Networking (a.k.a. Kissing A**) 2L and 3L Years Forum

[northerncali9]

I like to think I have built several cordial relationships with attorneys over my 1L year and the couple years I spent before law school working. With the job market the way it is now, I was hoping people who either became attorneys recently or are confident they have an associate job lined up post-law school can talk about what they did their 2nd and 3rd year to network effectively. The issue I have is that even though I know a few attorneys, I am not sure where to go from here--do I ask them for part-time internships to get my foot in the door over the next couple years, e-mail them from time to time to ask questions about their particular field of law, or just not pester them until it's my last semester and I am trying to get a job lined up? Biglaw is not an option for me and I am interested in working for a mid-sized firm anyway until I have enough experience to hopefully open my own practice someday. Any suggestions would be welcomed!

[northerncali9]

Anyone?!

[gwuorbust]

rising 3L here. I try to keep in contact with people that could be useful. Send them a link to an article or let them know about some community event or something. But emailing some lawyer you've meet like 2x and being like "hey bud can I have an internship?" is not the right way to go. You have to be build real connections. Then when finally do email that lawyer you have a great connection with is, you seem like someone who can bring a solution. But asking for an internship right now looks like exactly what it is, begging for a job as a 1L.

[hiima3L]

You need to have a reason to network, and the best possible way is having (or feigning) a strong interest in a specific kind of law. I don't know how else people can network effectively. Email attorneys in the field and ask for an informal meeting "to just talk about your work." You meet these attorneys who do such wonderful and interesting work for coffee and tell them how jealous of their career you are and ask for any advice they have in getting into that field. Then you go from there.

I did this, and it's been amazing how receptive certain attorneys have been. I met an attorney for lunch and within 15 minutes she asked if I wanted to do work for her. Granted, this was probably a fluke occurrence, but it happens. A friend of mine with terrible grades networked his way through informal coffee meetings to an awesome post-grad job and has met dozens of lawyers in the field so he's already built up a shockingly huge network in about a year.

[LAWYER2]

I did this, and it's been amazing how receptive certain attorneys have been. I met an attorney for lunch and within 15 minutes she asked if I wanted to do work for her. Granted, this was probably a fluke occurrence, but it happens. A friend of mine with terrible grades networked his way through informal coffee meetings to an awesome post-grad job and has met dozens of lawyers in the field so he's already built up a shockingly huge network in about a year.

I agree, practicing attorneys have been really helpful with any questions I've had. I met several going to CLE seminars at the county BAR Association, and just asked if they'd be free for lunch sometime soon. Best thing is, they always pay, because they know how broke you are, lol!

[evilxs]

Kissing ass and networking with attorneys has netted me three paying jobs during law school. The kind that get offered on the spot and they haven't even seen your resume or transcript.

It is not a fluke thing. Some lawyers would rather have someone around they like than the next 4.2 super gunner.

[northerncali9]

Very helpful feedback and this are the types of stories I was hoping to hear. Time to bust out the lip gloss and pucker up!

[ninereal]

You need to have a reason to network, and the best possible way is having (or feigning) a strong interest in a specific kind of law. I don't know how else people can network effectively. Email attorneys in the field and ask for an informal meeting "to just talk about your work." You meet these attorneys who do such wonderful and interesting work for coffee and tell them how jealous of their career you are and ask for any advice they have in getting into that field. Then you go from there.

I did this, and it's been amazing how receptive certain attorneys have been. I met an attorney for lunch and within 15 minutes she asked if I wanted to do work for her. Granted, this was probably a fluke occurrence, but it happens. A friend of mine with terrible grades networked his way through informal coffee meetings to an awesome post-grad job and has met dozens of lawyers in the field so he's already built up a shockingly huge network in about a year.

This will probably not apply to everyone, but: I go to school at an East Coast T14 and want to practice in my home market back west (think Seattle/Portland/Denverish). When I've been back home for breaks, I've had success with emailing people from my law school and asking if they'd be willing to have coffee and talk - not necessarily about their specific area of law, but just about their experiences in the market and general advice. I've started to build a home-market network like that, but I think that might be sort of a unique situation - you almost definitely wouldn't have the same kind of success doing that emailing Columbia grads in NYC and saying "durrrrrr I also Columbia, teach me how to law." YMMV, but I wanted to offer a different perspective.

[gdane]

1L here. I have absolutely zero connections with any lawyers. I went to zero networking events and refused to have business cards made.

This will probably screw me in the next few years.

On a positive note, I've built great relationships with two professors, one of whom is pretty important at my school. I'm RA'ing for that one. So, maybe a nice letter of rec is in my future.

[gwuorbust]

Kissing ass and networking with attorneys has netted me three paying jobs during law school. The kind that get offered on the spot and they haven't even seen your resume or transcript.

It is not a fluke thing. Some lawyers would rather have someone around they like than the next 4.2 super gunner.

This is way more true than you think. I read a study that said 4 out of 5 jobs are never advertised but are given to someone somebody knows.

[Geneva]

Kissing ass and networking with attorneys has netted me three paying jobs during law school. The kind that get offered on the spot and they haven't even seen your resume or transcript.

It is not a fluke thing. Some lawyers would rather have someone around they like than the next 4.2 super gunner.

This is way more true than you think. I read a study that said 4 out of 5 jobs are never advertised but are given to someone somebody knows.

+1

[gokumax]

.

[erico]

Your first problem is that you think networking == kissing A. To network successfully, you must have a genuine interest in others.

[Geneva]

Your first problem is that you think networking == kissing A. To network successfully, you must have a genuine interest in others.

+1

People can tell if you genuinely care.

[northerncali9]

Your first problem is that you think networking == kissing A. To network successfully, you must have a genuine interest in others.

+1

People can tell if you genuinely care.

I genuinely care about not being unemployed.

[gwuorbust]

Your first problem is that you think networking == kissing A. To network successfully, you must have a genuine interest in others.

+1

People can tell if you genuinely care.

I genuinely care about not being unemployed.

and if you look and act desperate you will continue to be unemployed.