Transcript
"I'm setting up informational interviews. What is the best way to go about this? As a law student, should I email partners of firms where I want to work who are alumni of my school and ask questions about the firm? I think it is a great idea, but I'm worried it would backfire."
Sometimes, in my opinion, the best way to set up informational interviews is to contact firms that you might wanna work for in a given city, and ask attorneys there if they would have a moment for you to stop by and ask them some questions about their firm, or about the market - that you're relocating there, that you're from the market, or if you wanna relocate to a given market, to say, "Could I come by and arrange to bring you some coffee and ask you some questions?" Something along those lines, is how I would do it. And talking to alumni at your school is another good way to do it. That's my suggestion, I would contact them in that way and ask them, and if you do things that way, you're likely to get better results than you probably otherwise would if you were just trying to say, "I would like an informational interview."
And sometimes just a short note contacting them on LinkedIn, or sending an email is good. And without a lot of information, just saying, "I'm a third year law student in this law school, I loved it. I'm interested in working in this market. I understand you might not have any positions, but could I come ask you some questions about the market in person?" And then, many times they will just give you good suggestions, and you'll stay in touch. And maybe they'll have an opening in the future if they like you. So I think informational interviews are a great idea in networking. Earlier in my career, I wasn't as big of a fan of them as I am now, but anything you can do in person to connect with people is huge, and something you should do.
