Networking

If you're attending any law-related events, make sure to chat with people and talk about what you're looking for. Ask for meetings. People love to talk about what they do and will be happy to share their information with you. They'll also be happy to refer you to others who might have information for you.

Also contact your Alma Mater's career services office for names of attorneys who work in your area of interest. Start by calling them and see what happens. Ask for a 15-minute meeting. I was given 8 names and only struck out with meeting one person; I had to leave a message with someone else and she clearly should not have told the school that people could contact her because I called back after a few weeks and never heard from her.

While you can't expect a job out of a networking meeting, you can expect to learn more about career tracks, whether you'd be interested in work that person has done and how to start. You might also learn about volunteering opportunities, which is another way of meeting people.

When you meet with people, be sure you're on time, dressed appropriately, have a card with you and write a thank you note. I know, I sound like your mom. Mom was right though; I prefer to send hand-written thank you notes but have been chastised by a few people for not sending e-mail. No matter which you do, there will always be someone who complains about the method, so just do what makes sense to you.

It might make the most sense to use paper in some situations and e-mail in others. Always thank the person for their time and the contacts they've given you. They say that 80% of jobs are filled through networking so you have every reason to network.