Acceptable times/occasions to network? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Incoming 1L SA here at a big city here.

Just wondering, besides coffee sometime around mid-day, what are the other acceptable times/occasions to network with other professionals?
I've been told that it's bad manners/practice (and it makes sense) to network with and reach out to other firms/etc. during working hours of a SA. So coffee seems to be out.

With that in mind, what are occasions/times where one could actually reach out? I feel like inviting out to drinks after work might be too informal, even if I've met them at a reception before. Any thoughts/advice on the matter?

[Anonymous User]

Coffee is not limited to mid day. Coffee is always good.

[Anonymous User]

Coffee is not limited to mid day. Coffee is always good.

Coffee after work at like 6 seems strange though.

[Jchance]

s/he meant in the morning (before work) or brunch time or late afternoon. Don't do afterwork, people want to rush home to see their fam, not you.

[Anonymous User]

I networked frequently with people from other firms during my SA, mainly with alums of my school who were doing work in the area of law I was interested in. Ultimately led to a job in the area I was interested in with a partner I was interested in working with.

Don't blow off firm events/social events to network, but anytime in the morning is fine. That's when I mainly did it. You don't really need cover for networking, but there's no need to broadcast that you are doing it. Have fun this summer, network and make something out of it.

[Mickfromgm]

I would look at it this way. The attorney is doing you a huge favor here, so you should accommodate his/her schedule as much as possible. You should ask what is most convenient for him/her, or when s/he is available. If I may be honest, a SA would sound like a d-bag if s/he tries to dictate exactly when the networking meeting ought to occur -- I would've rolled my eyes a bit if a SA reaching out to me to network was like, "dude, I can't meet at 3 p.m. because that might make me look bad at the firm."

In NYC and many places elsewhere, lawyers don't get in the office until 9:30 a.m. at the earliest because they (i) probably worked late the night before, (ii) often have a 1.5 to 2.0 hour commute each way to the office, and (iii) want to spend time with the kids in the morning before the bus (a limo, probably) comes. Thus, they might very well balk at meeting you before work.

Jchance is right -- after work, these guys/gals rush home to spend time with their family, so they don't end up in a divorce, and/or cry about it on the psychologist's sofa. Moreover, their workday may very well end at 9 p.m. and then they dine-and-dash (i.e., get a takeout on the client and take the $200 car service home 30 miles away). So after work is not likely either.

Let's think about this - whether you are missing for an hour from the office at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. makes no difference, imho. The biggest benefit of being a lawyer is that as long as you get your poop done (work product and billable hours), no one accounts for your time. You can come and go as you please. They are used to this mentality. Of course, as a SA, you can't be MIA all the time, but you are connected via text/email and the attorneys are likely to assume you are working on other attorneys' projects.

Tell your admin assistant that you have to step out of the office for an hour (don't say for what) and that anyone looking for you should call/text/email.

[lolwat]

Lunch & coffee during the day

[ballouttacontrol]

Morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, happy hour are all fine. I think me and most of my friends would prefer happy hour, but yea I'd suggest any of the above and let them dictate to you when works with their schedule.

No one at your firm will notice/care you're gone

[favabeansoup]

No one at your firm will notice/care you're gone

I'll emphasize this point. The lawyers you work with are not your mom, dad, professor, or significant other. You do not need their permission to do anything. As long as you are getting your assignments done and not missing out on scheduled meetings/firm sponsored networking events, no one cares what you do with your time.

Now obviously you don't want to be known as the SA who is never in their office between 10-4pm, but going on a handful of coffee meetups or lunches is totally fine. Just don't neglect to network and get to know the people at your own firm too.