Graduate Fellow, Law Career Development
Following up with last week's blog on why networking is crucial to being a successful attorney, below are some networking tips to utilize depending on your networking setting. There are different approaches for large group networking events versus one-on-one informational meetings. In addition to these tips, be sure to check out Law Career Development's "Networking Tips" flier in the LCD office or on the LCD online resource library.
LARGE GROUP SETTINGS
- Ask Open-Ended Questions Of The People You Meet. This is always a safe go-to method for starting a conversation because it allows you to initiate dialogue without providing the substance of the conversation. Asking, "Where do you work?" or "What did you think of the speaker?" are very casual, convenient questions to get the ball rolling. This also allows anyone in your respective group to participate. Eliminate questions that require a "yes" or a "no" answer to avoid having the conversation nipped at the start.
- Smile And Appear Friendly. This seems so basic that people often forget when they are nervous to smile. Saying a quick "hello" to and maintaining eye contact with a passerby will keep you from seeming too serious or standoffish. The more approachable you appear, the more likely someone will try to start up a conversation with you. Most people dislike networking, so when they are immersed in an event, they want to surround themselves with likable people to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible. Thus, simply keeping the appearance up that you are enjoying yourself and are a friendly person will help shave off how much effort it will take for you to network at a large event.
- Ask For Introductions And Don't Stick To One Group. The whole point of a large networking event is to bring together many people with common interests. Do not get sucked into one group or have a conversation with one person too long. One great way to move around is to ask the persons whom you are currently speaking with if they could introduce you to any other attorneys at the event. Saying something like, "It was great speaking with you, and I would like to get to know others here. Do you happen to know anyone here that you could introduce me to?" can help you gently end your current conversation while quickly moving you on to the next. Plus, the introduction itself will increase the chances that the new attorney will take an interest in you. Remember, referrals go a long way.
The smaller the event, the easier it can be to target a few individuals or small groups to approach and have a conversation. However, typically, the conversations will dive deeper and be more lengthy than those you would encounter at a large event of 100 plus attorneys. Being able to keep the conversation from dulling or knowing when to exit requires some grace and tactic. Below are a few quick tips to boost your confidence and hold at the forefront of your mind during your next cocktail hour or panel reception.
- Be Generous In Your Own Way. Not everyone has a job to offer to those they meet, but you can be generous with your words and your time. "Sincere interest in the other person—even flattery—is a form of generosity and goes a long way when you're networking[.] 'Be authentic, share your passions and help other people feel good about themselves or be successful—that's all you have to do to network[.]'" This is especially significant in smaller groups because it inherently causes people to be more aware of their surroundings and of the people they meet. It will make you memorable. As a law student or young attorney, be sure to express gratitude and enthusiasm to those who choose to have a conversation with you so that they will take from it a pleasant experience and may even feel more confident in themselves.
- Have A Few Sentences Ready About You. Even if you bump the main speaking duties to a more senior legal profession through questions, most likely you will not be able to evade talking at least a little bit about yourself. Do not flat line! You should allow your audience to get to know you so that they may take an interest in you both at that moment and in the long-run. "It’s as simple as encompassing who are you, what you do, and why you’re here. That should be enough to get the conversation flowing, and to help the people you meet figure out as soon as possible if and how they can help (and vice versa)." You never know your audience's history and personal experiences, so your few sentences may trigger a memory that they can then share with you and bond over.
- Research The Event Topic Ahead Of Time. Most smaller group events are targeted with a specific audience or topic in mind. For instance, it may be a trial advocacy attorneys' event where all the attorneys are trial lawyers. Or the focal point of the events rests on a civil rights movement. Since smaller groups tend to dive deeper into their discussion, you should familiarize yourself with the event enough so that you can adequately participate in conversations that will likely take place. "Look up the topics that will be discussed if it’s a seminar or if someone’s giving a talk, and research them a little so you can talk about them intelligently later." However, you do not need to be an expert, and no one expects a law student or young attorney to know much other than why the group or topic is of interest. It will make you appear more astute and professional.
The most intimate of the networking settings is when you meet someone face-to-face, one-on-one. While you can have an extremely worthwhile discussion and get to know the a person when you have them all to yourself, it also can highlight the more awkward moments of a conversation when there is no one else to break the ice, smooth over rigid moments, or keep the dialogue progressing. Below are some good tips to be aware of before you undertake a one-on-one meeting.
- Be Prepared And Know Your Audience. If you ask a professor, alumni, attorney, or other professional to sit with you for advice, then you better know a little bit about them. It is a simple courtesy and requires very little time on your part. Most likely you have asked them to sit down for an informational interview to provide you with advice or introductions to other attorneys. But, if you do not know what this person does for a living or why their career path is similar to yours, then how can they help you? Have an agenda set up for the meeting--it is a great way to move things along and shows your audience that you value the time they are spending with you.
- Ask For Advice. It is a well-known fact that lawyers, and people generally, love to talk about themselves and many find great joy when asked for advice and their opinion. As a law student or young attorney, you can simply introduce yourself and ask, "I am a law student in my second year. Do you have any advice for me?" And you can re-ask this question numerous times in a conversation by simple gearing it to different topics of advice. For example, you can ask for advice in regards to classes to take, internships to apply for, or what areas of law the attorney thinks are hot in the market. You could also ask the attorney about their past experiences and the "do's and don'ts" of their past career. This way, you increase the amount of time you listen, reduce how much you need to speak, and will still have a very meaningful, and likely very beneficial, conversation.
- Treat It Like An Interview. Be professional and present yourself as you would if you were being interviewed - always! Often times, a face-to-face meeting is the start to a formal interview or a job offer somewhere down the road. However, do NOT ask for a job if it is an informational meeting.
You will make your audience feel awkward and likely uneasy. If there is a job opportunity, they will bring it to you. You should ask for contacts to other like-minded professionals, however. And it is appropriate to follow up with a thank you note that shows an interest in working for their firm. As discussed in my previous blog, though, networking and referrals is a long, continuous process where relationships must start, then flourish, before it blossoms into such a thing as a future career or client referrals. If this is a follow up meeting where you are comfortable with the attorney, such as a previous supervisor, then it may be entirely appropriate to mention that you would like to work at their organization, but be sure to not put them on the spot. For instance, you could ask for their advice on how to get in to their firm or general advice about the organization's hiring process so that when the time is ripe, you can apply.
