Networking has always been an important part of everyone’s social and professional life. With the help of networks we make new acquaintances, discover career opportunities, enter into partnerships and achieve many other goals.
Networking is an important element of success, so the sooner you start, the more benefits you can ultimately reap, and your years of law school are the perfect timing for it. If you are a law student, read on to learn more about the available networking capabilities and the best way to use them.
To work
Before we move on to useful networking tips, let’s just say a few words about how to get started and where to look for the right opportunities. First of all, it is worth noting that networking is certainly a time-consuming and energy-consuming process. Effective networking is never as simple as striking up a random conversation with a stranger. It takes time, which is why busy law students may find it rather difficult to carve out enough time for it.
In that case, it is a good solution to enlist the help of a professional writing paper maintenance. As you should know, academic writing and homework take up most of a student’s time. So if you need more free time to find and use the right networking opportunities while you are still in school, you may want to have someone to help you complete your assignments.
After you find a good one essay writing service what you can rely on to cope with your academic duties, the next thing to take care of before you start networking is to find the right opportunities. And that’s where it can get tricky. The problem is, most students just don’t see the right opportunities, so let’s give you some ideas here.
During your law studies you can find the following networking opportunities:
- alumni – The most obvious way to make new meaningful connections while you are a student is to network with your school’s alumni.
- Past employers – If you happen to have one or a few jobs or internships while studying law, remember that keeping in touch with your former employers is always a good way to find more networking opportunities.
- Volunteer work – Volunteering is another opportunity to make new contacts. Don’t hesitate to network with fellow volunteers as well as organizations or other entities for which you volunteer.
- Continuing Legal Education (CLE) – As you may know, legal specialists are typically required to earn additional CLE credits at various stages of their careers. Chances are some people continue their legal education in your law school as well. If so, don’t miss the chance to network with them.
- Bar Associations – Bars or bar associations generally represent a community of lawyers organized to bring legal specialists together and assist them in resolving various issues and questions related to their profession. There are local, national and international organizations like this. And, as you can guess, becoming a member can help you make many important connections.
- LinkedIn – Finally, LinkedIn is another place where you can connect and network with others while you are in law school. This social network is designed for professional networking, so make sure not to miss this opportunity.
These are just a few of the many networking opportunities that can be found in a law school. So make sure you use them all. And now let’s move on to the tips to make the most of these opportunities.
4 tips for law students to start networking like professionals
1. Have a plan
The first rule of effective networking is to always have a plan. Sure, you can easily make new connections without any plan, but if you really want those connections to benefit you or your future career, you should at least have a clearly defined goal. Otherwise, all your attempts will be in vain.
So, how do you develop a plan? To start, outline your expectations and goals. Think about what you want to achieve with your network. Maybe you’re planning a startup and want to find future prospects for it, or maybe you’re hoping to get a summer job.
At this stage, try to define a clear and measurable goal. Once you have it, write it down and break it down into smaller steps that will get you to that goal. This will be your network’s strategy.
2. Always do your research
The second rule of effective networking is to always do some research to know who you are trying to connect with. Properly researching your potential acquaintances will give you a solid foundation for finding the best points of contact with them. This will make it easier and faster to make those connections.
The easiest way to research your potential colleagues, employers or clients is to go online. Use social media, and especially professional networks like LinkedIn, to learn more about it. Focus on their interests, experience, values and the latest news.
3. Make a great elevator pitch
Regardless of the purpose or networking opportunity you will be using, you only have one chance to introduce yourself and make a good impression on your new acquaintances. So if you want to get the most out of networking, you need to prepare a great elevator pitch.
The elevator pitch can be a short message or concise speech where you introduce yourself and explain your value. It’s exactly what it sounds like: people usually think of it as getting into an elevator with another person and having to tell them who they are until they reach the floor they want.
Your pitch should be short, clear, direct and at the same time engaging so that you can make the best possible first impression. So take the time to prepare your pitch before heading out and start networking. And be sure to stay away from clichés or a simple “I’m a lawyer.”
4. Network like it’s your job
Finally, we have one last tip for law students: start networking like it’s your job. Networking opportunities are everywhere and you don’t want to miss any of them. After all, the more you try, the more connections you can make and the better you get at it.
Conclusion
With these tips, each of you can start networking like a pro while still in law school. So don’t hesitate to start using them now, and you’ll see how many doors of networking opportunities can open for you.