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Networking Basics

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 professional jobs, legal or non-legal.  There are an endless number of ways to successfully network, which fortunately do not necessarily involve schmoozing or making small talk.
Kimm Walton, in her Guerrilla Tactics book, aptly describes the art of networking as: taking advantage of people you already know to meet more people. You could compare this socially to meeting friends of friends - or to joining clubs and organizations because you have an interest in something, knowing that you'll meet other people with an interest in the same thing, and you'll have that common interest to discuss.
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.

Networking Basics: What It's All About

Networking is not about asking for a job.  Networking is about communicating with other professionals to learn about their experiences and career paths, to get their advice and insight about breaking into the field, and to get referrals for other potential networking contacts.  While most people are very happy to share their own experiences and provide any advice and help they can, they definitely do not appreciate being asked directly for a job or feeling "used."  So long as you are honest, polite, professional, and genuinely interested in learning about the field, you are not "using" or manipulating people through networking.  In fact, in the future you may be able to provide advice, referrals, or assistance to your contact in turn.
Networking is a skill that you will continue to utilize throughout your career for a number of purposes.  Networking will open up job opportunities, bring in clients, and help you develop professional contacts with whom you can trade ideas and problem solve.  Networking will, in short, enrich your professional life.

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.

Reaching Out / Making Contact

The conventional method for setting up a networking meeting is to write an 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.
Be prepared to follow-up via phone or email if you do not hear back after a week or two.  The contact is likely just busy and may need another reminder of your communication.  If you do not hear back from your follow-up, however, don't take it personally and simply move on to another contact.  Again, be clear that you are not applying for a position.

The Informational Interview

Whether you are speaking over the phone or meeting for lunch or coffee, the informational interview is an excellent opportunity to learn more about a field, get advice and referrals, and impress your speaker with your professionalism, enthusiasm, motivation, and maturity.  How you present yourself, your educational and work experience, and your interests will determine the level of your networking success.  Making a good impression during an informational interview could directly or, more likely, indirectly lead to a job.  
Prepare for an informational interview as you would for a job interview by researching the organization and the field.  Because you initiated the meeting, your contact will also likely look to you to lead the conversation.  Prepare questions ahead of time so that you keep the discussion flowing and hit all of your key points.  Some possible questions include:

Try to walk away from each networking meeting with at least three names of additional contacts. Follow up on these.
If you are meeting for coffee or lunch, be prepared to pay.  Always thank contacts warmly for their time and help.  After the informational interview, send a typed thank you note or email expressing your appreciation.  You should also continue to keep in touch with your contacts as you proceed through your job search and hopefully throughout your professional career.  At the very least, when you do receive a job offer, be sure to tell your contacts and thank them again for their help.

Keeping Organized

The information you gather through networking is only as good as your ability to access it.  Keep good records of all of your networking contacts and the content of each informational interview. 
Consider organizing your networking contacts in a spreadsheet, card file, or three ring binder.  You may also want to think about keeping a calendar just for networking purposes.  For each networking contact, record such basic information as:

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 phone request for an Informational Interview


Example 1:  Hello. I'm Jennifer Smith. Bob Jones from the Cambridge Tab recommended that I speak with you. I'm a third year student at Harvard Law School and I'm interested in breaking into the field of legal journalism. I was hoping to talk to you for about 15 minutes to hear about your experience as a journalist and to get your thoughts on how I might learn more about the field...

Example 2:  Hello, my name is John Johnson. Professor Susan Smith from Harvard Medical School recommended that I speak with you. I'm a graduate of Harvard Law School and have been practicing law for 4 years. I'm interested in learning more about the field of healthcare management, and Professor Smith thought you would be able to give me some insight into the profession. I know you're quite busy, but I was wondering if I could have a few minutes of your time to ask you a few questions...

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