What do I say to/ask a partner at a firm I like but is in a different practice area?
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2016 3:46 pm
Here's the situation
I'm in government, 2 years experience, and have been looking to make a move to private practice. I was speaking with a friend and mentioned a firm that I'm interested in, and coincidentally my friend has a close relationship with a partner there (life-long family friend). My friend asked the partner if he could connect us and the partner was fine with that. I want to make the most out of this conversation, but the partner is in a wholly different practice area from me (broadly speaking, imagine an m&a associate talking to a lit partner). How do I make this work? Do I just ask to meet so I can ask questions about private practice/specifics about his firm? I just want to make sure it doesn't seem like I'm forcing a conversation or making it too obvious that I'd like his help to pull me over (whenever I do these informal convos I never straight up ask that). Thanks all
I'm in government, 2 years experience, and have been looking to make a move to private practice. I was speaking with a friend and mentioned a firm that I'm interested in, and coincidentally my friend has a close relationship with a partner there (life-long family friend). My friend asked the partner if he could connect us and the partner was fine with that. I want to make the most out of this conversation, but the partner is in a wholly different practice area from me (broadly speaking, imagine an m&a associate talking to a lit partner). How do I make this work? Do I just ask to meet so I can ask questions about private practice/specifics about his firm? I just want to make sure it doesn't seem like I'm forcing a conversation or making it too obvious that I'd like his help to pull me over (whenever I do these informal convos I never straight up ask that). Thanks all