Need a legal-service job? Wondering how to network in the legal industry?
As any career services counselor will tell you, your networking and legal career essentially begins on the first day of law school.
Although lawyers are not ignorant of the stress and time involved in surviving law school, nowadays, the reality is that law students must network early, aggressively and wisely to obtain as much legal experience as possible while in law school.
Organizations such as The JBA easily can help you start.
I know, I know — it’s very intimidating to walk into a JBA function, not know a soul and market yourself to gain contacts, ask questions or possibly nail an internship lead. But it must be done.
The association offers affordable memberships ranging from $30, $80, $230 and $330. (Now it’s time to hit up grandma or another relative for some dough — say it’s for your career or a birthday gift.)
If you join The JBA, an easy way to acquaint yourself with lawyers on a more personal level is to become involved with a committee or help plan an event, say on the social events committee. (I’ll admit, a shameless plug for one of our member services committees.)
You are in an intimate setting of perhaps a handful of lawyers in one room versus lunch meetings where anywhere from 200-400 lawyers and judges are together. The smaller setting makes it much easier to introduce yourself and meet members in a less intimidating setting. (Free beer on Thursday nights in law school can only go so far in your legal career).
If you treat every law-school day like a full-time workday, you can find the time to be involved, take on an internship and just be outside of your law school world of friends and professors. Employers are looking for people with legal experience before they graduate, so networking helps you become introduced to lawyers who are looking for extra help with legal research, writing and any other office tasks.
Also, networking and being involved with your local Bar organization helps build confidence, social skills and an in-depth understanding of what it’s really like to work in this legal industry from those working in it.
And please do not solely rely on the Internet or social media to find employment, make cold calls or apply to every law office in the city — especially without researching or having an inkling of what the firm or business practices.
There are so many jobs and opportunities that are not advertised, listed online or even known within departments of the same company.
Every law student should develop actual real, personal relationships, an art and skill sadly lost in this day and age of texts, emails, blog sites, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
You must supplement your social media outreach with attending and becoming involved in JBA events and CLE functions.
Lastly, have a positive attitude.
You must put yourself in the situation with a determined, positive mindset and welcome the challenge.
The entire legal career is a challenge. Every day you learn something new.
Maintaining a positive attitude will motivate you past barriers — such as not knowing people at an event or having the occasional conversation with someone who doesn’t really care what you do or even forgets your name.
You will find that most people, when contacted in a genuine and sincere way, seek to understand who you are and where you are headed professionally.
This practice of seeking to truly understand and listen to another attorney’s stories or advice is reciprocal and is the best way to actively network in our profession.
And who knows, if you become really involved and find you love the interaction, perhaps you could be the next JBA leader.