#94 Mastering Visibility: The Career Skill Nobody Teaches Lawyers

Visibility is not a personality trait. It’s a career skill—and one most lawyers are never taught.

Paula T. Edgar, CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC, helps lawyers and other professionals build influence, credibility, and opportunity through intentional visibility. Often attending more than 18 conferences a year, Paula is strategic about every room she enters, every relationship she builds, and how she positions herself in professional spaces.

In this episode of Lawyers Who Learn, host David Schnurman sits down with Paula at the NALP Professional Development Institute in Washington, DC. Paula shares how early lessons from her Barbadian grandmother and her Jamaican mother, growing up in Brooklyn, shaped her belief that how you show u p matters. She also reflects on how the loss of her mother on September 11, 2001 revealed skills she did not yet recognize: finding information, navigating complexity, and communicating clearly during moments of crisis.

After graduating from law school and practicing labor and employment law, Paula realized her real passion was teaching the concrete, often-overlooked skills that differentiate lawyers beyond technical expertise. She challenges the outdated belief that doing good work quietly is enough and explains why visibility, relationship-building, and strategic presence are essential to long-term success.

Paula never delivers the same presentation twice, often conducting stakeholder interviews and pre-surveys to customize every training. She shares practical insights on building an intentional network, creating memorable professional experiences, and showing up authentically without performative personal branding.

Listeners will walk away with:

A new definition of visibility and personal branding that actually works for lawyers

Practical ways to build credibility without self-promotion

Strategies for being memorable in rooms that matter

A clear understanding of why visibility and personal branding are no longer optional

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Paula Edgar on LinkedIn
PaulaEdgar.com

LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand That Works for You (3-Part Webinar Series)
Paula’s Playbook: Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Edition
Branding Room Only Podcast with Paula T. Edgar


00:00 Introduction to Lawyers Who Learn
00:20 Meet Paula: CEO of PG&E Consulting
01:38 From Tragedy to Law School
02:10 Discovering a Passion for Visibility and Branding
06:07 The Importance of Personal Branding
08:33 Impactful Books and Lifelong Learning
12:25 Conference Insights and Networking Tips
13:11 Conclusion and Future Conversations

Links •
Connect with David Schnurman (Host) -   / davidschnurman  
Connect with Paula T. Edgar (Guest) -   / paulaedgar  
Visit Our Website: https://www.lawline.com/podcast/lawye...
Follow Lawyers Who Learn: https://linktr.ee/lawyerswholearn
Lawline: https://www.lawline.com/

More About Lawyers Who Learn •
Exploring how lifelong learning empowers attorneys' growth. Tune in for inspiring journeys and insights to elevate your legal career!