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New associate. On a case that's ok, slow right now. Is there any reason I should be wary of looking up partners I want to work with and sending the following email (or something like it)?

Subj line: Reaching Out

Hey Parner Name

I haven’t had the chance to meet you yet, but I just started at the Firm a couple of weeks ago. I’m reaching out to let you know that if you need an associate on any of your cases, I would really like the chance to work with you. I’m in [office number] and my extension is XXXX.

Thanks and I hope to see you around.

Best,
New Associate

Thoughts? Edits? Other suggestions?

2nd year only, but I sent cold emails all the time when I was just getting started. Also I think that dropping by offices and introducing yourself yields good results as well.

okaygo wrote:2nd year only, but I sent cold emails all the time when I was just getting started. Also I think that dropping by offices and introducing yourself yields good results as well.

Was the content of your emails similar to the example above?

Yep. I didn’t say the part about not yet meeting them because 1) it reads a little creepy to me and 2) partners largely don’t remember what first years/summer they have or haven’t met anyway.

Some people might think hey is a little informal.

cfcm wrote:Some people might think hey is a little informal.

+1. I'd simply use "Hi [first name]" instead.

It sounds like the OP is in general lit, so this may not be applicable. But if reaching out to a partner focusing on an area OP is particularly interested in, I think it'd be helpful to note that in the cold email.

Also, +1 to the general consensus ITT that cold emails are not only okay but a great way to source work.

QContinuum wrote:

cfcm wrote:Some people might think hey is a little informal.

+1. I'd simply use "Hi [first name]" instead.

It sounds like the OP is in general lit, so this may not be applicable. But if reaching out to a partner focusing on an area OP is particularly interested in, I think it'd be helpful to note that in the cold email.

Also, +1 to the general consensus ITT that cold emails are not only okay but a great way to source work.

Agree with all of this. "Hey" is fine for many people and not the worst option ("Dear Mr./Ms. XXX" is actually worse IMO), but "Hi XXX" is clearly the best for a cold email to a partner with whom you've never worked.

Cold email is fine but you should really go over to their office and say hi and introduce yourself. I 100% guarantee you no partner will be put off by that. I remember being scared to do that when I was a summer associate, which is pathetic in retrospect. I'm a senior associate and partners are no longer scary in the least.

Anonymous User wrote:Cold email is fine but you should really go over to their office and say hi and introduce yourself. I 100% guarantee you no partner will be put off by that. I remember being scared to do that when I was a summer associate, which is pathetic in retrospect. I'm a senior associate and partners are no longer scary in the least.

Agreed. Unless they are in an out of town office, just go and say "hi."