Informational Interviews: Part I

When questions spike around a topic, we know it is time to address it in a blog post! Today, we begin to address Informational Interviews.

This link is a bit dated, but it a great post about informational interviews, plus a great link to pet peeves about those who abuse informational interviews (think of this as this "not to do" list). While most students are using these opportunities to focus on career exploration and build their networks, taking these opportunities to really listen for the chance to provide value to the person across the table as well as consider possibilities for future joint endeavors.  You never know when you might want to ask someone to provide a guest blog post on your future blog or invite part of their network to participate in a speaking engagement or CLE panel.

When you're setting up an informational interview, think about what you are aiming to gain from the meeting as well as how to make it most productive.  Conduct basic research before you set the meeting date (several tools in the Symplicity Document Library will help students consider how to use Westlaw, LexisNexis, and LinkedIn to find out additional information).  Ask for something concrete, such as twenty minutes of someone's time to gain a sense of how she picked her practice area and then built her business.  The more concrete and reasonable your request is, the more likely that even the busiest of attorneys will try to make time for you.  Add them to your contact list, and stay in touch -- using tools like your RSS feeds in Google Reader to send the occasional article or event of interest to your new contact!