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The single best source for new positions is "word-of-mouth."  A startling number of legal positions are never posted (about 80%), because a qualified candidate learned of the position by talking to the right people at the right time, and the position was filled without any formal advertisement.  Employers frequently hire through contacts because they prefer to hire someone they know.  If they receive a recommendation of a good candidate, they can feel confident in their new employee while saving time and money compared to the traditional job posting methods. 

The term "Networking" may bring to mind visions of cold calling and talking with strangers about uninteresting subjects.  Fortunately, networking can be as easy as talking to your friends and neighbors!  Everyone you meet may be a valuable resource in your job search.  Take a minute to consider the people in your informal contact list:

• Professors
• Career Services Office
• Friends
• Friends of the family
• Co-workers
• CULS Alumni
• Neighbors
• Church Members
• Members of your softball team
• The person sitting next to you at a holiday dinner party

The idea is that everyone you meet is a potential lead.  If you tell people what field you hope to enter or what type of job you are seeking, any of them may have an acquaintance who offers exactly what you seek.

Additionally, once you have determined a field of interest, be sure to talk with professors in that field.  Faculty members are a good source of advice and information and frequently maintain contacts in the legal community. 

Networking at Events

Throughout your legal education and future career, you will be asked to attend various events may include Bar Association functions, holiday parties, foundation dinners, and so on.  You should attend these events with the goal of meeting at least one person.  Approach such events as an opportunity simply to connect with others. 

Join the Local Bar Association

Bar Associations have committees that meet regularly to discuss current issues in the law of interest to members of the committee.  For students, such meetings provide opportunities to learn about given practices areas and to meet attorneys.

Do Informational Interviewing

One of the easiest ways to build a professional network is through informational interviews. Informational interviewing offers a method of career exploration and a resource for finding jobs that are not publicly advertised. By contacting people already in your chosen specialty, you have access to "inside information" about career paths, the skills necessary to succeed, and people to contact who may have positions available. Using such resources as Martindale-Hubbell is a great pace to find individuals.  Try using your status as a future Capital alum to get your foot in the door. 

Some questions to ask in an informational interview include:

• How do most people get into this field?
• What skills/personal attributes do you think are essential to being successful in your field?
• What is a typical day like?
• What would you do differently in your career path to get to where you are?
• Could you please look at my resume and give me feedback about what I can do to make myself a better candidate upon graduation?
• Are there other related fields that I should be considering given my interests?
• Is there someone else that I should contact for advice?
• May I use your name?

The last question may be the most important. For every informational interview, you should walk away with at least one more person to contact. In this way, you continue to expand your professional network. Treat an informational interview as a professional meeting.

Be prepared with questions, dress professionally, and arrive on time. Any informational interview could lead to a job, so always be prepared!

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Resources

• Cynthia Chin-Lee, It's Who You Know Career Strategies for Making Effective Personal Contacts (1991, 1993).
• Diane Carling, The Networking Survival Guide (2003).
• L. Michelle Tullier, Ph.D., Networking for Job Search and Career Success 2nd ed. (2004).
• Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon, Smart Networking How to Turn Contacts Into Cash, Clients, & Career Success (1997).
• Susan RoAne, How to Work a Room The Ultimate Guide to Savvy Socializing in Person and Online (2000).
• Frederica J. Balzano, Ph.D., Why Should Extroverts Make All the Money?  Networking Made Easy for the Introvert (1999).
• NALP, The How-Tos of Informational Interviewing (2004).
• Martha Stoodley, Information Interviewing (2d ed. 1997).