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February 02, 2009
Guest Blogger's Networking Advice
Periodically throughout the year the CSO posts blog entries from guest bloggers about various topics. Please note that the views expressed by our guest bloggers are the personal opinion of each blogger and are not necessarily the views and opinions of the CSO. The CSO guest blogger entires are intended as an opportunity for attorneys currently practicing in the legal field to share their insight and advice with law students.
Our guest blogger for the month of February is Julie Lady, Esq. (class of 2002). Ms. Lady is an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission here in the Cleveland office. In her blog, Ms. Lady offers three ways to jumpstart your networking efforts.
"As a law student I didn’t have any desire to be involved in networking nor did I see any reason. Since I’ve left law school, I have begun to realize the importance that networking plays in your career. I suspect you’ve heard this before, but let me remind you why it is important. First, it can help you get a job now. Most people get jobs because of who they know, not what they know. Second, it can help you once you have a job. Your network of contacts may know something about a subject you need to know about. Third, you might not always want to stay at your first job. If you’ve kept up your contacts, it will be that much easier to find your second job.
I know that networking can be intimidating–I have been there. So, here are three of the least intimidating ways to expand your contacts. My hope is that you’ll try these because they seem less intimidating and it will get you started.
1. Keep up contacts with the attorneys you work for and with over the summer.
This is the least intimidating way to network as you already know these people. Try to meet up with them for lunch occasionally or find other ways to stay in contact. Having worked with them, you may know needs or interests that they have. If you see a way that you can help them out, be sure to do that.
2. Join a bar association and attend events.
Bar association events are a great way to meet practicing attorneys in an informal setting. Attend events related to the kind of law you think you want to practice. When you are there, introduce yourself to the people you are seated by. Tell them you’re a law student and interested in this area of law. Ask them how they got started. Most people enjoy being asked about themselves and for advice. Rarely will someone turn down your request. I am a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and I can tell you that members of the CMBA spend time thinking about how to get more law students to come to their events. These attorneys want to meet you and do what they can to help. These are the people you are going to be working with in just a few months or years. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
3. Talk to the Career Services Office.
Case’s career services office solicits alumni to participate in helping current students obtain jobs. Some alumni volunteer to talk to students about a particular area of law or getting a job. Talk to the CSO about where you want to work and the kind of work you want to do. Ask them for a list of alumni in the geographic or practice area that you are interested in. Then, and I can’t stress this enough, call these people. I know, I know, it is hard to call up a stranger and I promised to give you my least intimidating tips. Think about it though, these people want to talk to you. They volunteered. I know for a fact they want to talk to you because I am on that list.
I encourage all of you to try at least one of these three suggestions. I think you will find that networking is not as hard as you might have thought."
Posted by cld30 at February 2, 2009 09:48 AM