Gail Lamarche understands how marketing can bring value to a law firm. Going from a legal secretary to Director of Marketing at Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A, she has helped lawyers harness their strengths to build a successful practice. We took a moment to chat with Gail about her career and her upcoming speaking engagement at 2017 LMA Annual Conference.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Actually, getting to where I am today is what I am most proud of without going to college. I started as a legal secretary approximately 20 years ago in a New Hampshire law firm. I went to do other tasks and hold various positions, including team leader, paralegal, trainer, marketing assistant and IT/help desk person. I never accepted the status quo and always tried to find my “niche.” With a background in hospitality management, coupled with my law firm experience, it was a perfect blend of skills to become a marketing director for the largest firm in Southwest Florida.
Now, I am most proud of helping young attorneys grow and flourish. Whether it is a small success (landing a new client or their first board appointment) or becoming a partner — when they succeed, I feel like a proud parent.
In the community, I’m grateful to use my skills and experience to help non-profits and other organizations. I’ve served for several years on the Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic Committee to raise money for the Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL, raising nearly a million dollars every year. I also serve on the Southwest Florida Seminole Booster Board to raise money for scholarships for students going to Florida State University. One of the most memorable scholarship recipients was a young man from Immokalee, FL, who was also the recipient of a wish from Make-A-Wish. All he wanted was to go to FSU and become a doctor to help others – our local club also provided him a scholarship. I still get goosebumps when I think of this young man.
What advice what you give to people just getting started in business development/marketing?
Be patient and always be thinking of ways to help and wow your internal and external clients. Not all ideas you pitch will be warmly accepted, but keep trying. With regard to business development, work with the willing and share successes. Not all attorneys are rainmakers and naturally skilled at biz dev. Find ways to draw out the best in each attorney. As an example, one attorney may hate networking but is a great writer. One may rock a one-on-one lunch but would rather have a root canal than speak in a room of potential clients. Find out what works and magnify it.
From what I can see from your LinkedIn page, you were a part of the editorial board of The News-Press Media Group. How did this opportunity arise for you? What kind of projects did you work on?
I was co-founder and past president of a local chapter of the Social Media Club. We had put together various programs with the media. Coupled with my law firm position and my community involvement, I was approached to consider and served a six-month term.
As a member of the Editorial Board, our mission was to have a voice on issues that affect the local community and hold local leaders accountable. It was very enlightening to hear from both sides on many issues, including:
- The need for funding and expansion of mental health facilities and terrible “catch 22” of those who are in the jail system who, perhaps, with proper treatment and help, wouldn’t be there.
- Meeting with the then Florida Bar President Gregory Coleman to hear how the Florida Bar is finding ways to solve the crisis of access to legal services, not just for the poor, but the middle class. We also discussed the need for funding the court system and fair pay for the judiciary to promote the retention and recruitment of quality judges.
- A debate with a local electric company and a city to be the provider of electric power.
- Meeting with House and Senate Representatives on why they walked out of session in 2015 without coming to a meeting of the minds on the budget.
What are you speaking about at LMA annual conference?
I’m speaking on “How Solo Marketers Can Make a Big Splash in a Small to Mid-Size Pond” in a pre-conference session focusing on “Impact Marketing for Small to Mid-Sized Law Firms.” As legal marketers, we must continually introduce new ideas, strategies and tools to keep our lawyers and firms moving forward. However, if you are a solo marketer with limited time and/or limited resources, what can you do? I will discuss ways to improve communication internally, share various coaching and business development programs to help lawyers become more focused and strategic, and tips to help lawyers embrace various social media platforms.
Follow the Henderson Franklin blogs on employment law, real estate, and intellectual property.