Making Room at Your Table

09/19/22 • 9 min

If you’ve been with us for awhile you know that we love to talk about creating and developing mutually beneficial networking relationships. Today we are focusing a bit more on that “mutually beneficial” part and discussing why and how you can expand your networking for the benefit of others.

This expansion is critical for the success of younger attorneys as they are looking to grow and expand their networks. An attorney fresh out of law school will have a less expansive and responsive professional network than someone that has been in practice for 10 years.

We still appreciate those that brought us into their network largely for our benefit early on in our careers. Networking events, client meetings, court appearances are just three of a myriad of ways in which we learned, grew, and expanded our professional networks.

This also goes hand in hand with mentorship. A caring mentor is an invaluable resource, and sometimes hard to come by. But having that connection with another person who is interested in guiding and supporting you is incredible.

For those of your further along in your career consider how you can use your network to someone else’s benefit and make room at your table for them. For those of you on the other side, be a gracious guest and thoughtful mentee.
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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Previous Episode

Do It Scared

This week were have been inspired by Elyse Myers @elyse_myers on Instagram telling us all that sometime you just have to “do it scared.”

Law school was hard and scary and intimidating for us and it still is for most of you. From day one (and what felt like every day afterward) we both questioned whether we should be there and whether we would make it through. Now that we are on the other side of it we can see that it was our nerves telling us that this would be a big challenge. This is important. This is a priority. And now we know that it was worth it. But we see and hear so many of you now thinking those same things we thought.

Should I be here?

Am I good enough?

Will I make it through?

How will I get through this?

Law school is one of those things that most people will simply have to do scared. There are strategies for calming your nerves a bit. Your emotions will ebb and flow. But really you are going to have to do it scared. So take a deep breath. Focus your time and energies to do the work and do the work well. Ask for help. Give yourself grace when you make a mistake.

Networking is another one of those things that many of you will have to do it scared. So many people feel nervous, scared, anxious, or whatever other word you want to use about networking. There are many reasons for that. We discuss many of these issues throughout the podcast and even more comprehensively in The Law Student’s Guide to Networking. But networking is a task you need to undertake to succeed in the legal field. Which means, you need to do it, even if you feel scared or uncertain. Take a deep breath. Make a plan. Reach out for help. Appreciate the courage it takes to step outside your comfort zone.
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LWL Design Shop on Etsy
Use promo code LWLPOD for 15% off now until September 30, 2022
_____________________
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.

Next Episode

4 Fall Networking Tips

This week we are sharing four fall networking tips to help you kick off the year and set yourself up for success.

Tip #1 - Prepare Before You Network

Take some time to think about who you are and what you are looking for. Write it down. Practice it out loud until it feels natural. You want to appear polished and not scripted.

While you prepare think about some of the most obvious and common questions you may be asked. Prepare for how you will answer them.

Tip #2 - Follow Up with Your Networking Contacts

You already have a network of contacts that you can reach out to to help you on your law school journey. Early in the semester is the perfect time to reach out to them and give them an update on what you’re doing now, what you did over the summer and what you are looking forward to doing this semester or next summer. Because you are prepared, you can tell your networking contacts what you are looking for.

Also think about how you can follow through for your contacts. Can you make a recommendation? Do you have an interesting article to pass along? The follow through does not have to be major, but a simply thought will be appreciated and remembered.

Tip #3 - Look for Opportunities to Network

This time of year is when the networking really kicks off. The networking reception at your law school is an obvious choice. But do not limit yourself to those events with “networking” in the title.

Think about student organizations you may find interesting. So much networking happens in law school. Find something that interests you and start building those relationships.

Tip #4 - Be Confident

You will be prepared, you network will be looking out for you, and you have interesting networking opportunities. You are ready to network!

If you are looking for a strategic guide to networking look no further than The Law Student’s Guide to Networking. This is the guide we wish we had when we were in law school and will help you develop a strategic networking plan that you can simply execute.

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LWL Design Shop on Etsy
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_____________________
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Please keep in mind that your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.