By Jared M. Placitella, Esq.

            Research shows that the strength of people’s social networks plays a large role in how people succeed economically.

Last year, The New York Times reported on a pair of interesting studies published in the journal Nature, which examined the link between social capital and economic connectedness.

 The researchers explain that social capital – the strength of an individual’s social network and community – is potentially determinative of outcomes ranging from education to health.

In those studies, the authors used data on 21 billion friendships from Facebook (which accounts for about 84 percent of U.S. adults aged 25 to 44) to measure and analyze three types of social capital by ZIP code in the United States (1) connectedness between different types of people; (2) social cohesion, such as the extent of cliques in friendship networks, and (3) civic engagement, such as rates of volunteering. 

These studies showed that cross-class friendships, or economic connectedness, which include friendships between low-income and high-income people, had a stronger impact on a child’s economic prospects than school quality, family structure, job availability or a community’s racial composition. The researchers also found that economic connectedness is a better predictor of a community’s upward mobility than a neighborhood’s racial composition, poverty level and school quality. 

The study further suggests that simple initiatives to create diversity by bringing people together may not be enough to increase opportunity. Rather, what matters just as much is whether these diverse people form authentic relationships. Institutions that create small, diverse groups that spend a lot of time together, help foster cross-class friendship and lasting connections.

While these studies focus on economic diversity, they serve as a good reminder that promoting inclusionary initiatives that create enduring bonds between diverse (whether it be gender, race, national origin, etc.) people strengthen institutions or organizations such as NJAJ.   

Through inclusion we can build our social capital as professionals by expanding our perspectives and networks. In doing so, we are provided with the ability to connect with new communities, which broadens and deepens our empathy. By being inclusive we can also recognize and combat what the researchers define as our “friending biases,” or our tendency to gravitate to, and befriend, those who we view as more similar to us.  Friending biases are especially strong in large diverse settings.  

As trial lawyers, it is often our job to educate ourselves about new disciplines, standards, and practices. To become thoughtful and effective advocates, it is imperative that we learn how to connect meaningfully with communities and cultures different than our own so that we can understand their perspectives and tell their stories.

Books such as Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone and Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone stress the importance of inclusion and connectivity. To build social capital, these authors emphasize the importance of mentorship and sponsorship.
 

 Mentorship programs can build cross-class relationships by pairing people from different socioeconomic backgrounds for extended periods.  In his book, Ferrazzi teaches that mentorships facilitate authentic relationships that lead to mutual success for both the mentor and mentee. 

As trial lawyers, embracing mentorship, whether formal or informal, helps us connect with other generations of attorneys who possess knowledge, habits, and experiences beneficial to both the mentor and mentee. 

That is why NJAJ’s efforts to have members attend student events at law schools is important because they provide us with the opportunity to connect with law students.

Attending the New Lawyers Section programs at events such as the Boardwalk Seminar^® or the Meadowlands Seminar, or even approaching someone new at an NJAJ social event is also critically important. 

Creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion will not only build our respective, individual social capital, but will also solidify a lasting foundation for our association.

So, at our next NJAJ event, please do not hesitate to come say “hi.” I look forward to meeting you and to forming a lasting friendship.

Jared M.  Placitella, Esq. is the parliamentarian of NJAJ and an attorney with Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. in Red Bank. His practice focuses on protecting the rights of the wrongly injured in mass tort, products liability, class action and personal injury cases. He can be reached at jmplacitella@cprlaw.com or at 732-747-9003.