Expanding Your Network
by Jan Nussbaum
Assistant Director for Professional Development
In the last Onward + Upward newsletter, I discussed that no matter where you are in your job search or career, it is important to periodically take stock of who is in your network of connections, and map out who you should touch base with about your job hopes and career. It is equally important to consistently expand your network of connections to increase your exposure to the legal community. Below are several ways to do this:
Volunteer: Volunteering is a very effective way to meet attorneys and impress others. It is possible to volunteer a few hours or a few days per week, especially while you're looking for a full-time paid attorney position.
To help in this regard, GGU has a Bridge Fellowship Program for recent graduates that provides a modest payment for volunteer work at the courts, government agencies, or other public service organizations. See LCSOnline for more details.
Professional Associations: Joining and becoming active in professional associations is a great way to meet other attorneys. If you are not comfortable with going up and introducing yourself to people you don't know, there are many events provided by professional associations, such as continuing education classes, discussions and presentations of legal hot topics where you can meet other attorneys. Volunteering to help at an event makes it much easier to network, because in carrying out your duties you are naturally able to interact with and talk to other attorneys. The Bar Association of San Francisco has many events and is offering free CLE classes for volunteers who have not yet been sworn into the bar.
Alumni: Meeting GGU alumni is another key way to expand your network.
Informational Interviews: If you have just taken the bar exam, this is the perfect time to approach attorneys about getting together to discuss your job search and career ambitions. Reach out to attorneys that have been recommended by those in your network or to GGU alumni.
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