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Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

#NotACop wrote:Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

Unless you're in a region completely dominated by one party and you are a supporter of that party, absolutely do not do this.

Region is primarily dominated by one side (even though everyone knows the gov. is a shitbag) but I'm more independant.

#NotACop wrote:Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

Maybe it's because I'm in public interest, but, no attorney I know has ever seen political involvement as a bad thing. Shows drive, passion, ect.

Will_McAvoy wrote:

#NotACop wrote:Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

Unless you're in a region completely dominated by one party and you are a supporter of that party, absolutely do not do this.

Aren't you an 0L?

philosoraptor wrote:

Will_McAvoy wrote:

#NotACop wrote:Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

Unless you're in a region completely dominated by one party and you are a supporter of that party, absolutely do not do this.

Aren't you an 0L?

Yes, but I have some direct experience in this situation. Getting involved in local politics will likely serve as a black mark on your resume if you eventually want to be employed by one of these firms and do government relations work. Local politics tend to be very sensitive and firms (and their employees) that work in local government rel. can't appear adversarial and can't seem to lean one way.

If it's volunteering that could not in any way be construed as partisan, then I'd say go for it; otherwise I would see the benefits as being very marginal compared to the risk in rubbing someone important the wrong way.

Will_McAvoy wrote:

philosoraptor wrote:

Will_McAvoy wrote:

#NotACop wrote:Might be a stupid question, but I'm bored at work. A few of the bigger law firms that I'm looking into around my area have huge roles in local politics. Would it be a smart thing to do if I were to volunteer every so often to get my name out there/build up my network a little bit?

Unless you're in a region completely dominated by one party and you are a supporter of that party, absolutely do not do this.

Aren't you an 0L?

Yes, but I have some direct experience in this situation. Getting involved in local politics will likely serve as a black mark on your resume if you eventually want to be employed by one of these firms and do government relations work. Local politics tend to be very sensitive and firms (and their employees) that work in local government rel. can't appear adversarial and can't seem to lean one way.

If it's volunteering that could not in any way be construed as partisan, then I'd say go for it; otherwise I would see the benefits as being very marginal compared to the risk in rubbing someone important the wrong way.

You are assuming a lot (that he does government relations work). Many lawyers are active in politics - particularly if they want to be appointed to a position (head of an agency, the bench, etc.).

My own experience suggests that this is a bad idea. I have a substantial amount of experience working as a staffer for various politicians, all in the Democratic Party. I live in the Bay Area, where Dems basically run everything. However, as I interviewed for 1L summer jobs (primarily in-house and various corporate law practices), I felt that the work experience hurt me as it came up a lot in interviews, and the interviewers generally seemed skeptical.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but think about what kind of work you want to do first. If you want to do PI or government work, then go for it. If not, stay out of politics until you are actually practicing.

Teoeo wrote:Many lawyers are active in politics - particularly if they want to be appointed to a position (head of an agency, the bench, etc.).

Totally. That's not inconsistent with what I said.

Local/state government relations practices and attorneys that work in government relations practices are crazy about appearing neutral and not offending anyone; rando partners at their firm in other practice groups can be pretty brazen about their politics. My experience is limited to just a few practices in the same region, so maybe I've overstated some of this, but in the situations I've been around, I wouldn't advise someone to do this.

If I were an associate looking to get into politics, I'd do it very slowly and carefully, either by (a) getting to know the partners who are politically connected, or (b) serving on local boards and getting to know the players in my city, or both. Plenty of biglaw partners (almost exclusively lit, as far as I've seen) are politically active, but you'd have to get started through the proper channels as an associate.

So general consensus is wait until I'm already established with an associate position somewhere. Good thing I asked because I was about to dive right in, also good because I have no idea which political idealogies I align better with.

#NotACop wrote:So general consensus is wait until I'm already established with an associate position somewhere. Good thing I asked because I was about to dive right in, also good because I have no idea which political idealogies I align better with.

Do you...vote?

I read a while back that Marco Rubio ran for office and it gave him quite the boost salary-wise at his law firm since it brought attention to the firm etc.

Disclosure: 00L

There are a ton of lawyers on the board and involved with fundraising for the non-profit I work for. Would this kind of community involvement subsitute at all for political activity in bringing in clients?

redsox wrote:

#NotACop wrote:So general consensus is wait until I'm already established with an associate position somewhere. Good thing I asked because I was about to dive right in, also good because I have no idea which political idealogies I align better with.

Do you...vote?

Also, a 0L here.

Normally I would be all for encouraging someone to get involved in politics, but if you don't even know what your political leanings are, don't do this.

redsox wrote:

#NotACop wrote:So general consensus is wait until I'm already established with an associate position somewhere. Good thing I asked because I was about to dive right in, also good because I have no idea which political idealogies I align better with.

Do you...vote?

Probably should have phrased this better. I know where I stand on individual issues; however, in terms of being completely on one side of the other, I'm all over the place. For example, damn illegal immigrants, go big corporations, yay guns, hooray abortion, mmmmm pot legalization, and yippee go green.

You're a cafeteria Libertarian in the Ron/Rand Paul vein. Probably best you don't vote

How about running for office and winning a seat?