by Melissa Brown
OBA Communications Specialist

Facebook. LinkedIn. Reunion. Tumblr. Twitter. Ahhh, social networking.

Now, before you stop reading and file this article under something only the kids are doing these days, let’s take a look at how you, the Oklahoma lawyer, can use one social networking tool that’s designed specifically with you in mind – Oklahoma Bar Circle.

Social networking boils down to one word: communication. Oklahoma Bar Circle easily facilitates communication between bar members who otherwise may never have known how to (or why they should) contact each other.

Since launching last month, the Oklahoma Bar Circle community is starting to take virtual shape. Already, over 350 users have registered, and members are steadily building an online society of Oklahoma lawyers.

Members have been busy customizing their profiles with pictures, work history and hobbies. Groups discussing everything from criminal law to spirituality have been created. Even several county bar associations have created groups for their members.

So, why should you partake in this virtual community? Norman attorney Breea Bacon joined Oklahoma Bar Circle to have easier access to networking opportunities within the legal community and to stay in touch with attorney friends she usually only sees at bar functions.

“I think the Web site is a wonderful tool for networking, looking for job opportunities and keeping in touch with other attorneys,” Ms. Bacon said. “You can share information, as well as form and then foster the kind of mentor relationships that are so important in our profession.”

Oklahoma Bar Circle is a closed online community accessible only to Oklahoma lawyers. For Ms. Bacon, this is part of the site’s appeal.

“I love the fact that this Web site is limited to just attorneys,” she said. “I'm also a Facebook user, and I'm not a fan of getting asked to be friends with people I knew briefly in elementary school.

“Oklahoma Bar Circle allows you to form both professional and friendly relationships with your fellow colleagues, knowing this access is limited to just attorneys.”

One possible use for the site is the potential to get referrals on certain types of cases.

Enid attorney Robert Faulk hopes to see more bar members using the site.

“I see it as a gathering place for lawyers to discuss legal issues, much like OBA-Net with more personality. I also see it as a place that you can talk about things other than the law that interest you, as well as network in a fun and interesting way,” he said.

JOIN A GROUP

This is where the group feature comes into play. Some of the groups on Oklahoma Bar Circle having little to do with the legal world are the Spiritual Group, Oklahoma State University Fans and Running. Members of the Running Group have started discussions on different training methods and shoes.

Texas Bar Circle, our sister network to the south, has been up and running for almost two years, and the groups on their site probably aren’t what you would think of when you think of a lawyer networking site. Some of the non-lawyer groups in Texas are Biker Barristers; Killers, Thieves and Lawyers (fans of musician Tom Waits); Musical Lawyers; and Art and Photography. Time will tell if similar groups will be created on our site. Basically, groups serve to help you find common ground with other lawyers, and without Oklahoma Bar Circle, you might never find those connections.

Of course, groups dealing with the practice of law have been formed. The Criminal Law Group has started to use the forum feature for discussion purposes, and they’ve posted an announcement of an upcoming CLE under their events.

Several county bar associations have also created their own pages. Chrissi Nimmo of Tahlequah is the group administrator for the Cherokee County Bar Association’s group, and while the group is just now getting started, she sees it being used several ways.

The county bar uses it “as an information sharing tool to announce meetings and events and probably dues invoices. We will also post information about CLEs,” Ms. Nimmo said.

Oklahoma Bar Circle’s e-mail alert feature is customizable, so if you join a group and an event is posted in that group, you can set it up to where you’ll receive an e-mail that notifies you of the announcement.

There are other Oklahoma Bar Circle features that are worth checking out, including the blog feed, career center and event announcements. But, like all things, you get out of it what you put into it – and because this is a member-driven service, it’s important that you sign up and take part.

“It's a cyber-friendly world!” Ms. Bacon said. “Our profession has a foundation of networking, and I think sites like Oklahoma Bar Circle are the next step in the evolution of this principle.”

And, if more seasoned attorneys want to remain “hip” and in touch with tomorrow's leaders, Ms. Bacon said this is the perfect way to do it.

“It's a win-win situation.”

Ready to join the Oklahoma Bar Circle community? Learn how to sign up.