When I first started my training as a barrister – at a very traditional set of chambers – there was a woman whose specific job was to make the tea. She did this for client meetings, or on demand, and – most importantly – at 4pm every day, come rain or shine, she would knock on barristers’ doors with tea and biscuits. 

As a convention, it now sounds extraordinarily old-fashioned. Yet at the time, it was unusual among chambers not because it was outdated, but because it was modern: in many sets, tea was served not in offices, but in the conference hall. I remember envying former classmates training in those chambers: tea provided an opportunity to meet other barristers, catch up with chambers news, and seek advice on ongoing cases. It seemed a very natural form of networking, which – as one who finds the concept itself generally cringe-inducing – appealed to me enormously. 

Over time, afternoon tea seems to have died out in most chambers, replaced with Friday Night Drinks, or not at all. Remote work, once an exception, continues to be preferred long after the Covid-19 pandemic saw it enforced around the world. With that shift, traditional opportunities to socialise with colleagues, to learn from their expertise, and to make new connections seems to have fallen away significantly.  

So what does this mean for networking? And can those of us who find a cold-DM on LinkedIn a little too uncomfortable still use technology to network in more natural ways? 

Formal online networking events are still common, and have evolved to feature breakout rooms, live chats, and lounges designed specifically to replicate the experience of face-to-face interactions. If, like me, you suffer an aversion to networking, finding a formal online event might be the perfect mix between low-commitment experiment and immersion therapy. 

For those who still baulk at formal networking events, opportunities for connection can increasingly be found in online communities designed for those with shared interests; and not just on LinkedIn. While X (formerly Twitter) has seen its use drop by 30% in the last year, the rise of platforms like TikTok as tools for networking has shown that Gen Z are as serious about career progression as those who came before them.¹ Founded in 2005, Reddit was once considered the home of niche forums populated by early internet adopters: yet, against the trend of social media sites, the platform had a 51% global increase in daily active users in the second quarter of 2024.² As well as allowing the sharing of knowledge and experience, social media communities offer a more casual environment for connection based on genuine shared interests, which can make it less intimidating for those who find formal networking uncomfortable. 

While many people still work at least in part from home, some prefer the social element of working alongside others in virtual spaces. The London Writers’ Salon hosts several daily hour-long focussed writing sessions that take place on zoom, and are designed to fit with time zones around the world. Each session begins with a greeting, and participants are encouraged to use the chat to set out their goals for the session – which often range from finishing a presentation to plotting a fifth novel. Participants are encouraged to write with their cameras on, for increased accountability. On Wednesdays, the LWS offers optional breakout sessions for participants to discuss their writing with others in small, supportive groups. 

For those looking for day-long accountability, collaborative platforms like Gather, Sococo, and Tandem offer the opportunity for remote workers to interact with others, collaborate on projects, or have a chat during breaks. These platforms are designed to encourage spontaneous networking opportunities that mirror the serendipity of in-person office encounters, and feel more natural than forced interactions.  

Further, remote networking offers an opportunity to connect with people who might have historically been excluded from traditional networking events. Those with caring responsibilities, or disabilities, and even those in different timezones, are often better able to engage online than at Friday night drinks. The advantages in inclusivity, accessibility, and ease of interaction that come with online networking offer significant opportunities to connect and build personal relationships in a way that traditional in-person networking did not.  

Love it or hate it, networking remains key to professional development, career advancement, and continued success in professional services. Those of us still squeamish about the concept can be glad of technology designed to ease our progress. 

Chambers tea still exists – it’s just no longer being held in the conference hall. 

To find out how to network more naturally, get in touch: contact@openside.group 

Author: Harriet Johnson