Although many students do very well academically, it does not guarantee success once they graduate. Professional Skills – plays a vital role in determining the level of success and job satisfaction and is significantly connected to finding the specific area of law, the type of job (small firm, large firm, in-house legal staff, government office, etc.), and the culture that best fits their personality and career goals. Hence, helping students go beyond academics will make a powerful, positive difference.
Connecting your students with Lawyers from a vast range of backgrounds and work areas is essential to your students’ professional development, playing a big role in their ultimate success.
Keeping this in mind, establishing regular networking events with Lawyers from both various fields and various work environments, as well as attorney mentoring programs, will create great opportunities for students to connect. These connections bring forth opportunity to build professional relationships, which in turn, provide career:
- Guidance from someone who has “been there, and done that”: Fundamentally, every relationship has the potential for mentoring – viz., for helping the aspiring law student to get “real time” advice on current trends, as well as rules and customs that are still unwritten. Advocates can share stories from their personal journeys – the mistakes they made, the victories along the way and the reasons they chose their particular field.
- Insight on your personal career: As a relationship develops, the lawyer can guide the student to focus on his/her strengths and weaknesses, and their natural bents toward an area of law. By determining what makes the student rouse with passion, the advocate can give strong feedback about realistic career options.
- Opportunities regarding potential job openings: A large portion of openings are not publicly posted; instead, they are filled either through staffing firms or word-of-mouth among those already working within a specific company or arena. And, an ongoing relationship with advocates opens the door for potential recommendations, which can lead to future connections and opportunities.
Building strong relationships takes more than creating the initial events. So, teach your students the ways and means of relationship building. Remember, professionalism isn’t about party time. It is their road to a successful future. Some important keys include:
- Putting “professionalism” before the word networking: This is not about connecting with friends – it’s about connecting with professional groups within the law arena. It includes participating in forums and discussions, posting relevant articles, seeking advice, etc.
- Cleaning up your personal and public image, starting with social media: If your students desire respect and guidance from professionals, a clean social media record is very essential.
- Building personal strength, authenticity, and integrity: It has been found that practicing attorneys and other professional mentors will be much faster to invest in a relationship with an individual who is trustworthy.
Teaching law is more than providing top quality education and training. It is also all about preparing your students for their journey beyond graduation. It is about professional development, which begins with relationships. Helping your students connect to and build relationships with practicing attorneys is a valuable tool in their ultimate success.
The journey to professional development through building relationships is boosted when students understand which direction in the law profession is best for them.