Nine Ways Lawyers Build the Authority That Leads to Trusted Advisor Status

In her recent New Jersey Law Journal article "Nine Ways Lawyers Build the Authority That Leads to Trusted Advisor Status," Liz Lindley considers the phrase “trusted advisor.” It’s a status that cannot be claimed, but must be earned through building a visible, consistent, citable record of judgment.

Signals of authority such as case wins, client relationships, and reputation are largely invisible to prospects outside of a lawyer’s immediate network, and verification of expertise often comes through referrals.

Today, that verification is happening on generative AI, as prospects ask for recommendations of firms and lawyers based on specific practice areas, industries and problems.

These platforms can only recommend what they can find, interpret and cite. Authority that exists in a lawyer's relationships and track record but doesn't show up in discoverable sources becomes invisible to prospects beginning their search with generative AI.

This shift creates an opportunity. Lawyers who understand that authority must now be discoverable can build a deliberate, strategic record that generative platforms and prospects can find and reference. Read Liz’s article for nine specific ways to do it.

Read “Nine Ways Lawyers Build the Authority That Leads to Trusted Advisor Status” here.