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Attorneys Using Image Consultants to Hone the Fine Art of Rainmaking
Using an “image is everything” approach, attorneys develop their personal brands
for today’s tough market.
May 26, 2011. Scottsdale, Az. Social capital. Self-promotion. Branding. Image. Body language. Etiquette. Color psychology. Not the typical jargon one would expect to hear coming from the conference room of a major law firm. But in today’s uber-competitive legal arena, many attorneys and top-seed law firms are realizing the importance of high-level image consulting for boosting careers – and profits.
One key issue facing law firms today is the transition of associates to partner status. Says one Phoenix law partner, “Associates are expected to stay focused on client work – to keep their heads in the files. But once they’re being considered for partner, all of a sudden they’re expected to transform into successful rainmakers, and that’s just not realistic. What’s desperately needed is a program that grooms associates for this transition and teaches them to be successful on several different levels.”
Enter The Davenport Institute, LLC, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based image, career and wellness consulting firm that integrates services and strategies to support attorneys and make them more successful. Says Davenport Institutefounder and president, Debra Davenport, “Through intensive interviews with attorneys and our previous work with law firms, we’ve identified key success markers that can launch attorneys to the next level, even in this tough economy. These include image or visual presentation, their personal brand, communication and social capital skills, presence, body language and the ability to read people.”
Success, adds Davenport, also depends heavily on other factors such as wellness and smart career planning. “Associates must be groomed for two critical career roles: firm ambassador and partner,” says Davenport. The two, she says, go hand-in-hand. “Associates who become savvy in the area of social capital and master the arts of personal branding and self-care become much more effective rainmakers,” she says. Davenport and her colleagues even go so far as to accompany timid attorneys to networking and other A-level functions, mentoring them through the process of casting nets and navigating crowds to identify and build successful relationships.
Davenport cites clients with whom her firm has consulted as evidence that her company’s programs are highly effective. One attorney client, she explains, parlayed a passion for wine into a niche practice specialty. Another polished his image and learned high-level networking techniques that boosted his business by 41%. “We’ve worked with stressed-out attorneys who had one foot out the door and helped them make major career turn-arounds,” she says.
Davenport Institute additionally prepares attorneys, their clients and witnesses for courtroom appearances. According to Davenport, nonverbal communication may never be more important than in court. “The proliferation and significance of nonverbal messages in a courtroom can be missed by the unskilled eye,” she says. “Attorneys must be vigilant about their own nonverbal communication and they must be highly skilled at reading the body language of the jury and judge. The wrong suit, hairstyle or color can wreck havoc on juror perceptions, as can distracting body movements like fidgeting, playing with one’s hair or avoiding eye contact.” For example, the color pink, she says, should never be worn by attorneys – ever. “Pink connotes softness, fluffiness and cute little babies. It’s a definite pushover color that weakens an attorney’s visual impact. Perhaps surprisingly, I see attorneys wearing pink – suits on women and ties on men – more often than one would think.”
Davenport is a seasoned entrepreneur with business interests in the areas of career development, branding, public relations, couture fashion design and higher education. An international career authority, Davenport served as the national workplace color psychology spokesperson for the Panasonic global brand and was recently a two-time guest career expert on the Dr. Phil show.
For more information, contact The Davenport Institute, LLC at (866) 232-6492 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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NEWS RELEASE:
Contact:Davenport Institute Offering Free Monthly Wellness Classes
Scottsdale, Az. February 1, 2011. As part of the company's commitment to community outreach, Davenport Institute, LLC founder and president, Debra Davenport, announced today the introduction of free community wellness classes to be conducted through the firm's Scottsdale, Arizona office. Classes will be held the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30-7:30 P.M. in Scottsdale. This exciting new program kicks off on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.
Topics to be covered include:
These are just some of the important topics that will be covered by various Davenport Institute speakers and trainers. Participants are invited to bring their questions; a Q&A session will be provided at the end of every seminar.
For details and meeting place information, please contact Davenport Institute at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (866) 232-6492.
NEWS RELEASE:
Contact:Davenport Institute Founder, Debra Davenport, Makes "Dr. Phil Housewives" Appearance
Los Angeles. January 25, 2011. DEBRA DAVENPORT, founder and president of Davenport Institute, LLC, appears today as a guest career expert on the "Dr. Phil Housewives" show. Debra was selected by the show's producers to assist housewife, Rachael, in discovering her career passion and to develop a smart, workable strategy to help her find a job she really loves.
Following completion of Davenport Institute career test inventory, Debra met one-on-one with Rachael to uncover her career interests, values, skills, and employment goals, and helped Rachael discover what she truly loves to do (finance and public administration). Debra then set to work re-writing Rachael's resume and coaching her on interview and job search techniques.
Watch portions of Debra's initial meeting with Rachael by clicking here.
Debra Davenport has been a licensed career counselor since 1989. She has been listed as a career counseling resource in the popular career book, What Color Is Your Parachute?, by Richard Bolles, since 1991. Debra is a noted international authority on the subject of career development. She specializes in helping clients identify their true career passion. Debra has written on career and wellness topics for national and international publications, and she has been a featured guest on numerous broadcast and Internet programs.
For more information, or to book Debra for media appearances, please contact Eva Petra at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (866) 232-6492.
