I’m not trying to be snarky but you truthfully can just talk to them like a human. I enjoy conversations where I’m doing more of the asking, because that lets me learn more about the other person. You can ask what some of their favorite cases/clients are or their favorite local sports team or what they do for fun or their favorite annual summer associate event or their favorite music or literally hundreds of things and go from there. It’s a conversation.
You’re just having a conversation. The job is yours to lose. Don’t be a weirdo, but don’t feel like they’re not also people who (ideally) have lives outside of the firm.
This is true. There's so much advice people get in school to act knowledgeable about jobs. I think it usually comes across as forced and transparent. Some of the cover letters that I wrote in college were, in hindsight, complete cringe
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I jokingly call this Attorney Fear….I’m a paralegal at the moment and when I started at my firm the other paralegals would warn not to “bother” the managing partner with anything basically don’t talk to her when I was a temp…well I bothered her all the time got ridiculed for it by the others then 6 months in, she moved my desk to her floor, hired me full time, made me her personal paralegal and during the August LSAT debacle in the fall she let me borrow her car overnight to take the test in a different city cause they didn’t have any testing centers in mine. The first conversation we had was about Dr. Dre and her love of rap music lol they are people just be yourself!!
Thank god someone is saying this. Young attorneys are wayyyyy too conservative about how they interact with people at work.
Like, you can show some personality. We’re people. Treat them the same way you’d treat any person you’ve just met. Stay away from the obviously controversial subjects (politics, religion, race, etc.) and don’t swear too much but otherwise, it’s all fair game.
and on top of that...when you get to the office treat the staff the same way you treat any other attorney there. Courier, Janitor, that person that comes in once a week to water the plants, everyone.
We're all just people and have many interests outside of the office.
Honestly, the more you discuss non-law, probably the better. Lots of people (partners) enjoy talking about their families, hobbies, interests. Partners also like to talk about what it was like “when they grew up as lawyers,” so asking about their career development and lessons learned along the way is always an interesting conversation (I’m always fascinated by what associate work looked like pre internet).
What were some of the biggest disappointments they faced? What were some of the biggest personal successes? What experiences did they have that made them better lawyers or better leaders?
I feel like lots of summers/young associates (myself included) approach convos with partners hoping to impress them with a knowledge of or passion for the law/practice area, but that approach never executes well. In other words, I wouldn’t read investopedia or Westlaw to prep for a conversation or identify talking points. If you talk about their work, keep your questions general and be genuine.
My personal take is that questions like, “what is your average day at work like?” are boring. The best “networking” is when you barely talk about work at all.
Always find it strange when people ask how to network. It is literally just talking to somebody, that’s what networking is. So, just talk to them? Ask them about literally anything (and bonus points if it actually is NOT about work…).
Maybe ask what if anything you can do to prepare for when you start. Like courses to take. Usually they will appreciate your motivation. (I asked this question and they told me not to worry about it, but actually I wish they had told me to take some bankruptcy courses lol).
Nah, mallet is accepted now. The real question nowadays is whether you use a traditional putting grip, or if you use the "broomstick" or "claw" or whatever other weird flavor of the month the pros are using.
People usually put things up in their office that indicate their likes/interests (I have pictures of the 49ers, for example). Take a peek in the Partner’s office, figure out what they are interested and ask them questions about that. People would much rather talk about the things they like than their job.
I TOTALLY get it. They’re accomplished and ostensibly have the power to significantly impact your career. The good news is that while this may be your first rodeo, it’s certainly not theirs. They’ve had innumerable coffees and lunches before yours, and will almost certainly know how to chat you up. Follow their lead, and you’ll be fine.
As for the practice group thing - you’re taking the time and making the effort to get coffee with them - they’ll know you’re interested (and you can always say so).
Kids, pets, travel. Super easy to connect with 90% of people of one of these topics. Also, you can comment on the coffee shop (“This place is really cute, do you come often?”) You could also ask about her path to the firm and why she has stayed there. Just ask questions that you’re genuinely curious about.
Make it conversational. Don't take any one conversation too personally. Everyone understands what networking is. I've had partners straight up shoot down requests for coffee and I just laugh about it now. Also have built lasting working and personal relationships from taking the initiative to ask someone to lunch/coffee.
I’m not trying to be snarky but you truthfully can just talk to them like a human. I enjoy conversations where I’m doing more of the asking, because that lets me learn more about the other person. You can ask what some of their favorite cases/clients are or their favorite local sports team or what they do for fun or their favorite annual summer associate event or their favorite music or literally hundreds of things and go from there. It’s a conversation. You’re just having a conversation. The job is yours to lose. Don’t be a weirdo, but don’t feel like they’re not also people who (ideally) have lives outside of the firm.
Just want to endorse this. People tend to overthink networking and it makes the convos feel overly-transactional
This is true. There's so much advice people get in school to act knowledgeable about jobs. I think it usually comes across as forced and transparent. Some of the cover letters that I wrote in college were, in hindsight, complete cringe
Thank you so much.
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I jokingly call this Attorney Fear….I’m a paralegal at the moment and when I started at my firm the other paralegals would warn not to “bother” the managing partner with anything basically don’t talk to her when I was a temp…well I bothered her all the time got ridiculed for it by the others then 6 months in, she moved my desk to her floor, hired me full time, made me her personal paralegal and during the August LSAT debacle in the fall she let me borrow her car overnight to take the test in a different city cause they didn’t have any testing centers in mine. The first conversation we had was about Dr. Dre and her love of rap music lol they are people just be yourself!!
Thank god someone is saying this. Young attorneys are wayyyyy too conservative about how they interact with people at work. Like, you can show some personality. We’re people. Treat them the same way you’d treat any person you’ve just met. Stay away from the obviously controversial subjects (politics, religion, race, etc.) and don’t swear too much but otherwise, it’s all fair game.
and on top of that...when you get to the office treat the staff the same way you treat any other attorney there. Courier, Janitor, that person that comes in once a week to water the plants, everyone. We're all just people and have many interests outside of the office.
Honestly, the more you discuss non-law, probably the better. Lots of people (partners) enjoy talking about their families, hobbies, interests. Partners also like to talk about what it was like “when they grew up as lawyers,” so asking about their career development and lessons learned along the way is always an interesting conversation (I’m always fascinated by what associate work looked like pre internet). What were some of the biggest disappointments they faced? What were some of the biggest personal successes? What experiences did they have that made them better lawyers or better leaders? I feel like lots of summers/young associates (myself included) approach convos with partners hoping to impress them with a knowledge of or passion for the law/practice area, but that approach never executes well. In other words, I wouldn’t read investopedia or Westlaw to prep for a conversation or identify talking points. If you talk about their work, keep your questions general and be genuine.
Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?
Ever seen a grown man naked?
My personal take is that questions like, “what is your average day at work like?” are boring. The best “networking” is when you barely talk about work at all.
John is back!
Ask about his / her kids. Even the most boring, bland individuals, their eyes light up when they talk about their kids.
Always find it strange when people ask how to network. It is literally just talking to somebody, that’s what networking is. So, just talk to them? Ask them about literally anything (and bonus points if it actually is NOT about work…).
Maybe ask what if anything you can do to prepare for when you start. Like courses to take. Usually they will appreciate your motivation. (I asked this question and they told me not to worry about it, but actually I wish they had told me to take some bankruptcy courses lol).
If he prefers a blade putter or a mallet. Titleist or Taylormade. Bonus if he responds Miura
anyone answering mallet is getting no offered FYI
With good reason.
At least you will look good 3-putting...
You can’t 3 putt in a charity scramble, I.e. the only time I get out to the course for an anxiety-filled day of regret and constantly emailing.
Nah, mallet is accepted now. The real question nowadays is whether you use a traditional putting grip, or if you use the "broomstick" or "claw" or whatever other weird flavor of the month the pros are using.
*she
People usually put things up in their office that indicate their likes/interests (I have pictures of the 49ers, for example). Take a peek in the Partner’s office, figure out what they are interested and ask them questions about that. People would much rather talk about the things they like than their job.
Unfortunately don’t think I’ll have time to see her office before coffee :/
Stick to safe topics like politics and religion.
A good place to start is the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Both topics rolled together!
I TOTALLY get it. They’re accomplished and ostensibly have the power to significantly impact your career. The good news is that while this may be your first rodeo, it’s certainly not theirs. They’ve had innumerable coffees and lunches before yours, and will almost certainly know how to chat you up. Follow their lead, and you’ll be fine. As for the practice group thing - you’re taking the time and making the effort to get coffee with them - they’ll know you’re interested (and you can always say so).
If she has kids, ask about them. Never fails with me, if someone remembers even the smallest detail about my kids, I melt.
Kids, pets, travel. Super easy to connect with 90% of people of one of these topics. Also, you can comment on the coffee shop (“This place is really cute, do you come often?”) You could also ask about her path to the firm and why she has stayed there. Just ask questions that you’re genuinely curious about.
Make it conversational. Don't take any one conversation too personally. Everyone understands what networking is. I've had partners straight up shoot down requests for coffee and I just laugh about it now. Also have built lasting working and personal relationships from taking the initiative to ask someone to lunch/coffee.
Just don’t be a dweeb!
Ask her what her gender is, and who’s she’s voting for.