Attn law students that cold e-mail alumni attorneys Forum

[Actus Reus]

At least try to make your e-mails unique and specific to the person you are e-mailing, beyond just the school connection. I've received 3 e-mails from students interviewing with the firm who are alums and haven't responded to a single one because (1) the e-mails read like a robot wrote them and/or were plugged into a mail merge (2) they don't mention anything specific about me as a person or my firm and why it means something to you and (3) they aren't interesting enough for me to take time out of my day to call you.

With regard to (1) above, two of the e-mails referred to my firm by it's entire name each and every time it was referenced, including the ampersand and LLP (all 4 names of the firm). Learn if the firm has a nickname and use that.

It's also painfully obvious you just want to name drop that you've talked to an alum and a current associate. A little bit of effort can go a long way.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for this. How do you suggest we personalize each email? Wouldn't "I really enjoyed your article [under publications]" or "I'd like to learn more about the fascinating work you did for [random deal/case listed under Representative Experience about which I know nothing]" come off as equally inauthentic?

[Anonymous User]

I don't know why people have had this experience. I straight up cold emailed 100 or so attorneys this summer and had over a 60% success rate in either physically meeting or speaking on the phone. I used the same cold email for everyone.

Maybe because I go to one of the smaller t14s the alumni are just more helpful than others, but who knows.

[Actus Reus]

Thanks for this. How do you suggest we personalize each email? Wouldn't "I really enjoyed your article [under publications]" or "I'd like to learn more about the fascinating work you did for [random deal/case listed under Representative Experience about which I know nothing]" come off as equally inauthentic?

Practice group interest perhaps? It just seems impersonal when it just reads that you have an interview at my firm, you also went to my school, and you want to talk about the firm.

It's sort of a fine line, I agree, but having a friend look at it to make sure it's somewhat conversational is good. It also depends on who you e-mail as well, but I'm preferential to less formal e-mails that flow.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for this. How do you suggest we personalize each email? Wouldn't "I really enjoyed your article [under publications]" or "I'd like to learn more about the fascinating work you did for [random deal/case listed under Representative Experience about which I know nothing]" come off as equally inauthentic?

Practice group interest perhaps? It just seems impersonal when it just reads that you have an interview at my firm, you also went to my school, and you want to talk about the firm.

It's sort of a fine line, I agree, but having a friend look at it to make sure it's somewhat conversational is good. It also depends on who you e-mail as well, but I'm preferential to less formal e-mails that flow.

I mean I'm fine with doing the extra legwork in order to personalize each email, but where should we go to find factoids unique to a particular attorney, if not their firm bios? All firm bios read the same, except for their publications and representative experience, which is utterly unknown to all law students. I mean I can't really say "you know, I was just perusing the NYC Bar Assn J. Corp. on the train the other day, and your article on [totally arcane matter] was really engrossing."

And if the attorney's firm bio also lists that the attorney is on the board of some philanthropic enterprise (e.g., art museum, children's hospital), well, most 20-something law students don't know a thing about that either.

[Anonymous User]

Isn't referring to the colloquial name for a firm informal? Could I really say, "I'd like to learn more about Mofo?"

[kalvano]

You don't necessarily need to deeply personalize the email, just make sure it doesn't come off like you're using the same email for 150 different attorneys and just changing a couple names (even if you are). It can be the little things, like "hey, I'm really interested in what the hell you do with tech transactions" instead of "I would like to learn more about your practice area."

Read what you send - does it sound like a normal person wrote the email, or does it sound like an auto-generate mass email? If the former, great. If the latter, then go back and re-write.

[tyrant_flycatcher]

Isn't referring to the colloquial name for a firm informal? Could I really say, "I'd like to learn more about Mofo?"

OP means something like Willkie instead of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In the case of Mofo, consider saying "the/your firm" the second time around.

[Anonymous User]

I've had nothing but success reaching out to alums. In fact I just had an informal interview with someone who went to a crosstown rival school all because I mentioned familiarity with his work, football, and having met them years ago at some networking event.

This is common sense though. Imagine if you are on the receiving end. If you got that email, would you respond?

[Actus Reus]

Isn't referring to the colloquial name for a firm informal? Could I really say, "I'd like to learn more about Mofo?"

OP means something like Willkie instead of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In the case of Mofo, consider saying "the/your firm" the second time around.

Correct. The applicant used, for example, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, each and every time he/she used the firm's name.

"I have an interview with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. As an alum, I'm hoping we can discuss your career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP before my interview with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP."

[Actus Reus]

I've had nothing but success reaching out to alums. In fact I just had an informal interview with someone who went to a crosstown rival school all because I mentioned familiarity with his work, football, and having met them years ago at some networking event.

This is common sense though. Imagine if you are on the receiving end. If you got that email, would you respond?

This is much better, yeah. I would respond

[Anonymous User]

Isn't referring to the colloquial name for a firm informal? Could I really say, "I'd like to learn more about Mofo?"

OP means something like Willkie instead of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In the case of Mofo, consider saying "the/your firm" the second time around.

Former MoFo associate here. You can just say MoFo as shorthand (but I would encourage you to capitalize the "F"). That's what everyone calls it.

[2014]

I (fortunately?) haven't got these yet - but if/when I start receiving them the question I would ask is "why am I a better person to answer this than any [firm] callback interviewer?" If the email you are sending doesn't answer that, I'd consider not sending.

[Actus Reus]

I (fortunately?) haven't got these yet - but if/when I start receiving them the question I would ask is "why am I a better person to answer this than any [firm] callback interviewer?" If the email you are sending doesn't answer that, I'd consider not sending.

it's likely just candidates wanting to say they spoke with someone at the firm to name drop

[gander14]

These guys seem like grumps. I'm really busy like everyone else, but I liked my law school and alumni were always helpful to me. So if people from my school want help, even in a form email, I'll do my best to help.

[2014]

I (fortunately?) haven't got these yet - but if/when I start receiving them the question I would ask is "why am I a better person to answer this than any [firm] callback interviewer?" If the email you are sending doesn't answer that, I'd consider not sending.

it's likely just candidates wanting to say they spoke with someone at the firm to name drop

Oh for sure - but if someone name drops you and you're irritated that you spoke to them in the first place, to the extent recruiting contacts you about your interaction (which definitely happens) it's probably not going to end up with a glowing endorsement.

[JenDarby]

Isn't referring to the colloquial name for a firm informal? Could I really say, "I'd like to learn more about Mofo?"

OP means something like Willkie instead of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In the case of Mofo, consider saying "the/your firm" the second time around.

the firm's website is literally mofo.com

no one I know that works there would find it weird if you called the firm MoFo in such an email

just like Willkie's website is willkie.com, and you can call them Willkie