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Respond. It'll take you a few minutes, but it means a lot to them.
Subject Expert
You were in their shoes once. A quick ten minute chat never hurt anyone. Ask for their resume and tell them you'll pass it on. Firm might be done hiring for the year but someone could drop out. Can't promise anything, but you never know....
Be kind, pay it forward and give them a little time. This profession only works through people with experience teaching and helping those without experience. That literally means you and me and everyone else in this bowl have the responsibility to help out, even if just a little bit.
Obama read 10 constituent letters a day as president and often wrote personal replies. I think you can manage. I talk to everyone.
Subject Expert
Pick one with a good profile and have a chat. Even if it’s to tell them cold calls are not the best strategy.
This is how I got a job at one of the top lit boutiques in the country as a grad from a meh state school
Offer some time. Pass it forward. You were an overly anxious/stressed law student once — anything you can do to allay their fears is helpful.
I got interviews by such cold calls so I always make an effort to answer - gotta pay it forward! I rmb someone giving fantastic tips even though they weren't hiring.
I got my current job by cold texting an associate in my practice group about the position, so for sure worth reaching out. Always think that you already have the no, so nothing much to lose
Keep it professional.
I always chat with them.
Can I reach out to you? Would love some tips to keep in mind when making the lateral move. It’s gonna be my first!
Enthusiast
Do a little research on the person you are cold emailing. I am generally open to responding to cold emails from law students, but I got one that gave me the feeling that she really didn't do any research on me. She said I was an experienced attorney (I've been practicing for less than a year) and I'm in a completely different practice group from the one she was applying for. I've had someone else email me about this same position, but he at least framed it more like "I know you're in X practice group, but I was wondering if you could tell me about the office generally." I don't know, maybe I'm being harsh, but I don't really want to help someone that seems like they know nothing about me or what I do when that information is very easily available.
Had a similar situation, she definitely did not research me, who literally just joined the firm, she was not even a law student, and wanted to “enhance her abilities as a future lawyer” and “discuss her possible options at earliest convenience.” Like hun, I went straight through school to this job, clearly not similar to your background, and I’m in no position to provide you with “options.” Kindly told her to do her research better, that’s an ability a future lawyer should possess.