Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Getting a Second Look from Government Agencies
Tips from an alum involved in hiring at a governent agency
First, grades matter. While an applicant’s grades needn’t be the highest in the world, they matter in terms of where you fit into your class. Your undergraduate grades also matter. People can’t give up if they had a poor first year or first semester. They need to remain focused on doing well in their classes.
Second, students simply need to submit better writing samples. Too many of the applicants submitted the typical appellate brief and they weren’t very inspiring. The students should submit the best written product they have produced in law school and the language should snap, crackle and pop! I know students have a lot to do but taking the extra time to ensure their writing sample is legally accurate, grammatically correct, and interesting to read is well worth the effort. It is hard to do but you can tell the good writers from the average.
Additionally, cover letters need to be better. Many of the cover letters we received described in detail how the student wanted to work for our office their entire lives but the examples they described had NOTHING to do with what we do. Don’t be a granola crunching, animal loving, PETA wanna be and say that your biggest dream is to work for the international law section of the Department of Defense. It shows that you don’t know anything about the practice. There needs to be some logical congruence in your history and what you say in your cover letter. The cover letter also needs to have zero defects. My own preference is a tight, minimalist cover letter that opens the kid up to as little skepticism as possible.
Third, those who seemed to get through the initial round did one or two – sometimes three – extracurricular activities but participated in a meaningful way. Of course you have your outlier superstar who does a dozen extracurriculars well. There was suspicion with those kids who appeared to have done everything in law school. We are all lawyers and know that it is simply not physically possible to do everything listed on some of these resumes.
Fourth, 2Ls, especially, need to have some form of legal experience their first summer. Doing good general legal work is all that’s required. The experience needn’t be specifically tailored. An externship or part-time work during the fall only adds to the number of points awarded for “legal experience." We even counted work done prior to law school if it was relevant.
First, grades matter. While an applicant’s grades needn’t be the highest in the world, they matter in terms of where you fit into your class. Your undergraduate grades also matter. People can’t give up if they had a poor first year or first semester. They need to remain focused on doing well in their classes.
Second, students simply need to submit better writing samples. Too many of the applicants submitted the typical appellate brief and they weren’t very inspiring. The students should submit the best written product they have produced in law school and the language should snap, crackle and pop! I know students have a lot to do but taking the extra time to ensure their writing sample is legally accurate, grammatically correct, and interesting to read is well worth the effort. It is hard to do but you can tell the good writers from the average.
Additionally, cover letters need to be better. Many of the cover letters we received described in detail how the student wanted to work for our office their entire lives but the examples they described had NOTHING to do with what we do. Don’t be a granola crunching, animal loving, PETA wanna be and say that your biggest dream is to work for the international law section of the Department of Defense. It shows that you don’t know anything about the practice. There needs to be some logical congruence in your history and what you say in your cover letter. The cover letter also needs to have zero defects. My own preference is a tight, minimalist cover letter that opens the kid up to as little skepticism as possible.
Third, those who seemed to get through the initial round did one or two – sometimes three – extracurricular activities but participated in a meaningful way. Of course you have your outlier superstar who does a dozen extracurriculars well. There was suspicion with those kids who appeared to have done everything in law school. We are all lawyers and know that it is simply not physically possible to do everything listed on some of these resumes.
Fourth, 2Ls, especially, need to have some form of legal experience their first summer. Doing good general legal work is all that’s required. The experience needn’t be specifically tailored. An externship or part-time work during the fall only adds to the number of points awarded for “legal experience." We even counted work done prior to law school if it was relevant.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Cover Letter Tips and Best Practices for Summer Job Applications
It’s that time of year. 1Ls and 2Ls are scurrying about looking for summer internship/clerkship listings, checking deadlines, and putting application materials together. Here, we start a series of job application posts we’ll publish over the next several days, offering tips and best practices. Today’s post will focus on cover letters.
Before we get to our tips list, the first, most important, universal tip is that law students should immediately schedule an appointment in their career services or public interest advising office. Your author, about 10 years ago, fancied himself a sort of rogue public-interest student who didn’t need the help of his public interest career advisor. This was really, really dumb. Only after I sent the job applications out did I see the typos (amazing how they jump out at you once the original letter has already been sent), the formatting inconsistencies, etc. These are things that a trained eye would have caught in no time. So by all means, speak to a professional who’s helped hundreds of students in the exact position you’re in now.
Without further ado:
Five Tips for Public Interest Cover Letters
1.A cover letter is a “living document,” which means that each letter must be tailored to specific employers. An employer is usually able to identify a form letter by the end of the first paragraph. Then that letter is often thrown in the trash can before the second paragraph begins.
2.A cover letter should almost always be one page. The chief exception may be if you have a wealth of experience related to a particular employment opportunity, and if the job listing for that opportunity is so fleshed out that you need more than a page to convey your qualifications. This is not typically the case with law student positions, so try to keep it to one. If you want a second opinion on a particular job application, ask your career advisor.
3.A cover letter is a complement to the resume, not simply a reformatted version of the resume. The letter gives you a chance to express your passion directly to the employer in a slightly less formal manner than a resume; it gives you a chance to say not only what your credentials are, but a) why your credentials will enable to you to do that job, and b) why you want that job. A personal commitment to an organization and/or its mission is a chief criterion used by almost all public interest employers in evaluating job candidates. This doesn’t mean that you should go over the top, writing something like, “As a child I fell asleep dreaming of handling public benefits appeals.” But the cover letter is your opportunity to say that you want to use your degree to ”ensure that the poor and others on society’s margins can achieve real, meaningful access to the justice system” and, if you can, to illustrate past experiences that reflect this commitment. One cover letter format to consider is as follows:
◦Paragraph One: Who I am and, in short, why I want the job;
◦Paragraph Two: What I bring to the job by way of experience, interest, and credentials;
◦Paragraph Three: Fleshed out explanation of why I want the job – an expression of my passion for the employer organization and/or the work.
4.Use the qualifications listed in the job description as prompts for points to hit about your experience/credentials. If an employer is seeking someone with an interest in juvenile justice issues, then you can write that, ”My strong interest in juvenile justice issues has prompted me to gain experience researching juvenile sentencing trends for violent offenses, and to spend four weeks shadowing a legal services attorney who represents accused minors in criminal proceedings.
5.Have someone – a career counselor, classmate, friend, etc. – proofread your cover letters. We are always our own worst editors and proofreaders, so don’t rely on yourself to do it.
Bonus Tip: Follow application instructions to the letter. An employer may send a job description to your school, and your school may post it on Symplicity. This does not necessarily mean that the employer wishes to receive your application via a Symplicity email - even if the employer does want the application emailed. If they direct you to apply by email, send the email directly to them yourself.
For more tips and best practices, be sure to visit PSLawNet’s job search fundamentals page.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/public-interest-cover-letters-tips-and-best-practices-for-summer-job-applications/
Before we get to our tips list, the first, most important, universal tip is that law students should immediately schedule an appointment in their career services or public interest advising office. Your author, about 10 years ago, fancied himself a sort of rogue public-interest student who didn’t need the help of his public interest career advisor. This was really, really dumb. Only after I sent the job applications out did I see the typos (amazing how they jump out at you once the original letter has already been sent), the formatting inconsistencies, etc. These are things that a trained eye would have caught in no time. So by all means, speak to a professional who’s helped hundreds of students in the exact position you’re in now.
Without further ado:
Five Tips for Public Interest Cover Letters
1.A cover letter is a “living document,” which means that each letter must be tailored to specific employers. An employer is usually able to identify a form letter by the end of the first paragraph. Then that letter is often thrown in the trash can before the second paragraph begins.
2.A cover letter should almost always be one page. The chief exception may be if you have a wealth of experience related to a particular employment opportunity, and if the job listing for that opportunity is so fleshed out that you need more than a page to convey your qualifications. This is not typically the case with law student positions, so try to keep it to one. If you want a second opinion on a particular job application, ask your career advisor.
3.A cover letter is a complement to the resume, not simply a reformatted version of the resume. The letter gives you a chance to express your passion directly to the employer in a slightly less formal manner than a resume; it gives you a chance to say not only what your credentials are, but a) why your credentials will enable to you to do that job, and b) why you want that job. A personal commitment to an organization and/or its mission is a chief criterion used by almost all public interest employers in evaluating job candidates. This doesn’t mean that you should go over the top, writing something like, “As a child I fell asleep dreaming of handling public benefits appeals.” But the cover letter is your opportunity to say that you want to use your degree to ”ensure that the poor and others on society’s margins can achieve real, meaningful access to the justice system” and, if you can, to illustrate past experiences that reflect this commitment. One cover letter format to consider is as follows:
◦Paragraph One: Who I am and, in short, why I want the job;
◦Paragraph Two: What I bring to the job by way of experience, interest, and credentials;
◦Paragraph Three: Fleshed out explanation of why I want the job – an expression of my passion for the employer organization and/or the work.
4.Use the qualifications listed in the job description as prompts for points to hit about your experience/credentials. If an employer is seeking someone with an interest in juvenile justice issues, then you can write that, ”My strong interest in juvenile justice issues has prompted me to gain experience researching juvenile sentencing trends for violent offenses, and to spend four weeks shadowing a legal services attorney who represents accused minors in criminal proceedings.
5.Have someone – a career counselor, classmate, friend, etc. – proofread your cover letters. We are always our own worst editors and proofreaders, so don’t rely on yourself to do it.
Bonus Tip: Follow application instructions to the letter. An employer may send a job description to your school, and your school may post it on Symplicity. This does not necessarily mean that the employer wishes to receive your application via a Symplicity email - even if the employer does want the application emailed. If they direct you to apply by email, send the email directly to them yourself.
For more tips and best practices, be sure to visit PSLawNet’s job search fundamentals page.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/public-interest-cover-letters-tips-and-best-practices-for-summer-job-applications/
Friday, January 14, 2011
Expert Opinion: Five-step Strategic Planning for Your Postgraduate Public Interest Job Search
by Nicole Ayala
Now, more than ever, landing that public-interest dream job right out of law school is a daunting task. As a result, you should be thinking strategically about how to position yourself to get the job you want when hiring picks back up. What follows is a five-part outline to use in developing a strategic plan that will move you closer to your career objectives.
1.Describe your immediate employment goal(s) as precisely as possible. Think in terms of both outcomes and skills. For example, an outcome-based statement would be “I want to work in my home state as a legal services attorney, focusing on immigration and domestic violence issues.” A skills-based statement would be, “I want to do a combination of litigation and policy advocacy work, with a substantial amount of client interaction.” Specificity is important, as it not only helps you to articulate a concrete goal, but it also serves as the foundation for building your strategic plan.
2.List obstacles/challenges. This section should also address outcomes and skills. Building off the example above, the challenges could include the following: “The legal services organization in my home state just did layoffs, I have yet to argue a motion in court, and I only speak English.” Other categories of possible obstacles could include logistics (e.g. “I need to have an income now,”) attitude (e.g. “I refuse to look for a non-legal job,”) and networking (e.g. “What’s an informational interview?”).
3.Brainstorm potential strategies for addressing challenges. Like any brainstorming session, no idea should be left unexplored, no matter how idealistic or obvious. Often this is how truly innovative strategies are formed. For example, only speaking English definitely presents a challenge to getting hired to do immigration work for a legal services organization. Possible solutions for remedying this problem could range from the extreme of moving to another country for a language immersion experience to the relative ease of buying the Rosetta Stone program of your choice.
4.Prioritize strategies based on feasibility and marketability. You should be able to prioritize the strategies that are feasible for you based on your personal circumstances (e.g. cash flow, geographic restrictions, family responsibilities), but you may want to talk to your law school’s public interest career advisor for input on determining which strategies to pursue based on marketability. Your advisor will have knowledge of the hiring criteria and skills that public interest organizations value most. By addressing both internal and external factors, hopefully you will be able to create a list that is both realistic and well-suited to your targeted position or organization.
5.Develop an action plan. Once you have identified your priority strategies, think through the specifics of how to make them happen. Generally, an action plan should include the following three components: tasks (what), resources (what / how / who) and timeline (when). Returning once again to our example, let’s assume you decide to make the bold move of going to South America for six months to learn Spanish. Your action plan might look like this:
•
◦Tasks: Research language immersion programs and costs. Find out if there are any visa requirements or travel restrictions. Make sure I can sublet my apartment. Check with my student loans lender to see if deferment is a possibility.
◦Resources: Family members (cost). Fellow classmates (program recommendations). Mentor (encouragement). Landlord (finding a subletter). Personal savings account (cost). Temporary job (cost).
◦Timeline: One month from now: Complete research on programs. Two months from now: Speak to at least two graduates of the program and figure out travel logistics. Three months from now: Decide on program. Four months from now: Arrange to have domestic issues taken care of, including apartment sublet and loan deferment. Five to six months from now: Move and start program.
[On a related note, the PSLawNet Blog recently posted about Spanish language immersion programs.]
***
There is no question that the current employment climate is difficult for public interest law students and graduates. But jobs are out there, and you will do yourself a tremendous service by taking a methodical approach to finding the right position for you. Good luck!
Nicole Ayala is the Assistant Director, Public Interest & Fellowships at the University of Connecticut School of Law’s Career Planning Center. Nicole’s extensive experience in the public service field includes having worked for a legal services organization, the federal government, unions and nonprofits. She received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a Master of Divinity from Harvard and a BA in political science from the University of Iowa.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/expert-opinion-five-step-strategic-planning-for-your-postgraduate-public-interest-job-search/
Now, more than ever, landing that public-interest dream job right out of law school is a daunting task. As a result, you should be thinking strategically about how to position yourself to get the job you want when hiring picks back up. What follows is a five-part outline to use in developing a strategic plan that will move you closer to your career objectives.
1.Describe your immediate employment goal(s) as precisely as possible. Think in terms of both outcomes and skills. For example, an outcome-based statement would be “I want to work in my home state as a legal services attorney, focusing on immigration and domestic violence issues.” A skills-based statement would be, “I want to do a combination of litigation and policy advocacy work, with a substantial amount of client interaction.” Specificity is important, as it not only helps you to articulate a concrete goal, but it also serves as the foundation for building your strategic plan.
2.List obstacles/challenges. This section should also address outcomes and skills. Building off the example above, the challenges could include the following: “The legal services organization in my home state just did layoffs, I have yet to argue a motion in court, and I only speak English.” Other categories of possible obstacles could include logistics (e.g. “I need to have an income now,”) attitude (e.g. “I refuse to look for a non-legal job,”) and networking (e.g. “What’s an informational interview?”).
3.Brainstorm potential strategies for addressing challenges. Like any brainstorming session, no idea should be left unexplored, no matter how idealistic or obvious. Often this is how truly innovative strategies are formed. For example, only speaking English definitely presents a challenge to getting hired to do immigration work for a legal services organization. Possible solutions for remedying this problem could range from the extreme of moving to another country for a language immersion experience to the relative ease of buying the Rosetta Stone program of your choice.
4.Prioritize strategies based on feasibility and marketability. You should be able to prioritize the strategies that are feasible for you based on your personal circumstances (e.g. cash flow, geographic restrictions, family responsibilities), but you may want to talk to your law school’s public interest career advisor for input on determining which strategies to pursue based on marketability. Your advisor will have knowledge of the hiring criteria and skills that public interest organizations value most. By addressing both internal and external factors, hopefully you will be able to create a list that is both realistic and well-suited to your targeted position or organization.
5.Develop an action plan. Once you have identified your priority strategies, think through the specifics of how to make them happen. Generally, an action plan should include the following three components: tasks (what), resources (what / how / who) and timeline (when). Returning once again to our example, let’s assume you decide to make the bold move of going to South America for six months to learn Spanish. Your action plan might look like this:
•
◦Tasks: Research language immersion programs and costs. Find out if there are any visa requirements or travel restrictions. Make sure I can sublet my apartment. Check with my student loans lender to see if deferment is a possibility.
◦Resources: Family members (cost). Fellow classmates (program recommendations). Mentor (encouragement). Landlord (finding a subletter). Personal savings account (cost). Temporary job (cost).
◦Timeline: One month from now: Complete research on programs. Two months from now: Speak to at least two graduates of the program and figure out travel logistics. Three months from now: Decide on program. Four months from now: Arrange to have domestic issues taken care of, including apartment sublet and loan deferment. Five to six months from now: Move and start program.
[On a related note, the PSLawNet Blog recently posted about Spanish language immersion programs.]
***
There is no question that the current employment climate is difficult for public interest law students and graduates. But jobs are out there, and you will do yourself a tremendous service by taking a methodical approach to finding the right position for you. Good luck!
Nicole Ayala is the Assistant Director, Public Interest & Fellowships at the University of Connecticut School of Law’s Career Planning Center. Nicole’s extensive experience in the public service field includes having worked for a legal services organization, the federal government, unions and nonprofits. She received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a Master of Divinity from Harvard and a BA in political science from the University of Iowa.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/expert-opinion-five-step-strategic-planning-for-your-postgraduate-public-interest-job-search/
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Expert Opinion: 10 Networking Tips
10 Tips for Networking Made Easy! – by Michael Bergmann, executive director of the Chicago-based Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI).
1.It’s always better to give than receive! Networking isn’t about getting a job or business development; it’s about developing relationships and making connections. Networking is about meeting others to learn about what their needs are, how you can help and what connections you can make. If you approach it from this angle, you’ll be successful and receive your rewards. If not, you’ll be labeled a schmoozer, ‘pol’ or worse.
2.RSVP when asked, and do what you said! They wouldn’t ask if they didn’t care. If a host is asking for responses, be sure to let them know if you’re coming and if you say you are, be there.
3.Turn your cell phone/PDA/pager off! I know it’s hard, but try it. Hiding in a corner checking messages or on a call doesn’t go unnoticed. And, answering the phone or checking e-mail while you’re talking, well, need I say more?
4.Listen more than you talk! This is critical to a good networking session. Take the time to learn about the person. But, no one wants to carry the weight of the whole conversation, so talk responsibly.
5.Learn the person’s name and use it! This is important during the conversation and for afterwards. Doing so will show your sincerity and interest in the person and will help you remember their name later.
6.Know who you are and what you are! Be able to explain who you are and to tell a little about yourself. No one wants to hear the highlights of you resume or feel like their being sold something. Explain who you are and what you do in a short but thorough way and relate to what you’ve learned about them.
7.Put your best face forward! If you’re that mad/sad/angry/sick, don’t go. No one wants to hear your whining or sob story when they first meet you and your less than sunny disposition will impede your ability to make connections.
8.Always have business cards on you! Nothing kills a great networking opportunity like not having a way to connect again in the future. And, be sure the one you give it is really yours! You might jot down some important facts about the person or your conversation on the back of the card for later use.
9.Don’t shoulder surf! You may think no one notices, but they do. When talking with someone be sure to give them your full attention. If you’re not enjoying the conversation, then politely move on.
10.Follow up with the contacts you make! Whenever possible, you should follow-up within a week of meeting a new contact. Include some highlights from your discussion to help them remember you. And, if they follow-up with you first, be sure to respond.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/expert-opinion-10-public-interest-networking-tips/
1.It’s always better to give than receive! Networking isn’t about getting a job or business development; it’s about developing relationships and making connections. Networking is about meeting others to learn about what their needs are, how you can help and what connections you can make. If you approach it from this angle, you’ll be successful and receive your rewards. If not, you’ll be labeled a schmoozer, ‘pol’ or worse.
2.RSVP when asked, and do what you said! They wouldn’t ask if they didn’t care. If a host is asking for responses, be sure to let them know if you’re coming and if you say you are, be there.
3.Turn your cell phone/PDA/pager off! I know it’s hard, but try it. Hiding in a corner checking messages or on a call doesn’t go unnoticed. And, answering the phone or checking e-mail while you’re talking, well, need I say more?
4.Listen more than you talk! This is critical to a good networking session. Take the time to learn about the person. But, no one wants to carry the weight of the whole conversation, so talk responsibly.
5.Learn the person’s name and use it! This is important during the conversation and for afterwards. Doing so will show your sincerity and interest in the person and will help you remember their name later.
6.Know who you are and what you are! Be able to explain who you are and to tell a little about yourself. No one wants to hear the highlights of you resume or feel like their being sold something. Explain who you are and what you do in a short but thorough way and relate to what you’ve learned about them.
7.Put your best face forward! If you’re that mad/sad/angry/sick, don’t go. No one wants to hear your whining or sob story when they first meet you and your less than sunny disposition will impede your ability to make connections.
8.Always have business cards on you! Nothing kills a great networking opportunity like not having a way to connect again in the future. And, be sure the one you give it is really yours! You might jot down some important facts about the person or your conversation on the back of the card for later use.
9.Don’t shoulder surf! You may think no one notices, but they do. When talking with someone be sure to give them your full attention. If you’re not enjoying the conversation, then politely move on.
10.Follow up with the contacts you make! Whenever possible, you should follow-up within a week of meeting a new contact. Include some highlights from your discussion to help them remember you. And, if they follow-up with you first, be sure to respond.
http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/expert-opinion-10-public-interest-networking-tips/
Friday, January 7, 2011
Using OSCAR to Find a Federal Clerkship or Working in Federal Appellate Courts
from PSLawNet: http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/considering-a-clerkship-or-staff-attorney-position-with-the-federal-courts/
If you are a law student or practicing attorney considering a federal clerkship or working as a staff attorney in the federal appellate courts you should get to know OSCAR. No not that adorable grouch from Sesame Street, but the federal Judiciary’s online system for clerkship application and review.
Who is using OSCAR?
OSCAR has recently celebrated its sixth birthday and in 2010 was used by 1,501 federal judges (= 2/3 of all federal judges) to handle their clerkship application process. The system allows judges to post open positions and choose to accept applications online or paper applications. By 2010, 82% of judges were accepting online applications.
In 2010, 50% of the applicants were 3Ls and 50% were law school alumni. This was a slight deviation from 2009, when 52% of the 10,722 applicants were alumni.
Another change in 2010 was the system’s expansion to allow staff attorney office’s in the federal appellate courts to post open positions.
The staff attorney module was introduced last May, and 10 positions were posted between that month and the end of September. The positions posted by staff attorney offices accepting online applications attracted 2,598 applications.
What does the future hold for OSCAR?
The OSCAR Working Group has “endorsed a proposal to add a module for pro se, death penalty, and bankruptcy appellate panel law clerk hiring.”
Learn more about how to utilize OSCAR to apply for federal clerkships and appellate staff attorney positions.
If you are a law student or practicing attorney considering a federal clerkship or working as a staff attorney in the federal appellate courts you should get to know OSCAR. No not that adorable grouch from Sesame Street, but the federal Judiciary’s online system for clerkship application and review.
Who is using OSCAR?
OSCAR has recently celebrated its sixth birthday and in 2010 was used by 1,501 federal judges (= 2/3 of all federal judges) to handle their clerkship application process. The system allows judges to post open positions and choose to accept applications online or paper applications. By 2010, 82% of judges were accepting online applications.
In 2010, 50% of the applicants were 3Ls and 50% were law school alumni. This was a slight deviation from 2009, when 52% of the 10,722 applicants were alumni.
Another change in 2010 was the system’s expansion to allow staff attorney office’s in the federal appellate courts to post open positions.
The staff attorney module was introduced last May, and 10 positions were posted between that month and the end of September. The positions posted by staff attorney offices accepting online applications attracted 2,598 applications.
What does the future hold for OSCAR?
The OSCAR Working Group has “endorsed a proposal to add a module for pro se, death penalty, and bankruptcy appellate panel law clerk hiring.”
Learn more about how to utilize OSCAR to apply for federal clerkships and appellate staff attorney positions.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
An Introvert's Guide to Networking
by Kendra Brodin, http://www.lawyerist.com/
Get there early. If you get to the event before most of the other attendees, the intimidation factor will be gone. When you walk into a room full of people who are already engaged with others, it’s harder to get in on the conversation. However, when you arrive early, it will be easier to chat with the few others who are already there. It’s okay to let people know that you’re new. If it’s a group that is worthy of you, they’ll embrace you.
Offer help. If you arrive early, find the person who is in charge and introduce yourself. Ask if there is anything you can do to help out—volunteers are often needed! You’ll be able to meet the other people who are volunteering as well, and that’s a nice icebreaker. You will keep your hands busy, so even if you aren’t talking, you’ll be doing something rather than staring at the wallpaper. If the hostess and other volunteers know you’re new, they may introduce you to others.
Don’t go it alone. If you can, bring a friend with you who isn’t so shy. They can introduce you to others that they meet, and engage you in the conversation. One caveat: be careful that you don’t talk only to your friend and forget about everyone else in the room. If that’s what you want to do, go to dinner with your friend alone so you can chat it up there all you want.
Watch for people like you. There is no way that you’re the only shy person in the room. Look for others who are standing alone or who don’t look comfortable. Take a deep breath and go over and introduce yourself. They may be waiting for someone, but you can chat and wait with them. Then they can introduce you to the people they are waiting for. Or they may be new as well, and looking for someone to hang out with.
Ask questions. People like to talk about themselves. If you ask questions and are genuinely interested in the responses, not only do you not have to say much, but will be remembered as friendly and a good listener. As the other person speaks, you should become more comfortable, so when they ask you questions, you won’t be so nervous when answering.
Don’t be offended. If you put on your best smile and introduce yourself to someone and they brush you off, don’t be apologetic and don’t feel like a failure. Maybe they are having a bad day, or don’t feel like talking, or really are someone that you don’t want to know anyway. It doesn’t matter why they aren’t responsive. What matters is your reaction. Simply move away and regroup. Everyone in the room isn’t this way, so remind yourself that you’re okay and try again.
http://lawyerist.com/introvert-guide-to-networking/
Get there early. If you get to the event before most of the other attendees, the intimidation factor will be gone. When you walk into a room full of people who are already engaged with others, it’s harder to get in on the conversation. However, when you arrive early, it will be easier to chat with the few others who are already there. It’s okay to let people know that you’re new. If it’s a group that is worthy of you, they’ll embrace you.
Offer help. If you arrive early, find the person who is in charge and introduce yourself. Ask if there is anything you can do to help out—volunteers are often needed! You’ll be able to meet the other people who are volunteering as well, and that’s a nice icebreaker. You will keep your hands busy, so even if you aren’t talking, you’ll be doing something rather than staring at the wallpaper. If the hostess and other volunteers know you’re new, they may introduce you to others.
Don’t go it alone. If you can, bring a friend with you who isn’t so shy. They can introduce you to others that they meet, and engage you in the conversation. One caveat: be careful that you don’t talk only to your friend and forget about everyone else in the room. If that’s what you want to do, go to dinner with your friend alone so you can chat it up there all you want.
Watch for people like you. There is no way that you’re the only shy person in the room. Look for others who are standing alone or who don’t look comfortable. Take a deep breath and go over and introduce yourself. They may be waiting for someone, but you can chat and wait with them. Then they can introduce you to the people they are waiting for. Or they may be new as well, and looking for someone to hang out with.
Ask questions. People like to talk about themselves. If you ask questions and are genuinely interested in the responses, not only do you not have to say much, but will be remembered as friendly and a good listener. As the other person speaks, you should become more comfortable, so when they ask you questions, you won’t be so nervous when answering.
Don’t be offended. If you put on your best smile and introduce yourself to someone and they brush you off, don’t be apologetic and don’t feel like a failure. Maybe they are having a bad day, or don’t feel like talking, or really are someone that you don’t want to know anyway. It doesn’t matter why they aren’t responsive. What matters is your reaction. Simply move away and regroup. Everyone in the room isn’t this way, so remind yourself that you’re okay and try again.
http://lawyerist.com/introvert-guide-to-networking/
Monday, January 3, 2011
Winter Lecture Series - Fridays, 10 a.m.
You'll need to pick a track to attend, traditional or non-traditional. All lectures will be recorded and available on the law school recordings home page. https://www.law.byu.edu/Law_School/Recordings
2011 Winter Lecture Series
Traditional Track
Friday from 10:00 - 10:50 am in Room 206
Jan 7 Scott Thorley, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Jan 14 Jacey Skinner, DIRECTOR, UTAH SENTENCING COMMISSION
(FORMERLY WITH THE SALT LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE)
Jan 20 (Thursday) Annual Winter Job Fair from 11:00 – 1:00 in the Fishbowl Reception Area
Jan 21 No Class
Jan 28 Rudy Bautista, RICHARDS BRANDT MILLER & NELSON
(FORMERLY WITH THE SALT LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE)
Feb 4 JAG Panel
Feb 11 Ray Johnson, ATTORNEY AT LAW/BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR
Feb 18 Judge Kay Lindsay, PRESIDING JUDGE, 4TH DISTRICT JUVENILE COURT
Feb 25 No Class – Placement Break
Mar 4 TBA
Mar 11 Tani Downing, STATE RISK MANAGER, STATE OF UTAH
Mar 18 Adam Ford, PARTNER, FORD & HUFF; NUTS & BOLTS OF STARTING YOUR OWN
PRACTICE
Mar 25 Trystan Smith, SHAREHOLDER, SNOW CHRISTENSEN & MARTINEAU
Apr 1 Event with Alumni Leaders
Non-Traditional Track
Fridays from 10:00 - 10:50 am in Room 208
Jan 7 Charlie Freedman, VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL, DOWN EAST OUTFITTERS
Jan 14 Scott Poelman, JP MORGAN
Jan 20 (Thursday) Annual Winter Job Fair from 11:00 – 1:00 in the Fishbowl Reception Area
Jan 21 No Class
Jan 28 Trent Pedersen, CHIEF DIVISION COUNSEL/AGENT, FBI
Feb 4 Helen Anderson, COMMUNITY RELATIONS & PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, THE CITY OF PROVO, MAYOR’S OFFICE
Feb 11 Ed Carter, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, BYU
Feb 18 TBA
Feb 25 No Class – Placement Break
Mar 4 TBA
Mar 11 Lew Cramer, PRESIDENT & CEO, WORLD TRADE CENTER, UT
Mar 18 Adam Ford, PARTNER, FORD & HUFF; NUTS & BOLTS OF STARTING YOUR OWN
PRACTICE (ROOM 206)
Mar 25 TBA
Apr 1 Event with Alumni Leaders
2011 Winter Lecture Series
Traditional Track
Friday from 10:00 - 10:50 am in Room 206
Jan 7 Scott Thorley, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Jan 14 Jacey Skinner, DIRECTOR, UTAH SENTENCING COMMISSION
(FORMERLY WITH THE SALT LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE)
Jan 20 (Thursday) Annual Winter Job Fair from 11:00 – 1:00 in the Fishbowl Reception Area
Jan 21 No Class
Jan 28 Rudy Bautista, RICHARDS BRANDT MILLER & NELSON
(FORMERLY WITH THE SALT LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE)
Feb 4 JAG Panel
Feb 11 Ray Johnson, ATTORNEY AT LAW/BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR
Feb 18 Judge Kay Lindsay, PRESIDING JUDGE, 4TH DISTRICT JUVENILE COURT
Feb 25 No Class – Placement Break
Mar 4 TBA
Mar 11 Tani Downing, STATE RISK MANAGER, STATE OF UTAH
Mar 18 Adam Ford, PARTNER, FORD & HUFF; NUTS & BOLTS OF STARTING YOUR OWN
PRACTICE
Mar 25 Trystan Smith, SHAREHOLDER, SNOW CHRISTENSEN & MARTINEAU
Apr 1 Event with Alumni Leaders
Non-Traditional Track
Fridays from 10:00 - 10:50 am in Room 208
Jan 7 Charlie Freedman, VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL, DOWN EAST OUTFITTERS
Jan 14 Scott Poelman, JP MORGAN
Jan 20 (Thursday) Annual Winter Job Fair from 11:00 – 1:00 in the Fishbowl Reception Area
Jan 21 No Class
Jan 28 Trent Pedersen, CHIEF DIVISION COUNSEL/AGENT, FBI
Feb 4 Helen Anderson, COMMUNITY RELATIONS & PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, THE CITY OF PROVO, MAYOR’S OFFICE
Feb 11 Ed Carter, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, BYU
Feb 18 TBA
Feb 25 No Class – Placement Break
Mar 4 TBA
Mar 11 Lew Cramer, PRESIDENT & CEO, WORLD TRADE CENTER, UT
Mar 18 Adam Ford, PARTNER, FORD & HUFF; NUTS & BOLTS OF STARTING YOUR OWN
PRACTICE (ROOM 206)
Mar 25 TBA
Apr 1 Event with Alumni Leaders
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