Building Strong relationships: Networking Tips for Law Students

   Building Strong relationships: Networking Tips for Law Students

Emmanuel Mary 

Nasarawa State University Keffi

Introduction

     When transitioning from university to law school or from law school to professional life, connections and relationships formed can be very crucial in providing a helping hand with one’s academic study and career. Building strong relationships with fellow students, lawyers, and other professionals in the legal field can be of influential aid when exploring new opportunities and reaching career success upon graduation. Expanding your network of personal contacts and knowing that you can call on somebody for guidance and support, perhaps even obtaining a favorable reference for a job position, is rendered much easier when putting in place a platform for this to happen. 

This can be through networking and using good initiative to seek advice and engage with those who are potentially going to be of key influence. Building and maintaining strong relationships within the legal community is an essential element of success for both students and practicing lawyers. 

The ability to form and nurture these connections starts from the very first day of school and continues to grow through various networking activities such as professional events and additional learning outside of a busy academic life. 

Through networking, students are offered the opportunity to connect the gap between academic study and the practical application of the law, such as meeting with a lawyer who may have a plethora of experience in the field. 

These relationships fostered outside of a student’s normal timetable may form a great source of support and knowledge sharing, helping students to appreciate the law in action and any recent development, which have not yet found their way into the classroom teaching. 

    In other words, strong, positive relationships can both give a significant leg-up in landing a job and ensure a long, successful career in the field. Given the paramount nature of relationships in the legal profession, networking can serve as a tool for advancing a legal career in numerous ways. 

First, because “reputation and credibility are earned through cultivating personal relationships which lead to a continuum of professional opportunities and client development,” according to John D. Holschuh, Assistant Dean of Career Services at the University of Dayton School of Law, a student who works from day one in law school at networking and building those relationships will stand to achieve success earlier and in a greater capacity than those who wait until they are practicing. Professor Leipold adds that “you are likely to need several mentors and guides.”

Networking is the process of building and maintaining any form of professional relationship – from your peers to your professors, and beyond. As Professor James G. Leipold, executive director of the National Association for Law Placement, explains: “This is a profession that runs on relationships. And the building of relationships starts from day one in law school.” To use a somewhat more colloquial phrase, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a student’s personal and professional merit will play no part in their career.

 But the importance of networking lies in the fact that “a person’s skill, intelligence and hard work are generally not enough to secure a position in this field. One must form connections and develop a book of business, and these relationships are what sustain and inspire a career over time,” according to Leigh L. Kessler, Director of Marketing and Business Development at a San Francisco law firm.

    For law students, properly investing their time in networking can be a challenge. From determining the right environments in which to network to discerning what approaches will lead to most success, it can be difficult for students to even understand why networking holds any importance in the first place. However, law students should know that a research study by the legal career resource Law Crossing found that 85 percent of all jobs received by individuals in the legal profession are never posted in any form – including both digital and print. Rather, they are filled through referrals and networking.

Networking and building relationships are crucial skills in today’s world, both in our personal and professional lives. Building strong relationships with others can help us in many ways, from finding new job opportunities to gaining valuable insights and advice. In this article, we will explore the importance of networking and some tips for building strong relationship.

Why is networking important?

Networking is important for several reasons. First, it allows us to meet new people who may be able to help us in our personal or professional lives. For example, if we are looking for a new job, we may be able to connect with someone who knows of an open position or who works in our desired field.

Networking also helps us gain valuable insights and advice. By talking to others who have experience in a particular industry or field, we can learn about the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them. This can help us prepare for similar challenges and be better-informed.

Networking can help us build our reputation and establish ourselves as experts in our field. By sharing our knowledge and expertise with others, we can gain recognition and respect, which can lead to new opportunities and partnership.

In addition to career advancement, there are several other benefits to the cultivation of a strong, widespread professional network. For example, those with access to a large and diverse group of fellow professionals are able to develop a stronger personal brand. This is because the process of building a network, and subsequently maintaining the relationships within that network, forces an individual to really consider what they want their career to look like, and what they want to be known for within their industry. With a clear career strategy in mind, and a network of mentors and peers to help achieve it, an individual is much better placed to find the opportunities and challenges that excite them most, and to proactively work on career progression. 

Further, the existence of a network offers the opportunity for mutual support and the exchange of valuable information. For example, a strong network can be a great source of knowledge and advice for those at any stage of their career, from sharing best practice, to providing reassurance on workplace culture and office politics.

Amore experienced member of the network such as a mentor can often help their mentee to interpret this information from the specific perspective of their own career history, assisting the junior party in making well-informed and pragmatic choices. 

Additionally, the offer of knowledge sharing and mutual assistance to in problem-solving. For instance, a project leader with a particular issue to resolve could call upon the specific expertise of members of their network in order to pool ideas and arrive at the most effective solution. This collaborative approach not only benefits the junior parties in terms of exposure to real-life problem-solving skills and the chance to help shape a project strategy, but also helps to reinforce the morale and team spirit of the network as a whole. 

So, when everyone takes an active interest in each other’s success, professional relationships can move on from simple aspiration to achieve true collaboration and a sense of community.

Tips for building strong relationships

• Be genuine and authentic.

• Focus on giving, not just receiving

Another important tip is to focus on giving, not just receiving. When you meet someone new, try to think about how you can help them. Maybe you can introduce them to someone in your network who could help them with as a particular challenge, or you could share some advice or insights that you have gained from your own experiences.

By focusing on giving, you will build a reputation as someone who is helpful and generous, which can lead to new opportunities and partnerships down the road.

• Be proactive

Building strong relationships takes effort and time. It’s not something that can be achieved overnight. So, be proactive in your networking efforts. Attend events and conferences, join professional organizations, and reach out to people in your network to schedule lunch dates etc.

By being proactive, you will increase your chances of meeting new people and building strong relationships with them.

• Follow up and stay in touch

Finally, it’s essential to follow up and stay in touch with the people you meet. After you meet someone new, be sure to send them a thank-you note or email. And don’t be afraid to follow up with them in the weeks and months that follow. By staying in touch, you will reinforce the connection you made and increase the chances of building a strong relationship.

Conclusion 

Networking and building relationships are crucial skills that can help us in many ways, both in our personal and professional lives. By being genuine, focusing on giving, being proactive, and staying in touch, we can build strong relationships that will last a lifetime. So, get out there, meet new people, and start building your network today!