Business cards for law students - with poll Forum

[mallard]

Really having trouble believing this thread.

[jamaicanjynx]

Most students at my law school have them. Almost every time I give them out the lawyer comments that they liked that I had a business card and wish they had thought of that in law school. If your school does not have a program for getting business cards then your peers will probably think you're douchey for having them so you gotta decide if you want to run that risk.

[Voyager]

what a waste of card stock. you'll rarely use them and when you do, the recipient will throw them away 9/10 times.

[atkinsa]

I have always thought it was douchey. However, I will say, I have been asked for one many times this summer (after 2L year) and didn't have one. I think it depends on how many networking events you will be going to. I would also wait for them to offer you there card, rather than volunteer yours first.

[ResolutePear]

Business cards are like porn mags.

Don't flash your porn mags around unless somebody asks you for one... and at which point.. fumble around a bit just to give the illusion that you're not into the habit.

[northwood]

have a business card, but dont show it off like a trophy. THats toolish. Have them ready for the few times where they will be acceptable ( networking things, career days, etc), and where you know you will be talking with a bunch of lawyers. Other than that, keep them safely hidden in a closet where your friends won't be able to see them, and dont talk about it.

Think of fight club. You know its real, and you are a member of the group, but you dont go around bragging about it to everyone.

[danquayle]

I'd say the best thing to do is to go to old-fashioned way; get THEIR card, email/call/write them, and show that you are capable of taking the initiative yourself.

This is the correct answer. I have about a thousand business cards that I never ever use. They're almost a relic, given how easy it is to just find someone's contact information online... honestly the only time I ever use them if I want to leave someone a reminder at their actual desk... Similarly, you could pick someones card up at a meet in greet merely as a reminder to follow up with them. Even if, theoretically, a lawyer would want your silly business card, you should be the one contacting him.

Edit: And for giving to girls at bars. Super douchey? Yes. Super effective? Yes.

[danquayle]

If you wind up making a 'contact' then it will ALWAYS be in the circumstance of you potentially contacting them, and you can get their business card. There's an etiquette to these things.

I strongly agree with this.

Exactly. To elaborate, it's farcical to conceive of a law student networking with an attorney and the attorney desperately wanting the student's contact info for future contact. I'm not saying it never happens - I'm sure it does - but the standard business etiquette has it going the other way around.

And to reiterate my point above, if I were a lawyer, I'd rather give a law student my card and have them contact me. It gives me a glimpse of their ability to take initiative, their level of professionalism, and their real interest in the job/topic/whatever.

And again... that's really the bottom line. There really isn't situation where a law student properly networking should need a business card.

[ResolutePear]

I strongly agree with this.

Exactly. To elaborate, it's farcical to conceive of a law student networking with an attorney and the attorney desperately wanting the student's contact info for future contact. I'm not saying it never happens - I'm sure it does - but the standard business etiquette has it going the other way around.

And to reiterate my point above, if I were a lawyer, I'd rather give a law student my card and have them contact me. It gives me a glimpse of their ability to take initiative, their level of professionalism, and their real interest in the job/topic/whatever.

And again... that's really the bottom line. There really isn't situation where a law student properly networking should need a business card.

[danquayle]

And again... that's really the bottom line. There really isn't situation where a law student properly networking should need a business card.

When did it become ok to substitute wit for stock meme images online forums? It's been this way for a while, hasn't it? Waiting with great anticipation for the next meme.

[270910]

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[YCrevolution]

..

[badwithpseudonyms]

When did it become ok to substitute wit for stock meme images online forums? It's been this way for a while, hasn't it? Waiting with great anticipation for the next meme.

Meme THIS!

[danquayle]

--ImageRemoved--

Ha ha, now that was kinda clever.

[badwithpseudonyms]

Wow. That really escalated quickly.

[270910]

--ImageRemoved--

I lol'ed.

Which is good, because these days I'm about 50/50 on making mods lol vs. making mods lol while they ban me -.-

[danquayle]

Wow. That really escalated quickly.

I know, I mean that really got out of hand fast.

[ResolutePear]

--ImageRemoved--

I lol'ed.

Which is good, because these days I'm about 50/50 on making mods lol vs. making mods lol while they ban me -.-

--ImageRemoved--

[YCrevolution]

..

[crazycanuck]

I voted yes, absolutely.

I help out with the recruiting at my big 4, and we actually use business cards at the events. There are usually so many people there's no fucking way in hell I'll remember everyone and I usually only remember the 2 or 3 people who really really impressed me or did something stupid, the rest would get forgotten if not for business cards.

When I get someones card I fold down the top right corner which means they are rock stars, top left means they are solid and to watch them throughout the process, bottom right means they didn't do anything wrong and watch them, bottom left means I don't remember who they were, probably part of a large group or just shy. If nothing is folded down it's absolutely a no. If they don't have business cards then I don't give a shit.

When you go to networking events, go prepared to network. This includes business cards. It's not douchey, it's practical. The other attorneys probably won't think it's douchey and they will be able to recall your name at the end of the event, unlike the other "cool" kids who thought it was.

[DerrickRose]

You guys are out of your mind. If everyone agrees that's its douchey, why would interviewers be any diff? If I'm ever interviewing law students, and one of them hands me a business card, its getting thrown in the trash along with his resume.

+1

All the yet-unborn babies who will one day apply to law school had better hope that I never become a hiring partner because if I do there will be a new fuckin' sheriff in town.

[romothesavior]

You guys are out of your mind. If everyone agrees that's its douchey, why would interviewers be any diff? If I'm ever interviewing law students, and one of them hands me a business card, its getting thrown in the trash along with his resume.

+1

All the yet-unborn babies who will one day apply to law school had better hope that I never become a hiring partner because if I do there will be a new fuckin' sheriff in town.

I don't think there are many things you could do that haven't been pulled by law firm partners.

[270910]

Everyone here with experience at things that aren't law school seems to not fathom that those things aren't law school.

Nobody ITT is suggesting a LAWYER shouldn't have a business card.

[DerrickRose]

You guys are out of your mind. If everyone agrees that's its douchey, why would interviewers be any diff? If I'm ever interviewing law students, and one of them hands me a business card, its getting thrown in the trash along with his resume.

+1

All the yet-unborn babies who will one day apply to law school had better hope that I never become a hiring partner because if I do there will be a new fuckin' sheriff in town.

I don't think there are many things you could do that haven't been pulled by law firm partners.

Flaming them on TLS and seeing how they react?

Insisting that they list high school sports coaches as references?

Ending interviews by telling them that if anyone in our office gets a thank-you message their resume is going in the garbage?

[Rocketman11]

Ya'll are crazy. Let me give you some insight as someone who is in a real career.

98% of the business cards I get end up in a huge stack in a drawer, never to be looked at again. When a law student hands me their business card, which has happened, that goes up to 100%. Why do you think you have more worth than someone on my level versus someone who's trying to network ME to get a job with ME or MY contacts?