Presentations for Professionals Balancing Client Work, Professional Growth, and Personal Wellness
With over 20 years of experience in legal marketing and business development, I deliver practical, engaging programs with an approachable style. I partner with law firms, bar associations, consultancies, and professional associations to create impactful events customized to their unique goals and needs.
What Makes My Sessions Different?
Human-Centered: I help lawyers develop the skills to foster collaboration, well-being, and productivity.
Real-World Strategies: I focus on actionable techniques that participants can use right away.
Interactive & Customized: Every session I deliver is designed specifically for your audience—no generic templates.
I’m pleased to be affiliated with Gladstone Growth Strategies, a network of experts known for delivering insightful, dynamic presentations. As part of the thought leadership team, I contribute to engaging events for law firms, bar associations, industry groups, and more. Explore our wide range of speaking topics and learn how we can bring impactful dialogue to your next event.
As a Certified Trainer for Showing Up, I deliver leadership training and signature workshops designed to equip lawyers with the human-centered skills essential for fostering well-being among colleagues and clients, enhancing collaboration, and boosting productivity.
Recent & Upcoming Speaking Engagements
PAST AUDIENCES INCLUDE: Diversity Lab’s OnRamp Fellows & Alumni ● Association of Defense Counsel Annual Conference ● CMO Leadership Roundtable and BD Directors Symposium, Gladstone Growth Strategies ● Justice HQ MCLE ● Consumer Attorneys of San Diego Women’s Caucus ● LMA Tech West Conference ● LMANext Professional Development Series ● ABA RPTE Section ● Sacramento County Bar Association ● Environmental Law Network Young Lawyers Division ● International Network of Boutique Law Firms ● International Society of Primerus Law Firms ● Professional Fiduciary Association of California ● Sacramento Professional Advisors Network ● Association of Legal Administrators, Sacramento Valley Chapter ● California Women Lawyers Annual Conference ● McGeorge School of Law ● ProVisors ● Badass Women Leaders Retreat
Designed with busy lawyers in mind, my presentations combine actionable insights, interactive elements, and inspiring content that leave audiences ready to take their next steps.
Smarter LinkedIn for Practice Growth (Aug-Dec 2025, trainer and coach, 50 partners of a global firm) This program is designed to help lawyers use LinkedIn more effectively and with less effort. The 45-min group session offers a plain-language explanation of how LinkedIn works behind the scenes: what drives visibility, how profile content and engagement shape what others see, and why small, consistent actions matter. Each participant then receives a private LinkedIn consulting session to refine their profile and develop a practical approach to connecting, commenting, and posting. The focus is on making LinkedIn feel manageable and aligned with their goals for practice growth.
Social Fitness: The Vital Role of Connectedness for Health and Happiness (02.19.25, Luncheon Speaker, Sacramento Valley Association of Legal Administrators) Social health is just as essential as sleep, nutrition, and exercise—but it’s often overlooked or de-prioritized. During the SVALA luncheon, we explored the science behind social connection and the benefits of maintaining a diverse network of relationships, from close colleagues to casual contacts. I shared practical ways to take stock of your connections and strengthen relationships—professionally and personally—to ease stress, build resilience, and prevent burnout. Attendees left with a “social fitness” plan to apply in their own lives and bring back to better support their firms.
This conversation applies across generations and from top to bottom in law firms and legal departments. I’ve given versions of this talk for defense counsel, plaintiff’s attorneys, early-career associates, international firm networks, and for MCLE credits focused on wellness and competency. As legal profession demands intense focus and long hours, strong social supports aren’t just nice to have—they’re critical stress regulators for well-being and performance.
BD Training Kick-off – Practice by Design, Not By Default (January 2025, co-facilitator and coach, 16-member cohort of junior partners with a 400-attorney full-service law firm.) This 1-day training equips new partners with essential marketing and business development skills through two focused sessions. Preparation covers foundational sales principles, including the BD process, communication styles, personal business planning, and time budgeting, helping participants create practical strategies for success. Implementation emphasizes client-focused approaches, with training on needs assessment meetings, crafting compelling proposals, and applying learning through a case study. The program blends theory with actionable insights to develop confidence and effectiveness in business development. Participants receive 6 months of scheduled and on-call coaching. Program developed by Mark Usellis of Gladstone.
MCLE: Social Fitness – The Vital Role of Connectedness for Health & Happiness (12.05.24, presenter, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern CA and Nevada Annual Conference, San Francisco, MCLE Wellness Competency credit)
Webinar: How to Reconnect with Dormant Relationships (10.09.24, virtual workshop for OnRamp Fellows & Alumni, presented by Diversity Lab)
Podcast Interview: The Key to Thriving in Legal Business Development (06.22.24, season 2, episode 18, This Legal Life)
Webinar: Mastering Post-Event Follow-Ups for Lasting Success (04.03.24, presented by Nexl)
Roundtable Workshop: Breaking Through the Awkward Zone – based on the book Lifting Up: The Transformative Power of Supportive Leadership, published by Jen Marr. (03.07.24, San Francisco, Gladstone Marketing and Business Development Leadership Roundtable)
Podcast Interview: Setting Your 2024 Goals and Creating Your “To Don’t” List (12.09.23, episode 123, Counsel to Counsel)
Webinar: Networking with Purpose – The Vital Role of Social Fitness for Work/Life Wellness (09.19.23, International Society of Primerus Law Firms, Young Lawyers Section [replay]; 07.19.23, Sac County Bar Barristers’ Club Summer Associate Program)
LMA 21-Day Social Media Challenge – a learning course for all levels (June 2022 & 2023, Co-creator and facilitator)
LinkedIn “Mini-Makeover” Workshops/Webinars: Justice HQ, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego Women’s Caucus, LMA Tech West Conference, ABA RPTE Section, International Network of Boutique Law Firms, Association of Legal Administrators, LMA Northwest, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, Sacramento Professional Advisors Network (2020-2024)
Putting the Work into Virtual and In-Person Networking – Tips for Working a Room and Mastering the Medium (June 2022, LMASE Presenter)
Am Law 200 Firm Women’s Initiative Luncheon – Five Ways to Add Color to Your LinkedIn Presence (May 2022, In-person presenter)
Harnessing the Power of Your Personal Brand (April 2022, LMANext Presenter)
Legal Marketing Coffee Talk Livestream Interview Guest, with Host Jessica Aries (January 2022)
Self-Care for Your E-Self: Tips to Curate Virtual & Digital Presence (June 2021, law firm women’s initiative)
Conference Like a Boss . . . And Stay Sane Doing It (9/20/19, California Women Lawyers Annual Conference, co-presenter)
ABOUT YOUR TRAINER: Jennifer Forester is an ICF-credentialed executive coach and business development consultant. She draws on 20+ years of experience in legal sales and marketing to help her clients adopt more strategic, enjoyable, and practical approaches to business development success. Jennifer lives in Northern California with her husband, a family law attorney, and their two Boxer dogs.