Hello Friends!
As we settle into the early days of fall, a new season comes with new opportunities. And speaking of opportunity, I wanted to pick up our conversation from where we left off with career exploration. Today’s topic? Informational interviewing.
You may recall that I encouraged you to put together a career plan outline. Part of that plan is to set up informational interviews with attorneys working in various practice settings. This is an important tool to add to your growing toolkit.
First things first: what is an informational interview?
An informational interview is an opportunity to network and build a professional relationship by connecting directly with an individual in an area of interest to you. In many ways, the name “informational interview” speaks for itself. While not a job interview, it’s an opportunity to speak with a professional who has expertise in an arena of interest for you and to learn from their real-life experiences.
This is an excellent tool to help you learn more about the legal profession and different substantive areas of law. Keep in mind that in law school, the academic side is often different than how the law plays out practically in a day-to-day job. Additionally, you will have opportunities to engage in practical learning in law school with clinics, externships, and internships.
Having touched briefly on what an informational interview is, let’s take a look at putting this into practice!
How to Conduct an Informational Interview
As someone who has conducted numerous informational interviews, keep in mind there is not a singular, perfect way to do so.
Start by listing your interests with respect to substantive practice areas (i.e. family law, immigration, etc.). Additionally, think about what environments you are interested in (i.e. private practice, government, small/large law firms, etc.).
Then start your search by brainstorming for contacts - you probably have more than you think! You can find potential contacts through your own network, your school, your local bar association, alumni networks, LinkedIn, and more. Look for people who are working in areas of law you are interested in, and make a list of a couple of people you want to reach out to. There is not an ideal number to find; keep the list manageable with three to five specific contacts to direct your attention to.
Next you’ll want to reach out, which you can do over email, by phone, or even in person if you meet someone during an organized, professional event (such as a networking mixer). When crafting that first communication, be sure you introduce yourself with your name and whether you are a pre-law or law student. Mention how you found this individual and why you are reaching out. Indicate what practice (or area of expertise) that you are interested in. Ask if the professional has time to meet and what you hope to cover in the meeting.
Let’s take a look at a sample email:
Dear Jane Smith,
I am a 1L at Supreme Justice Law School. I am enjoying my first year of doctrinal classes and especially enjoying tort law. I am interested in learning about the practical application of this work as an attorney.
Professor Scholarly recommended that I reach out to you as you were a former student who excelled in torts, and then went into civil litigation. As I am greatly interested in this field, I am inquiring whether you may have the bandwidth to meet for coffee, lunch, or even Zoom during the coming weeks.
I can imagine that you are quite busy. However, should you have time for a 20-30 minute conversation, I would love to meet. I have class Monday through Thursday, but can meet anytime on Fridays, as well as between 3-6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. If these times do not work for you, please let me know how I can best accommodate your schedule.
Thank you so much for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
New Bie
While the example above is not a “script” to follow, keep in mind the following as you plan.
Your request should be:
A professional email that introduces who you are, the reason why you are reaching out, and inquiring if there could be a potential opportunity to have a conversation or meeting to learn more.
This could also be started with a phone call – known as a cold call. The intent would be the same as above, but would be conducted via phone, rather than by email.
Additionally, if you meet someone through an organized, professional event (i.e. a networking mixer), you can make the ask in person.
Don’t get discouraged if your professional doesn’t have time or interest to meet – it’s not personal. Thank them and move onto the next individual you would like to meet with.
If your professional agrees to meet, that’s great! Research their bio, prepare your questions, and dress in professional business wear for the meeting. If your professional agrees to meet, but only via Zoom or by phone, that’s equally of value. If by phone or by Zoom, preparing your questions should be the same as meeting in person (more on that below). If by Zoom, professional dress is still a nice touch. By phone, apparel doesn’t matter of course. However, for either a virtual or telephonic meeting, be sure to have a quiet space for an uninterrupted conversation, as well as a distraction-free environment.
Stumped on questions? Keep it open-ended: How did you come to land in your field? What advice do you have for law students? What steps did you take in your career to lead to your position?
With respect to attire, it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Dress slacks or a skirt and blouse are fine. If you have a matching or complementing suit jacket, you can wear that as well. Dress as you would for a day in the office.
During the meeting, feel free to take notes. Bonus points if you ask beforehand if you can take notes!You can/should offer to pay for coffee or a light lunch, but there’s no need to attend an extravagant restaurant or pay for something expensive.
Follow up with a hand-written thank you note or personalized thank-you email afterwards. This professional took time out of their busy day to meet with you, and even a small expression of gratitude can go a long way!
Keep in mind that many professionals are busy. If you provide your schedule (as in the sample email above), many individuals will try to work around that availability. However, if not, keep in mind that you should offer to accommodate THEIR schedule, since you are asking for a favor.
Finally, below are some quick Do’s and Don'ts about informational interviewing.
Do’s
Think about why you want to connect with the professional, and craft a few concrete thoughts about how you want to approach it.
Plan out the questions that you wish to ask in advance.
Keep the ask and the meeting professional; this is not a social hangout with friends. While the relationship may potentially grow into one of mentorship or friendship, approach this opportunity with appropriate respect.
Keep the conversation focused and brief, roughly 20 to 30 minutes in length.
Follow up with a handwritten thank-you note or personalized thank-you email.
Don’ts
Waste the professional’s time.
Overstay your welcome (see the note above regarding suggested lengths of time).
Treat it like a job interview. You are asking questions to gather information, not trying to see if you can garner a job from the conversation.
Make the interview about you. A few statements about your interest and a brief elevator pitch is perfectly fine. What’s not okay is to make the conversation completely about you, rather than asking open-ended questions of your professional.
Next time we meet, we’ll conclude our conversation about the career exploration roadmap with a discussion of career counseling. But for now, think about how YOU can utilize an informational interview to your benefit.
Kristina Bilowus is an Assistant Director of Career Development at MSU College of Law. She is also the current Treasurer of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, vice president of the Hellenic Bar Association, co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Ingham County Bar. She is also a board member for the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
