Young law students sometimes make the mistake of forgetting that networking is a give and take situation where both parties should benefit. Sometimes that hurdle is difficult to overcome as a law student, but if you can provide something helpful, your business relationships will be that much stronger. In return, you are more likely to have available valuable opportunities.

To be successful in networking, a law student should prepare for consistent work, perseverance and most importantly patience. Like many aspects of life, networking is mostly about taking advantage of every opportunity without being excessive. Anytime you meet an attorney in a social or work context, is a time where a law student should not hesitate in using the time as a networking opportunity. Most attorneys will be responsive to give advice and exchange information for you to develop a new contact.

Typical topics between a law student and practicing attorney usually revolve around practice areas and inquiries of specialties. These are wonderful opportunities to discuss legal trends and interesting cases. If the practice area is interesting to you as a law student, you may consider asking whether he or she hires interns or clerks for the summer or if they are looking for a new associate. Make sure you get contact information, usually a business card, which will give you the ability to follow up with your new contact. (Get FREE business cards in Full Color)

Many legal positions are never advertised because a qualified candidate learned of the position by being at the right place at the right time. Employers often prefer hiring someone they know or have been recommended by a friend before going through a traditional hiring process. The only way to ensure you are the candidate that is at the right place at the right time is to take advantage of networking with the people around which may include your professors, friends, family, family friends, neighbors, your career services office, and local organizations such as your county or state bar. Everyone you meet is a potential contact or lead to a contact. Most everyone has needed an attorney or knows an attorney personally for you to potentially develop a networking relationship. These potential contacts may be exposed to your aspiration of excelling in a certain field which may then lead to a contact that offers what you are looking for.

Many times, the fruits of your labor may not appear until significantly later. Even after you have received what you are looking for (a summer internship, etc.), it is important to continue networking so that you maintain and expand your business relationships in order to prepare for the next stages of your career.
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