Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs
Informational interviewing can be helpful for students seeking a foothold in the legal profession or for seasoned attorneys relocating to a new geographic area or attempting to navigate a shift in career focus. Although you may not go into an informational interview with a specific job in mind, that does not mean you won't be leaving with one (or the prospect of one down the line). Additionally, even if your meeting does not result in a job directly with the interviewee, it could indirectly through mentoring and creating a relationship that helps foster your career.
To help you along with the informational interviewing process, we are providing you with example emails for you to use when making those connections with alumni, friends of friends, family contacts and other attorneys.
GGU Alumni Directory
To locate GGU alumni working in your practice areas of interest, visit www.ggu.edu/alumni. Passwords for GGU students are available on LCSonline (Accessing the Alumni Directory link under SHORTCUTS).
When using the Alumni Directory, always be sure to conduct yourself in a professional, responsible manner. Establishing a mutually respectful relationship with alumni can provide a wealth of information about the job market and particular career paths.
Below you will find a few different templates for the types of emails that you should be sending out to build your professional network. We encourage you to be creative with your emails and not use the exact wording of these templates.
Initial Contact
Before contacting someone for an informational interview, you should give some thought about what you want to gain from the interaction.
Subject Line: Referred by [Professor/Friend/Colleague/etc.] or Request for Informational Interview
Dear Mr/s. XXX:
I came across your name in the XXX alumni network database/I was given your name by [Professor/Friend/Colleague/etc.]. I was hoping to set up an informational interview with you to discuss your career with you, as I am looking to pursue a position in [Public Interest/Government/Corporate Litigation/Transactional/Intellectual Property/Criminal] law upon graduation.
As an undergraduate/After completing my undergraduate studies,] I worked at [blank, as blank]. Additionally, this past summer I completed [internship/externship/summer associate program]. I have always been interested in [blank] and am eager to begin the next stage of my career. Given your expertise, I would greatly appreciate any and all advice you may impart regarding the [blank] legal field.
I will follow up with you in the next few days to see if we can arrange a time to meet.
Sincerely,
XXXX
School, Class Year
If you do end up speaking with a contact over the phone, be sure to note that you are seeking guidance about his or her practice area or organization rather than asking for a job. As with any phone interview, you should have a definite sense of the points you want to make before making or taking the call.
Bearing in mind that most attorneys have hectic schedules, you shouldn’t be offended or dissuaded if it takes a couple of weeks or even a couple of e-mails before you get a reply. Also, remember the law of averages—even if you never hear back from some of the attorneys, sooner or later you are likely to get positive responses from others.
Informational Interview
After making contact with a practicing lawyer who is willing to speak and/or meet with you, you should try to establish a date for an informational interview. Meeting with someone in person is the best possible means of establishing a relationship. You should offer to go to his/her office or establish a meeting place that is convenient for him/her. Make sure to review our Informational Interview handout (available in the Resource Library on LCSonline) to help you prepare questions in advance of your meeting.
An informational interview provides a great opportunity to gain insight into an employer or practice area without the pressure of a job interview. Knowing that the interviewee wants to help you will allow you to set a professional yet comfortable tone for the meeting. After networking with a more senior attorney, you will likely be more confident the next time you formally interview for an attorney position.
Thank You Note
You should always follow up any meeting thank-you note or email after your informational interview. Good manners are integral to a successful job search. Here is an example of such an email:
Dear XXX:
Given how hectic your schedule is, I very much appreciate your taking the time to meet with me today. Considering the importance of networking in the field of [blank], I am grateful for your advice.
I will certainly follow up on all of the resources that you provided. If I come across any specific opportunities, I will run them by you to see if you might have any further insight.
I have attached a copy of my resume to this email, for your convenience. Please feel free to pass it along as you see fit.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to discuss your career with me. Meeting with individuals like you who gain such deep satisfaction from their work only fortifies my decision to pursue a position in this field.
Best,
XXXX
School, Class Year
As with any job searching (and pretty much all human interaction), timing plays a huge role. GGU Alumni Services is often updating and adding new contacts to their databases, so check back frequently. Also, don't forget about your undergraduate alumni database. Many of the alumni of your college or university may have gone on to law school or attained a level of success that you seek to emulate.
Try to have fun with this portion of the job process. No one ever said making contacts, and potentially new friends and business connections had to be hard. Just remember to pay any good luck forward once you're an alumnus/a.
