The gift of gab is a professional skill worth developing in law school.
Small talk may seem trivial, but it plays an important role in building professional relationships. Lawyers rely on it every day, and law students should start developing the skill long before their first job interview or client meeting.
You’ll use small talk while waiting for an interview, before court begins, when meeting a client for the first time, while chatting with opposing counsel before a deposition or when sharing an elevator with a judge. Those first few minutes of conversation can establish rapport, build trust and make others more receptive to what you have to say. In a profession built on relationships, the ability to connect comfortably with people can give you a meaningful advantage.
Practice before it counts
Like oral advocacy, client interviewing and negotiation, small talk improves with practice. The more often you start conversations, the less intimidating it becomes.
Start with the people around you. Talk with classmates before class, introduce yourself to professors and make a point of meeting attorneys and alumni at school events. Attend student organization meetings, bar association programs and professional receptions. Each interaction gives you an opportunity to build confidence and discover what feels natural.
You don’t need to become the most outgoing person in the room. Your goal is to become someone who can comfortably start a conversation, keep it going and help others feel at ease.
Prepare a few conversation starters
Good conversations often begin with a little preparation. Stay current on legal news, major court decisions and developments in the profession, but read beyond the law too. Sports, travel, books, restaurants, technology and current events can all provide useful talking points. You’ll be a more engaging conversationalist when you discuss subjects that genuinely interest you.
Weather and traffic are perfectly acceptable opening topics. Just be ready to move beyond them. Before attending an event, spend a few minutes learning about the organization, its speakers or the people you hope to meet. Knowing someone’s practice area, professional background or recent accomplishment gives you a natural opening and demonstrates that you’ve taken an interest.
Ask questions that invite conversation
One common mistake is trying too hard to impress people. Instead, focus on learning something about them. Thoughtful questions help others open up and take the pressure off you to carry the conversation.
Try questions such as these:
- What drew you to your practice area?
- What do you enjoy most about your work?
- What advice would you give to a law student interested in litigation?
- How did you choose your first job after law school?
Listen to the answers and ask follow-up questions. If an attorney mentions an interesting case or a career change, invite them to tell you more. Share your own experiences when they fit naturally into the discussion and look for common interests or experiences that can deepen the connection.
The best conversations feel balanced rather than scripted. People may forget the details of what you said, but they’ll often remember whether you made them feel comfortable, heard and valued.
Listen like a lawyer
Lawyers know the importance of gathering information before responding. That same discipline makes for better small talk. Maintain eye contact, put your phone away and resist the urge to scan the room while someone is speaking. Pay attention to what the other person says instead of planning your next comment.
Good listening also means noticing opportunities to ask a relevant follow-up question or acknowledge a shared experience. These small gestures communicate confidence, professionalism and respect, qualities that employers, clients and colleagues appreciate.
Protect your professional reputation
Every interaction contributes to your professional reputation, even casual conversations. Avoid gossip, crude humor and complaints about professors, classmates, internships or interviews. Be cautious about politics, religion and other potentially sensitive subjects unless the setting and your relationship with the other person make them appropriate.
If a conversation becomes uncomfortable, redirect it politely by asking a new question or introducing another topic. Remember that the legal community is smaller than it may seem. Today’s classmate could become tomorrow’s opposing counsel, referral source, colleague or hiring partner.
Navigate the room with confidence
Networking events and business social gatherings are especially useful places to practice small talk. Arrive early when possible, since introducing yourself is often easier before people settle into established groups. If you join a conversation already in progress, listen briefly and wait for a natural pause before introducing yourself.
When you meet someone you’ve encountered before but aren’t sure they’ll remember you, offer a friendly reminder. Saying, “We met at the career fair last semester,” gives the other person helpful context without creating an awkward moment.
Know how to end a conversation too. Thank the person for their time and mention something you enjoyed discussing. A simple, “I’ve really enjoyed talking with you. I hope our paths cross again,” leaves a positive impression. Just as important, recognize when someone else is ready to move on. Shorter answers, wandering glances or repeated looks around the room may signal that it’s time to wrap things up. Make the exit easy and gracious.
Think beyond the immediate payoff
You may hope a conversation leads to an interview, a mentor or a future opportunity, but those possibilities shouldn’t dominate the interaction. Approach people with curiosity and a genuine interest in their experiences. Relationships develop over time, often in ways you couldn’t have anticipated.
Law is a people profession, and your ability to connect with classmates, professors, judges, clients and colleagues will influence your career in countless ways. You don’t have to be the funniest person in the room or a naturally gifted conversationalist. You simply need to be prepared, attentive and willing to take the first step.
Start practicing now. The everyday conversations you have in law school can build the confidence and connections that serve you throughout your career, long before you meet your first client, step into a courtroom or close your first deal.
