It’s no secret that law school grades are important. Aside from honors and awards, your law school grades can open doors that lead to your dream job. But grades alone aren’t everything. Your network can also have a major impact on your career. Here are some tips on how to get started.
- Focus on relationship-building
First, make sure you have the right mindset when it comes to building a network in law school. If you view networking as purely transactional, think again. Networking is much more about building relationships that last through law school and beyond than about obtaining a specific short-term outcome. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with your peers — they’ll be your colleagues for years to come!
Consider joining a law student organization. Law student organizations are a great place to meet like-minded people with similar interests.
- Use your school resources
Most law schools will offer tons of networking resources for students such as career fairs, alumni databases, lunch presentations and much more. These are great opportunities to meet people with similar interests and learn more about legal jobs in your interest area. Make sure to take advantage of these opportunities and attend these events!
If you’re up for it, we recommend attending alone — you may be more likely to step outside your comfort zone and strike up a conversation! Otherwise, bringing a friend may help you feel more at ease.
- Listen first
Ask the right kinds of questions at a networking event. We recommend that you aim to have a genuine, respectful conversation with the attorneys you meet.
Consider asking questions like:
How did you choose your practice area?
Did you always know you wanted to be an attorney/practice this type of law?
What advice do you have for law students who are looking to practice in this area of law?
Also, remember that networking is a two-way street! Make sure you share information about yourself and your goals. Remember that your goal is not to immediately get a job from a networking event. It is to build relationships with others.
- Leave the resume at home
Once you make a connection, consider asking for a business card or another means to continue the conversation with that person. Unless the networking event specifies otherwise, you should leave your resume at home. Remember, networking is more about long-term relationships than short-term gains!
Once you get home, add the person you connected with on LinkedIn. This is a great way to stay in touch and further opens the door to communication.
- Don’t be shy
If you’re an introvert, here’s an important thing to remember about networking: most people want to help! Don’t be afraid to cold-email an alumnus who has your dream job or invite a professor to coffee to chat about their career. The attorneys you’re looking to connect with all went to law school and searched for jobs, too. They remember how hard it can be to navigate and are generally happy to pass on their wisdom.
It’s a small world, after all
We can’t stress this enough: the legal world is tiny and careers are long. A connection you made during law school may be the one who helps you find the perfect job twenty years into your career. That being said, memories are long too, so you should always treat your peers and colleagues with kindness and respect. Not only is that the professional thing to do, you also never know what path your career will take!
