Steve Riden is quoted in the latest edition of the Boston College Law School Magazine on the developing role of social networking in the legal industry.
The article, written by Tracey Palmer, profiles Steve’s efforts to unite BC Law’s alumni, students, professors, and staff in one extensive online community.
From the article:
Stephen Riden ’99, a partner in the new firm Beck Reed Riden in Boston, experienced the power of LinkedIn when he created a BC Law School group on the site in May 2008. In the beginning, he had modest expectations. “My hope was to attract at least 100 people to the group. I thought that would be enough members to generate some interesting discussions,” says Riden. “It was a complete surprise when the first 50 people joined. I never imagined that more than 1,000 people would want to be a part of this. Every single day there’s at least one new request to join the group—including weekends and holidays.”
Two years later, Riden’s LinkedIn group has nearly 1,300 members and hosts five subgroups for those interested in particular practice areas, including Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law; HealthCare; Intellectual Property; Public Interest Programs; and Solo Practitioners and Small Firms. “Members are using the site to reconnect and find others who have an interest in their various subspecialties,” says Riden. “When we promote an event, the attendance is high, and I see in the discussion groups that people are connecting with one another and sharing things like referrals and job information. So people are definitely engaged.”
In addition to the main BC Law LinkedIn group, Riden manages regional groups for alumni located in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC. “The group has exceeded every one of my expectations,” adds Riden. “There are a variety of topics up on the discussion boards addressing everything from upcoming alumni events to career advice about becoming a law librarian. It’s great to see so many people drawing upon the collective knowledge of the BC Law community.”