100 x J.D: Connected Lawyers are Happy Lawyers Lew W. Cramer, President & CEO Utah World Trade Center Eileen Doyle Crane, Prelaw Advisor Utah Valley University

Role of Networking in Career Career satisfaction Increases likelihood of getting a job Process by which lawyers develop clients Way to progress towards partnership, for those in law firms Leads to leadership opportunities, for those in other, not-directly-legal environments

Where to Start Fill out form that has been provided Have an open mind to the best career path Research the possibilities Determine your interests Breakdown your interests into the ovbious parts Discover who is doing what you’re interested in doing Set goals and create a timeline for yourself

100 x JD Primary Goal For law students to meet 100 lawyers by the time they graduate from law school

100 x JD Secondary Goals To help law students create a personal AND professional safety net To decrease the likelihood that future lawyers will avoid some of the problems that most professionals in highly stressed situations often experience, such as: – Depression – Divorce – Alcoholism – Suicide – Malpractice

Lew’s Story Here’s where you tell your favorite networking story Example of how it has worked for you Ways in which it informs your current position Ways in which it helped you in law practice

How to Build Your Network Contact an attorney Offer to take him/her to lunch, breakfast, meet at their office or somewhere mutually agreeable to discuss law as a profession Respect the time and place requirements of the lawyer Pay for the lawyer’s meal (most will not let a student pay for their meal and will offer pay for both) Ask specific questions (see Lawyer Interview on website) Ask for the name of two other attorneys that might be helpful to learn from or meet

How to Build Your Network Contact each of the two other attorneys Invite each to lunch, breakfast, as above Ask specific questions about the profession Ask for names of two other attorneys to meet Write/ /call the 1 st attorney, thank him/her for the referral, and share what was learned in subsequent interviews Continue till you have met 100 attorneys Collect and file business cards as well as create and share one’s own card; write notes on the back of details that will help you remember something about this particular person

Bad Networking Insert You Tube Video here

Anticipated Results Students will : – have met and gotten to know lawyers working in a variety of legal settings – adjust a media-driven perception of law practice to a more realistic perception of day-to-day law practice – will meet professionals doing other things, if they are not intending to follow a traditional law practice – identify a potential mentor from among the many people they have met who will take a personal interest in the student’s professional progression

Risks of Inaction Lower career satisfaction Fewer contacts for professional support Increased isolation in the practice Career placement challenges Exposure to fewer non-traditional placement opportunities, if student decides not to practice law Difficulty or inability to repay school loans if un-, under-, or inappropriately employed

Mentors & Sponsors Among those 100 lawyers you meet, you need to find mentors and sponsors Mentor – Someone who is willing to take an interest in you, your work, and your professional progression – Teaches you how to navigate professional life and challenges Sponsor – Someone who is willing to not only take an interest in you, but who is also willing to promote you to his/her friends and put their own reputation on the line in the process

Time to Practice Now – Separate form into five parts – Share your forms with 5 other law students who you do not already know During Conference – Write down same information on paper – Decide to meet at least 5 attorneys you do not already know – Make a post-conference appointment for a date or phone call – BEGIN TO BUILD & EXPAND YOUR NETWORK! After Conference – Check out additional networking ideas and tips at: