career progression

Part III in Series: A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Submitted by Peg

Okay, so now to Part III: Law School Network and Alumni Groups.

I have found that the typical advice, both formal and informal, to a junior associate trying to start building her professional network is that she should start with keeping in touch with law school classmates. Therefore, I have built that into my networking plan.

Topic: Other Career Issues
Optional tags: Rainmaking, private practice, Networking, community, career progression, BigLaw, A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Part I in Series: A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Submitted by Peg

This is the first part of a multi-part series where I will lay out my creatively-titled "Junior Associate Networking Plan" for your information, criticism and suggestions. I am writing this series because I have found the task of figuring out what a junior associate can and should be doing to build her professional network to be a little daunting and that is perhaps because there is no way to know how much effort one should put into it or where one should dedicate that effort. I do not claim to have the right answers or be implementing the perfect plan. Instead, I hope to share my plan with Ms. JD readers with explanations and pros & cons and then hear from others on what they are doing and/or what I should be doing.

A little background to set the stage for this series. As you may know from my earlier posts, I am a junior associate in the corporate department of a large national law firm, where I have my sights set on making partner some day. I have little "free time" on my hands. I am a little compulsive about making the most of the time that I do have. Some may say that I am overly goal-oriented and/or too ambitious.