How to Network in Law School Without Being Weird

Networking has a bad reputation among law students because most people do it badly. They show up to events, thrust business cards at strangers, and deliver rehearsed pitches about their interest in M&A. That is not networking. That is performing.

Real networking is simpler: have genuine conversations with people who do interesting work, and stay in touch over time. Here is how.

Start with what you already have

Your strongest networking connections are people who already have a reason to care about you:

• Law school alumni. They went to your school. They remember what it was like. They are disproportionately willing to help.
• Professors. They know attorneys at firms, judges, and in-house counsel. A professor who knows you well can make a warm introduction that is worth more than 50 cold emails.
• Fellow students. Your classmates will be practicing attorneys in two years. The relationships you build now become your professional network for decades.
• Pre-law connections. Former employers, college mentors, and family friends in the legal profession are all valid starting points.

Events and receptions

Firm receptions, bar association events, and speaker panels are the most common networking settings. Here is how to approach them:

• Set a small goal. Do not try to meet everyone. Have two or three genuine conversations.
• Ask questions about their work. People enjoy talking about what they do. "What's your practice like day-to-day?" is a better opener than "I'm really interested in your firm."
• Listen. Networking is a conversation, not a pitch. If you listen well, people remember you.
• Follow up within 48 hours. A brief email thanking them for the conversation and referencing something specific you discussed.

Informational interviews

Requesting a 15-minute phone call with an attorney at a firm you are interested in is one of the most effective networking strategies. Keep the ask small, be respectful of their time, and come with genuine questions.

See our cold email templates for exactly how to write these requests.

Online networking

LinkedIn is the primary online networking platform for lawyers. Keep your profile professional and up to date. Send connection requests with personalized notes after meeting someone. Do not cold-connect without a message. See our LinkedIn etiquette guide.

The long game

The best networking is not transactional. You are not asking people for jobs. You are building relationships that develop over months and years. The person you have coffee with as a 1L might become your mentor, your reference, or the person who introduces you to your future employer.

Check in periodically with people you have met. Share articles relevant to their practice. Congratulate them on professional milestones. Stay on their radar without being a nuisance.

What not to do

• Do not treat networking events as job interviews
• Do not monopolize someone's time (10-15 minutes is plenty at a reception)
• Do not ask for a job in the first conversation
• Do not network only when you need something
• Do not be fake. Attorneys see through it instantly.

Research firms on the firm directory so you can have informed conversations when you meet attorneys from those firms. Knowing something specific about a firm's practice or recent work shows genuine interest and sets you apart.