CityLawLIVE plus: how to extract the most from your interactions with firms

In December 2014 we held our fourth CityLawLIVE event. We were delighted with the calibre of delegates and the impressive roster of sponsors – Baker & McKenzie, Clyde & Co, CMS Cameron McKenna, Dentons, Edwards Wildman Palmer, Kirkland & Ellis, Norton Rose Fulbright, Ropes & Gray, Shearman & Sterling, Weil and The University of Law. The one-day student conference combines lots of elements – panel discussions, workshops, networking – to create what, we hope, is a really useful opportunity for everyone there.

One of the things I wanted to do this year was offer some preparatory advice for delegates on how to squeeze the most out of the day. I reckon that this advice applies to all such events, where you are spending quality time with members of firms that you hope to one day join. Here is my list of things you should be doing to make these opportunities really work for you:

• Listen: Make sure that during any speeches, discussions or workshops, you are actively listening to what is being said. You will hear tips, anecdotes and advice on interesting topics, all of which relate to the profession you hope to join and the career you aspire to have, so tune in. But also…

• Talk: Engage with the firm recruiters, partners, associates and trainees that have taken time to be there. They want to meet you – or they wouldn’t have shown up – so have a couple of questions up your sleeve and show that you’re interested in what they do. We know it can be nerve-wracking, but you have to take the plunge and you may be surprised by how friendly and open most lawyers and recruiters are. Plus, making a good impression at an event such as this could ensure that when your application arrives in their inbox, they remember you.

• Keep talking: This time, to your fellow attendees. You will no doubt have things in common and advice to share. It is always useful to hear from your peers, especially as they may have insight into firms, application processes, events, exams and more. It’s all part of developing your network.

• Contribute: This particularly applies during workshops or other interactive sessions, where you will be in smaller groups and thus, have nowhere to hide. Again, a positive contribution – eg, offering a suggestion, answering a question, commenting on a topic, being a useful member of a team – will be noted by the firm representatives and reflect well on you as a potential lawyer.

• Write: Make notes about what you’re hearing and who is speaking. There is likely to be a lot to take in; imagining that you’ll write your impressions down later is unlikely to happen, so jot things down as you go and then…

• Reflect: At some later date, but not too far down the line, reread your notes and absorb what you learnt. Hopefully there will be some useful tips about how to proceed. There may also be names of people you met that you could follow up with – either a friendly, “It was great to meet you” type email or perhaps with a more direct question. Either way, capitalising on what you’ve learnt and maintaining those ties is essential.
• Take action: Put into practice some of the things you have learnt. How can you improve your applications? What can you do to develop your commerciality? What defines a successful legal career? Analyse what you’ve learnt and then turn that knowledge into practical ways to improve your own efforts.

Be sure to watch our video interview with CityLawLIVE 2014’s keynote speaker, commercial litigation partner Mark Deem, in which Mark discusses the technology and media space and provides an interesting insight into partner interviews. More videos from the event will soon be online and it’s also worth keeping your eyes peeled for news of the 2015 event. Finally, for more tips on how to succeed, based on our experiences with CityLawLIVE, read these blogs on making great applications, mistakes to avoid and handling rejection.