Like most big cities, the legal market in Dallas is fast-paced and highly competitive. If you’re a legal professional, rising above the pack sometimes takes a little creative networking. A good lawyer marketing strategy hinges on knowing how and where to network, all of which can make a huge difference when career success weighs in the balance.
Whether you currently practice in Dallas at a corporation, law firm or single-attorney office, or are pursuing relocation opportunities in the area, here’s how to fill your digital “Rolodex” with more viable contacts.
Professional Organizations
State Bar of Texas 
As the largest networking legal association in the Lone Star State, the State Bar of Texas has over 11,000 members. For lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, membership in the Texas Bar provides year-round access to CLE, training, networking and social activities.
Dallas Bar Association 
Founded in 1873, the Dallas Bar Association (DBA) is a voluntary association dedicated to the continuing education of its 11,000+ members, public service programs and the improvement of the administration of justice. Meetings, social events and community gatherings are just a few examples of the events sponsored by the DBA every year.
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Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 
The 3,000 members of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) share a commitment to improving the quality of life for all young lawyers while also serving the local community through public service projects. DAYL’s membership list includes young lawyers from diverse racial, ethnic, gender and practice specialty backgrounds.
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
The purpose of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association (DTLA) is to promote a sense of inclusion, collaboration, professionalism and transparency in the legal profession. The DTLA’s mission is empowering and supporting litigators in achieving justice for those who have been harmed.
Dallas Women Lawyer Association 
Dating back to 1968, the Dallas Women Lawyer Association is a non-profit organization that serves to benefit all women attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth area while striving to elevate their standing in the legal profession.
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association 
Open to attorneys, paralegals, law students and sponsors, the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association (DCDLA) offers members the opportunity to participate in career-enrichment activities through CLE, social events and community outreach programs.
Dallas Hispanic Bar Association 
The Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (DHBA) provides a forum through which Hispanic lawyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex can come together, exchange ideas and pursue common goals. The DHBA’s purpose is promoting the social, civic, educational and economic advancement of those in the DFW Hispanic community.
Industry Nights and Informal Groups
Presently, there are no industry nights or informal groups in Dallas that are strictly available to legal professionals. However, many local attorneys currently take advantage of the area’s non-industry specific networking groups found on Meetup.com, like Irving Professional Happy Hours, Dallas Referrals Network and the DFW Professionals Network Group.
Joining one of those groups allows area lawyers to expand their professional contacts through social events and other career-enrichment activities. As COVID-related stay-at-home orders and remote work requirements impacted the legal profession in 2020, many firms got creative by offering virtual social programs to their summer associates, a trend that is likely to continue this year.
Online Spaces and Forums
Online communities are another effective way for Dallas lawyers to network with peers. One such platform is LawyerSmack.com, which offers legal professionals a safe and secure virtual space for posting open and honest comments. Participating in LawyerSmack forums is a discrete way for attorneys to network as they share problems and discuss solutions.
Other digital communities for attorneys include various chat rooms and social media groups. However, since most don’t afford much privacy any posted comments, notably those related to job searches, could be exposed to curious eyes!
Networking in Dallas During a Job Search
If you are a talented attorney seeking fresh career challenges in Dallas, the time to establish and cultivate your professional network is before starting a job search and not after. Not only can finding the right position based on your qualifications and experience be frustrating, keeping your job search discrete and confidential is of the utmost importance.
At Momentum Search Partners, we already have established recruiting networks in place that help many of Dallas’ prestigious law firms and corporations find, screen and hire some of the brightest attorney candidates out there. From our office in the heart of Dallas, we excel at matching candidate strengths with employer needs while working routinely with well-established clients.
If you value availability, confidentiality and professionalism in a Dallas legal headhunting agency, contact one of our Dallas-based legal recruiters today.