NETWORKING...Where?

You may have heard the word networking in connection with finding a job, finding a new job, or developing business and been scared off. The way to overcome this and feel more natural during networking opportunities is to practice.

The relationships you have when you entered law school and those you build along the way are extremely valuable sources of contacts and information. A good portion of jobs are still obtained the old fashioned way: by networking. According to NALP’s Jobs and JD’s Class of 2006: those who went to work law firms, of all sizes, 16% received jobs through referrals (networking) and 19% received a job through self initiated contact (often the result of networking), thus over 33% of all law firm jobs are received through networking. For those receiving jobs in smaller firms the number is even higher. Those who went to work for small law firms of 2-10 attorneys 27% received an offer due to a referral (networking) and another 25% received an offer due to self initiated contact (often the result of networking), this means 52% of these jobs were obtained using networking!

In these instances networking means picking up the phone, writing a letter, or calling on someone who helps point you in the right direction. This is networking at its best. If you do not think you attend any events in which networking could be advantageous, you are wrong! You are forgetting that many people know, work with, or are related to lawyers. There are many opportunities to network and you should also create opportunities for yourself. Opportunities to network include:
• Attending a house of worship;
• Community activities;
• Volunteer work;
• Attending social functions;
• Working

In addition, talk to:
• Family members;
• Your spouse’s family members;
• Friends (law school, college, life long);
• Former co-workers;
• Neighbors;
• Your dentist, doctor, hairdresser et al

Essentially everyone you know is part of your network. All of these situations and people are your own built in network. You can also create a network for yourself:
• Join various bar associations (most will allow student members);
• Join Inns of Court;
• Join the Young Lawyers Division;
• Attend Continuing Legal Education courses on topics that interest you;
• Attend career service programs;
• Participate in mentor programs;
• Play sports (softball, soccer, golf…)

In all these settings you want to strive to meet as many people as possible. When you introduce yourself, be sure to tell them a bit about yourself. Make sure that you mention your interests and accomplishments. Let people know who you are and what you hope to do, as a career. The more people you talk to the more people who can point you in the direction of a job opportunity.

Once someone gives you a lead, follow up. Remember, your contacts expect you to act on their suggestions. They may pave the way for you with a call of their own and you don't want to leave them hanging or put them in an awkward situation. Acknowledge all your leads. A brief letter of thanks will go a long way toward ensuring your sources remain viable in the future.

SATISFYING YOUR FIRST CLIENT

Your first client will be your supervising attorney. Your top priority should be to make his or her life easier. How do you do that? By adhering to the following rules:

1. Be ethical and professional
2. Be appropriate in all client contacts
3. Produce a useful work product
4. Manage your time and your work load efficiently
5. Have exceptional communication skills
6. Have a “can do”, team player attitude
7. Be available and responsive

When a supervising attorney asks you to help on a project, go prepared to meet with him or her, take good notes and ask questions. Find out the purpose of the assignment and the form he/she wants the work product to take. Before you leave make sure you find out when the assignment is due and whether or not the supervising attorney wants you to check back in with a preliminary report.

Respond to a supervising attorney’s communication at all times. Let your supervising attorney know how to reach you when you’re away from the office, inform your assistant when you’re going to lunch and when you’ll be back and be sure to let your assistant know when you’re in a meeting and whether or not you can be disturbed.

Should you have a question about the assignment once you’ve begun and the supervising attorney is swamped, instead of barging in his/her office and asking your question, check with the supervising attorney’s assistant to see when he/she would be available to address your question. Conversely, if your research uncovers some nasty news, be sure to deliver this information immediately and in person. If your supervising attorney is unavailable for a face-to-face meeting, at least convey the news by phone. It's also important to contact your supervising attorney immediately if you discover that you are unable to meet the deadline set by him/her.

Remember, what you do and how you do it counts. If you turn in a bullet-proof work product and interact smoothly with your supervising attorney, you’ll get more responsibility sooner and be on your way to establishing a stellar reputation.

Writing, Writing, and More Writing

You will be well prepared to write and research while in law school but you may not be prepared for the vast array of types of writing attorneys produce. Attorneys draft letters to opposing counsel or clients; opinion letters; contracts; discovery requests; motions; memos, and briefs to name a few.

A memo written for school is often neutral, at work it is the first step towards advocacy. A work memo should take a stand. In school you are typically given facts which remain static. At work you will need to do factual investigation and/or discovery. In real life, client wishes or goals often change. It is imperative to learn the facts of your case and apply the law to your facts.
You need to figure out who your audience is. Who will be the first to read your document and who else may? Will it be a client, another attorney, or the judge? Once you determine your audience figure out what they know about the matter, what their concerns are, and the matters importance to them. Keep in mind that your work may be sent on, to a client or others, without any editing. This means that if you ever submit a draft be sure to mark on each page of the document that it is a draft. Only submit a draft if one was truly asked for and you confirmed this in an email.

Figure out the purpose of your work, who will it be used? This will help focus your research. It will help you decide if you need to address both the pros and cons of the issue or if you just need to seek the best arguments that assist your client.
What is the context of your assignment? Try to find out what the reader will be doing while reading your work. This can help you organize your writing, use an outline that helps too. Figuring out the context can also help you with the length of your document and where to put the summary.

You also need to be very clear on when your work product is due. Sometimes there are very tight deadlines that can not be changed. These deadlines may be due to a client’s expectations or demands or to a court deadline.
Don’t underestimate how grammar and misspellings take away form your work product. They can make you look sloppy, like you don’t care, and if oft repeated an idiot. Therefore, don’t forget to double check both grammar and spelling, using spell check isn’t enough – proofread. Also, do a double check to make sure your citations are done correctly.
If you turn over work product in hardcopy, be sure the paper is neat and clean. Presentation is part of professionalism.

How can you home writing skills while in law school? Take advanced writing courses, take your seminar paper seriously, take drafting courses, do a clinic. In other words take the time to expose yourself to different types of lawyerly writings while in school.
Writing skills are important, the attorneys trying to prosecute Barry Bonds found out the hard way: U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ordered prosecutors to rewrite their indictment because multiple alleged lies were lumped into individual charges. News of having to rewrite made it into the media!

DRESSING THE PART

How you dress sends a distinct message about you, and the initial impression someone has of you is indeed a lasting one. In Mary Mitchell’s book The First Five Minutes, she states “judgments that people make about us in the first moments after we meet them are more strongly influenced by how we look than by anything else.”

Our profession is a conservative one, and your appearance matters regardless of whether you are a volunteer, paid law clerk or attorney. If you want to be taken seriously, look the part, and be aware that some will draw conclusions about your abilities based on what you wear

The overarching general rules for both men and women include: no piercings (except earrings for women), no visible tattoos, keep nails relatively short and well-groomed, keep hair well-groomed and make sure your shoes are polished. Also, remember that you’re not in school – carry a briefcase and not a backpack.

To save money on professional attire shop sales, stay away from fads and trendy clothing, and buy complimentary colors so you can interchange items. Another good bit of advice is to buy good quality clothing that you can wear for awhile instead of buying cheap clothing that you’ll have to replace shortly. Quality, classic clothing will take you a long way.

Once you are at the office, pay attention to what other attorneys wear and dress accordingly. Until you get an idea of how you should dress, it’s always best to err on the more conservative, formal side. You will never get criticized for dressing too conservatively when you start your new job. Further, know what “business casual” means in your office, as it tends to differ from office to office. If you’re not sure, ask! One thing is certain, however – business casual is not the same thing as law school casual. And remember that business casual is not appropriate when you will be having contact with a client.

Remember that Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared.” Always have something formal at work in case your plans for the day change and you’re asked to go to court or meet with a client at the last minute.

PASS THAT BAR EXAM

The start of your legal career depends on you passing a bar exam. The success of your passing a bar exam depends on your preparation. The success of your preparation depends on your ability to plan and stick to your study strategy.

The forewarned is the forearmed.

Plan out your bar study activities. Make sure that you are actively participating in the Bar Review sessions that you are attending. Just attending is not enough. You have to prepare before each session by reading the topic outline. Attend the session and truly be present. Review after the session and finally do those practice questions. Do this over and over for each topic area. Be dedicated and make studying for the bar exam your full time job. Seriously, plan on spending approximately 10 hours each day studying.

That being said, don’t forget the importance of balance, and keeping to your normal, everyday habits/activities. If you’re a runner, keep running. If you’re in a book club, keep going to your meetings. If you have a set day each week that you have dinner with your in-laws, keep that date. And, by all means, don’t try to quit smoking while studying for the bar exam. Try to stay as normal as possible with your life and sleep habits.

To prepare for the exam environment, buy your earplugs ahead of time and use them while you’re studying. Get used to them – it will take a bit. Practice answering test questions with an imposed time limit. Practice not jiggling your legs while you’re taking those test questions … you don’t want your table buddy to be upset with you. If you plan to write your answers (as opposed to typing), practice writing for long stretches of time to prepare for a full day of writing. If you plan to type, make sure that you have a dependable laptop.

Day of the exam … dress in layers, don’t wear perfume/cologne and be positive. Think about all the time you’ve put into studying and know that you’ve done your best and that you are prepared! Most importantly, BREATHE.

If you have questions about any subject or just need advice during your preparations for the bar exam, please feel free to call Elizabeth Odell at (918) 631-3990 (or email at Elizabeth-odell@utulsa.edu). She is available all summer if you need her assistance.