Networking

Networking - the process of cultivating long-term relationships to gather information, gain exposure, and learn about unadvertised job opportunities - has two purposes. The first is to learn more about the day to day realities of positions that nominally appeal to you. Second, networking is often the best way to hear about and obtain public service jobs. Many public service job seekers find work through the "hidden market" created by an intricate network of employers, friends, fellow alumni/ae and professional contacts.

The success of the hidden job market can be attributed largely to prospective employers turning to friends or colleagues for referrals, thereby eliminating the time, cost and risk of recruiting. As a result, the ability to network successfully has emerged as a crucial job-seeking skill that must be cultivated in order for you to stay competitive in a tight job market. Over and over, experienced attorneys have told us that they found the right opportunities through networking.

Many people shudder at the very mention of networking, considering it something they are simply not good at and that they don't enjoy. Networking savvy, however, is a skill that anybody can acquire through practice.

The "how-to's" of networking are not difficult. If, for instance, you spend a summer in the city or area where you would like to work after law school, begin networking that summer. Call targeted organizations and inform them that you are in town and would like to learn more about them through an informational interview.

Read about employers that interest you and attend any functions or benefits in which those organizations participate. Learning to network is, in many ways, essential to getting to know the public service field.

Networking Resources at HLS:

• 2L/3L Contact List
• Wasserstein Fellows
• Job Fairs
• OPIA Events
• Alumni Advising Network
• Faculty with Public Interest Focus

The Objective of Networking

Networking can advance two different goals. First, it can help you figure out what type of work you want to do. Second, once you have identified the kind of work you wish to pursue, networking can help you find out about openings and can also help you get a foot in the door at organizations that might hire you.

If you do not know what kind of law-related work you want to do, talking to lawyers in jobs that sound initially appealing can help you narrow down your options. You may find that great sounding jobs may translate into daily activities that do not suit you. Conversely, you may learn that a job that did not grab you at first involves work that fits your personality, work style and values.

The most important fact to keep in mind when networking is that getting a job interview is not your immediate goal. Instead, you should try to meet people who can offer advice for your job search, answer questions about career choices from a personal perspective and provide you with the names of a few more contacts who may be able to help you get further along in the process of finding a job.

If you approach networking expecting your contact to offer you a job, you will likely be disappointed—most contacts will not know of any current or predictable openings. Instead, use your networking contacts as valuable sources of information about the field in which you are interested. They can give you a closer look at the practical aspects of their own jobs and provide details that you may find critical when deciding where to apply.

Long-Term Relationships

Your networking will be much more effective if you build relationships with your contacts. Look beyond the short term goal of acquiring your next job to the task of forging contacts who will be beneficial for future career transitions. Chances are that you will need to look for a job again or even conduct research on your field of work and you will have to refer to a previous contact for new advice and information.

When establishing a relationship with a new contact, communicate your sincere interest in his or her work and advice and be informed enough to have a conversation about his or her job so that you do not elicit a monologue. If you remember that you are building a professional relationship and not just a casual acquaintance, you will approach the networking process with a greater sense of purpose.

Steps for Networking

First, identify as many people as possible who may either provide relevant information on your job search or refer you to others who can. When you are just getting started, your contact list should consist of people with whom you are very familiar (e.g., relatives or close friends), as well as people to whom others refer you and people in the organizations that most intrigue you.

Some sources for networking are alumni/ae of your law school, professors, other students interested in public service work or who have held public service jobs and speakers and panelists on law school campuses. Sending a letter to a speaker seeking more information is entirely appropriate and most will take the time to talk with you a bit more about their practices and career paths.

When compiling your initial networking list, try not to underestimate anyone's potential to be an enormously knowledgeable resource. Do not be discouraged if you have only a few people on your list at first; each contact will undoubtedly direct you to more people and the numbers in your networking circle will soon multiply. Refer to our blank and sample tracking sheets (.pdf) to help you organize your network.

Making Contact

The conventional method for setting up a networking meeting is to write a request letter or email and follow up with a phone call. (See samples at the end of this page.) Not only does this allow the contact time to consider your request, it is a considerate gesture that is likely to pay off with a meeting. You need not send a resume unless it is specifically requested. When appropriate, you should mention the mutual acquaintance who referred you, as your contact might appreciate a familiar name.

Above all, reassure your contact that you are not looking for a job interview but only an opportunity to discuss your career ideas and obtain some professional feedback. This will put your contact at ease about your intentions and make him/ her more amenable to talking with you.

For questions to ask during an informational meeting, refer to the list at the bottom of this page. During the interviews, feel free to ask for suggestions on how to improve your resume, but only leave a copy of the resume if a contact asks for it.

At the end of the meeting, ask your contact if he or she will refer you to other people who may be helpful. Try to keep the appointment under thirty minutes and, at the end of that time, give your contact the option of concluding the meeting. If a contact insists that he or she can spare more time, then you may accept the offer.

The end of the meeting, however, should not end your relationship with a networking contact. Send a thank you note expressing gratitude for his or her taking the time to meet with you. Update your networking contact on the status or outcome of your job search.

Preparing for the Networking Meeting

Come to every meeting prepared so that you do not waste the person's time by asking him/her to explain basic details you could learn easily on your own. Meetings will be much more productive if you can ask relevant questions and provide concrete reasons for wanting to pursue a particular career. Your contacts will be more likely to remember and recommend you to their friends if they are impressed by your commitment and interest. A lack of focus or understanding will leave your contacts uneasy about letting you use their names when you approach others.

You may want to start by trying out a networking session with people that you are comfortable with, such as relatives and friends. Networking, like any other skill, requires practice. Networking skills tend to grow exponentially—being a successful networker depends on your ability to take advantage of opportunities to meet people.

Informational Interviews

Informational interviews often fall into the category of networking, though their purpose can also be to educate you on a particular area of public interest law and your initial contact may be made by soliciting a job from a given organization. If a potential public interest employer indicates that the office has no current job openings, you should try to set up a meeting anyway to learn more about the office's practice area. Informational interviewing enables you to learn about the office's work and how you might get into that field. Rarely will a public interest employer refuse to spend twenty to thirty minutes talking to you. If the employer does not have the time to see you in his or her office, a telephone interview can accomplish many of the same goals. In setting up interviews, let employers know that you are aware of how busy they are and how much you appreciate their time.

Do not use an informational interview as a guise for having a job interview with the organization. If the person with whom you are speaking feels pressured or senses duplicity in your motives, you will lose the personal rapport central to successful informational interviewing. At the same time, you never know when a vacancy may arise or when an employer will suddenly find funding or create a position to use your particular abilities. Although the context differs somewhat, you still have a chance to communicate the qualities that you would want to convey to the employer in a job interview. Remember that in an informational interview you are the interviewer. After spending a few minutes breaking the ice, it will be up to you to focus the conversation. Preparation, once again, is the key to using the person's time wisely and making the most of the opportunity. Research the office or organization so you have a clear idea of what you want to find out in the interview. Think through, in advance, the questions you want to ask. Do not forget to bring a pen and paper with you to write down any contact names, phone numbers, emails or other information you may obtain in the interview.

Questions to Ask

The following are some questions you may wish to consider asking when networking with individuals or potential employers.

• What are your primary job responsibilities?
• What experience did you have to get your job?
• How long have you worked here?
• What is your own background and experience?
• What is a typical work day like?
• How long is your work day?
• How much variety is there in your work?
• How much training/supervision do or did you receive?
• How much client contact do you have?
• How much contact and what kinds of interactions do you have with individuals or groups outside the office or organization?
• Does your job require that you travel?
• What do you like/dislike most about your work?
• What are the toughest problems and decisions you handle?
• What do you wish you had known about your position/the field before you started?
• What type of professional and personal skills does it take to succeed at this type of work?
• What is the size and makeup of your organization?
• What is a typical starting salary for someone with my experience?
• What is the salary ceiling for an experienced lawyer?
• What do you see as the major issues/ trends in the field today?
• What books or journals would you recommend that I read?
• Which professional associations should I join?
• Do you recommend that I enroll in any particular classes (clinical or otherwise)?
• What opportunities for advancement are there in this organization or in the field?
• What would be a typical next career move for someone in your position?
• What recommendations do you have for me regarding a job search strategy?
• What other people do you recommend that I talk with? May I tell them that you referred me to them?

Ask the people with whom you meet if they will keep you in mind should they hear of an opening and if you might use their names as an introduction to other public interest practitioners.

Try to walk away from each networking meeting with at least three names of additional contacts. Follow up on these. Always thank contacts warmly for their time and help. As soon as possible after interviews, send thank you notes. Mailed notes are preferred over email, but email will do if you are in a hurry.

Used in this way, informational interviewing not only makes you a more sophisticated job searcher, but it also allows you to create a web of contacts in the public interest community.

Sample Request for an Informational Interview

34 Walnut Street
Watertown, MA 03684
(617) 483-9837

November 15, 2006

Lena Andrews, Esq.
Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights
76 Common Street
Boston, MA 02915

Dear Ms. Andrews:

Alexa Shabecoff, Assistant Dean for Public Service at Harvard Law School, suggested that I contact you and asked me to pass along her regards. I understand that you specialize in housing rights cases and I am particularly interested in learning more about your work on equal housing projects in South Boston neighborhoods. I hope to pursue a career in housing litigation upon graduation from Harvard Law School next spring.

Over the past two years, I have worked for the Harvard Law School Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) representing low-income families in housing court. This experience has sparked and strengthened my interest in fair housing law. Last summer, I worked with the housing unit at Greater Boston Legal Services on eviction and reasonable accommodation cases. I plan to remain in Boston after graduation and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your project, as well as the career opportunities that you feel are available locally in housing law.

I realize that you are on a tight schedule and I would greatly appreciate any time that you could spare to meet with me. I will be leaving for winter break on December 13th and would like to meet with you before that date, if possible. I will give your office a call next week to see if we can arrange a convenient time to talk. Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Alexander Black

Sample Request for an Informational Interview

68 Story Street
Cambridge, MA 02143
(617) 625-3150

May 15, 2006

Claire Dunning, Esq.
Legal Momentum
99 Hudson Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Dear Ms. Dunning:

I am currently a third-year student at Harvard Law School enrolled in a joint degree program with the John F. Kennedy School of Government. The emphasis of my curriculum has been on feminist legal studies, with a special focus on women, the law and public policy. I am particularly interested in pursuing a career in which I can use my legal skills to effect change on a broad scale in the area of women's legal rights.

This summer I will be in New York working with the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy. The focus of my work with the Center, while specialized on reproductive rights, will provide me with experience in impact litigation and other public policy matters. After completing my degree at the Kennedy School next year, I hope to either research or litigate cases involving women's rights with an organization in New York.

I am writing to ask if I may schedule a half-hour meeting with you during my summer in New York to discuss your career path and the steps that you recommend I take to pursue a similar one. I will call your office the first week of June to see if this would be possible and, if so, to find a convenient time to meet. Thank you in advance. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you this summer.

Sincerely,

Olivia N. Rivera

Sample Email Request for an Informational Interview

Date: July 3, 2006
Subject: Informational Interview

Mr. Adams,

This spring, I finished my first year at Harvard Law School, and I am spending the summer in DC interning for Senator Kennedy's Judiciary Committee staff. Prior to law school, I spent five years working in public policy at a social service agency, but I think I would like to work in federal government after law school.

I've had a wonderful time on the Hill but would like to learn more about working at DOJ. Alexa Shabecoff suggested that I contact you to see if you would be willing to meet while I'm in town. I'd like to get together for lunch or coffee, if you are interested and able to do so. I will be in DC until at least August 11th. This coming week will be very busy at work, with a few major hearings on the docket. However, I'd be happy to schedule a meeting anytime from July 17th onward.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With much appreciation,

Judy Briner

—————————————
Judy E. Briner
Student, Harvard Law School
briner@law.harvard.edu
781-441-2999 (home)
781- 266-3115 (cell)

Sample Thank You Note

10 Holmes Hall
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-0303

January 15, 2007

Henry Long
Administrative Assistant
Office of Representative Barney Frank
3472 Longwood Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Long:

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. I greatly appreciated your advice on how to find a summer internship on Capitol Hill and your offer to call House and Senate offices to inquire about available internships this summer. At your suggestion, I phoned Senator Kerry's Judiciary Committee Staff Attorney, Sarah Greene and I will meet with her next week.

Enclosed is the paper I wrote for Professor Lawrence Tribe about the changing paradigm of the legislative committee process. The research and interviews that I conducted as background for the paper proved fascinating and illuminating and they intensified my desire to work on the Hill.

I hope that you have a great vacation in Europe—it sounds wonderful! I look forward to speaking with you when you return. Again, thanks for your help. I will keep you posted on my job search progress.

Sincerely,

Katherine Burdick