A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

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 VI in Series: A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Submitted by Peg

I am short on time and energy today so I am skipping to Part VI of my seven part networking series to share with you today, my Online Networking Plan.

I'll have to admit upfront to be woefully behind the power curve on on-line networks. As a member of Gen X, I missed the boat that was MySpace and was a late joiner on other online networks as well. I reluctantly became a member of facebook in 2007 just because I repeatedly got friend invites from it and signed up just to have a shell of a presence so that I could accept the requests. Well, just last July, when things were a little slow at the office, I decided to really join the online networking game and to make it part of my Junior Associate's Networking Plan.

Topic: Other Career Issues
Optional tags: unsolicited advice, Networking, 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.