The Networking Dilemma
I keep hearing from CDO, the professors, and the LRW/WOA instructors, that my best resource for finding a summer job is the student body. This makes a great deal of sense - other students are much more likely to give us the lowdown on what a particular employer is like.
I have, however, encountered a problem. I've been given several names of people that I should contact, either to ask for their input on a certain job, or to ask if they need unpaid slave labor for the summer.
Fellow Boalties, help me out. How do you write an email (or make a phone call) to someone you don't really know at all? Is there an unwritten protocol to follow? Also, if you're interested in working with a particular person, is there a way to ask if they'd like a research assistant/intern for the summer without sounding pushy?
(Yes, I'm aware that there's a 1L summer perma-thread. I'm posting this here and not there because 1) there's no useful advice on that thread and 2) this sort of question isn't limited to 1L's looking for a summer job.)
I have, however, encountered a problem. I've been given several names of people that I should contact, either to ask for their input on a certain job, or to ask if they need unpaid slave labor for the summer.
Fellow Boalties, help me out. How do you write an email (or make a phone call) to someone you don't really know at all? Is there an unwritten protocol to follow? Also, if you're interested in working with a particular person, is there a way to ask if they'd like a research assistant/intern for the summer without sounding pushy?
(Yes, I'm aware that there's a 1L summer perma-thread. I'm posting this here and not there because 1) there's no useful advice on that thread and 2) this sort of question isn't limited to 1L's looking for a summer job.)
Labels: OCIP/Employment
posted by Bekki at 4:33 PM
7 Comments:
Dear Ms. A,
I am a 1L student at Boalt and I'm very interested in B. I had heard from C that you worked for D [or in the field of E] last summer. I wonder if you would be so kind as to tell me how you went about finding that opportunity. I'm currently researching a job for the summer and I'd love to get involved with F. Any advice you can give would be truly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Bekki
If you haven't noticed yet, law students and lawyers in general LOVE to give advice. Ask someone what extracurriculars you should continue next year, whether to write on to CLR, or when to do your writing requirement. They'll give you advice for an hour. Lawyers are the same way except they'd prefer to be charging you for it.
Also, if they have a connection where you'd like to apply and the person likes you (or sometimes even if they're indifferent to you) frequently they'll say "Give me your resume and I'll pass it along." If you think the person is busy, throw in a "I know you must be very busy and hope you won't mind if I take a moment of your time."
Make somebody feel like they know something you don't and they love to help.
This is sort of a tangent, but...
If you're putting out feelers for firm jobs only now, chances are it's too late. (You should still be fine for other jobs.) Telling you to wait until after finals and/or after you have your grades to start sending out letters and resumes is one of the biggest disservices rendered by CDO and your LRW profs at Boalt. Many 1L's who get summer gigs get them before grades even come out. And if not, the students who sent out their resumes earlier in the process (read - on Dec 2 or whatever that magic date is) are likely to get considered first.
If you're looking for public interest opportunities, go to PIPS day and you will definitely find something there.
1:39 is probably right for large firms, but smaller firms (that hire 1Ls at all) are often still hiring - at least some labor and private public interest firms wait until they can see grades to hire, so they're only staring their hiring processes now.
On the other hand, DO NOT rely on PI/PS day. It's not a bad sampling to get an idea of what's out there, but as a hiring opportunity it's fairly useless. If you have any interest in a specific field, you're better off figuring out (from 2L/3Ls, professors, etc.) what some specific opportunities are and targeting them. Many public interest groups are also just starting to post job opportunities on their websites and jobmarket sites.
I'm sure everyone's experience w/ 1L jobs is different, but I don't know that it's too late for firm jobs. That big wave of resumes I sent out Dec. 1 drew no interviews at all - until I had some strong grades to report. Then, firms made time to talk with me.
be skeptical of unsolicited advice purporting to be authoritative
Always a conspiracy theorist out there! FWIW, I (1:39) am an alum. You go to Boalt. Stop thinking every one of your classmates is trying to take away your job opportunities by giving you bad advice.
when are CLR positions announced?
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