Are you Linked In?

Are you LinkedIn? LinkedIn is like Facebook for professionals! According to its website, "LinkedIn is an online network of more than 30 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries." You set up a profile with your educational and employment information (sort of like a resume). After that you can request someone to be added to your network. You can only add people that you already know or get introduced to via another contact. You can search for jobs, network, or just keep in touch with people you used to attend school with or used to work with.

Networking Tips Podcast

Check out this a Holiday Networking for Law Students podcast sponsored by the Business Law section of the ABA. You need to have Quicktime downloaded. Also this is a great time of year to start looking for a job. Many law firms, non-for-profits, and state agencies are looking for legislative interns to help during the legislative session that usually occurs during the first 3 or 4 months of the year. It's also a great time for first years to start applying and looking for that internship during the summer after the first year of law school. Good luck!

Network in Law School

First know where you want to work or at least what type of law you want to practice. Contact your Career Services office and ask for alumni that practice in the area or fieldthat you want to practice. Then send an email or mail a letter explaining that your Career Services director recommended you contact them and if they had any advise for a future lawyer wanting to practice in this city or in this area of law. If possible, ask to meet them for coffee or lunch just to pick their brain. When they say yes, come armed with questions. This is basically an informational interview. Don't ask about jobs, ask about advice. Start this process early in your law school career and you'll build up your networks and land yourself a legal job upon graduation. If you have friends or family who are lawyers or know lawyers, go ahead and send them the pro forma letter. Try to start the letter with Mr. or Ms. Z recomended I contact you, so that you are not some random person. You can also say that you came across their name or law firm while doing research about the field of law you are interested in. Once you meet with these networks, keep in touch with them every couple of months so they know where you are in the job search process.