This past week I went to not one, but two lawyer networking events. American Bar Association rules forbid 1L's from contacting potential employers about summer or future employment until December 1, but I've been told by 2L's and 3L's that these events are still a good chance to meet recruiters, talk to them in general terms about their firm, get some interpersonal conversational practice, and maybe even impress yourself on the minds of potential employers so that they remember you when they come back later for interviews.
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On Wednesday, I went with some other members of the Berkekely Technology Law Journal to San Francisco for a "Women and Minority Law Student IP Summit," hosted by Microsoft.
There were several firms at the event handing out brochures and tons of sweet tchtotchkies. The main event of the night, however, was a talk given by 15 panelists representing the in-house counsel for huge tech companies:
I totally expected the Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft people to get into a Jerry Springer-like 3-way brawl on-stage, but it never happened. Bummer.
Afterward, there was a reception where we could talk to the panelists about their jobs, ask them questions about what it's like to work such huge companies, and maybe even get an email or two. I talked to the lawyers from Google, Sun Microsystems, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The Google and Yahoo people were really cool, and really seemed to like their jobs. The Microsoft people were kinda weird, though they also seemed to like their jobs too.
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On Thurday night, the Berkeley Center for Law and Tech hosted a huge event where over 30 of the biggest law firms in IP came and set up tables with even more toys and junk.
I used the evening as an opportunity to learn the firms' names and get a feel for their corporate culture. I only got to talk to about 7 of the firms, but I was able to collect business cards and I think I already have a partial list of firms that I might like to work for.
Probably the most interesting thing I took away from the night was the realization that lawyers, even in their stodgy pinstripe suits and garish ties, are just like anyone else. All the lawyers I talked to were funny, weird, and even kinda goofy. Most of them seemed to like their jobs, though talking to them about firm life confirmed my suspicion that law school is a reflection of life in a law firm in the same way the SAT is a reflection of life in college: they're nothing alike.
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My week of talking to the lawyers was immensely eye-opening, but I have to be honest. While making connections with people from companies like Google and Yahoo, and big firms like McDermott, Farella, and MoFo is incalcuably valuable, the sweet junk they hand out definitely comes in a close second on the hierarchy of awesomeness. Look at all this schwag!
Unfortunately, this only represents a fraction of the stuff available during the two nights. My Sidley Austin tote bag (not shown) just wasn't big enough to hold the other assorted pens, water bottles, highlighters, business card holders, photon lights, calculators, leather mouse pads, note cubes, and fishing lures that some of the other firms were offering. I think I'll be just as happy though, with my Weil foldy-useless-map-circuit-court-paperweight thingy.
2 comments:
ooooo nalgene!
Use me (assuming my connection will work)!!!
I have a family friend who's a partner at Sidley in LA.
This is totally late, but I lost your lovely blog address in a crazy switch of profile in Firefox.
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