimes a few small changes to a LinkedIn profile can dramatically improve how your experience, accomplishments, and professional brand are perceived. 

Teresa’s Advice 

If your profile needs work, don’t try to rewrite everything tonight. 

Start with three things: 

• Update your headline. 

• Review your About section. 

• Add one accomplishment from the last year that makes you proud. 

That’s it. 

Progress is better than perfection. 

I have seen attorneys spend months worrying about getting everything exactly right when a few thoughtful updates would have significantly improved their profile overnight. 

Final Thoughts 

After nearly three decades practicing law and years helping attorneys navigate their careers, I’ve learned something simple: most opportunities don’t arrive exactly when we’re looking for them. 

They show up unexpectedly. Through a conversation. Through a colleague. Through a referral. Through someone who found us online and reached out. 

That’s why I encourage attorneys to think of LinkedIn as more than a resume. 

Think of it as an introduction. Think of it as a handshake. Think of it as a way to tell your professional story before you ever walk into the room. 

Because the truth is, someone may be reading your profile tomorrow who could impact your career in a meaningful way. 

Make sure they’re seeing the lawyer you’ve become. 

If there is one thing I would encourage you to do after reading this article, it is this: go pull up your LinkedIn profile and look at it as if you have never seen it before. 

Does it tell the story you want it to tell? Does it reflect the lawyer you have become? Does it communicate your strengths clearly? 

If not, don’t be discouraged. Most attorneys I meet could make meaningful improvements with just a few thoughtful updates. 

And if you would like an experienced set of eyes to review your profile, my team and I regularly help attorneys with LinkedIn profile reviews, bio rewriting, resume development, and career coaching. 

Sometimes the best opportunities begin with something as simple as telling your story a little better.