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Thanks to a variety of virtual meeting tools, there are more options for networking opportunities now than ever before. In person networking is fantastic, but having the option to connect with attorneys virtually can be a great tool to help make the most of your time and make it easier for busy attorneys to say “yes” to request for an informal chat. Here’s some guidance to help you think through your networking strategy.

• Get ready to connect. Your online branding and LinkedIn profile as a law student or recent grad will likely become your primary connection tools, so polish your virtual presence to professionally connect with industry professionals.
• Set up virtual or in person coffee meetings. Reach out to attorneys and alums for informational interviews. If you are able, it is great to offer the person you are reaching out to the option of deciding on the meeting format - in person, over Zoom or another platform, or a phone call. (If you can’t meet in person, use the options that are available to you). Attorneys are generally willing to help law students and many are happy to share advice and talk about their own experiences when you express a genuine interest in learning about them and their practice.
• Decide who to contact. Start with your attorney mentor. Ask Career Services and professors for names of people to contact. Connect with attorneys who came to campus this past school year to present on panels or in classes; shockingly few students ever take them up on their offer to meet (and when they offer for students to reach out to them, they really mean it!). Career Services, faculty, or student groups hosting these events will be able to provide you with the names of their guest speakers. At the end of every informational interview, ask your contact who they think you should reach out to next and get permission to use their name in your connection request.
• Use a simple greeting. When initiating contact, keep things simple by using the
  Inigo Montoya method of a good introduction: (1) polite greeting; (2) name; (3) relevant personal link; and (4) your request:
  “Hi John. My name is Ima Lawgrad and I am a May 2025 graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School. I heard you speak at a panel at the law school this past spring and appreciated your perspective and insights. I would like to learn more about civil defense litigation work and am writing to see if you would be willing to meet with me briefly over Zoom for an informational discussion about this area of law. If there is a time that would work best for you over the next few weeks, I will gladly accommodate your schedule. Kind regards, Ima.” Here and here are some additional networking email templates you may find helpful.
• Continue with traditional recruitment opportunities. Pay attention to job postings on Career Connect and other job boards and when you see a posting you like, reach out to the employer immediately. If you know someone who works in a firm that is hiring, contact them right away to find out more information about the position so that your application and interview will be stronger. Attend virtual career fairs and virtual campus interviewing sessions that Career Services posts on Career Connect.
• Explore your new industry. One often overlooked aspect of networking is that it involves learning about market trends, hot industries, and useful skills for potential employers. Watch bar association webinars and attend virtual CLEs that can help you get ahead of your competition.
• Think outside of the legal box. Networking outside of the legal industry can lead to connections and jobs, too. Consider joining industry groups or virtual business meeting and networking groups such as Meet-up, Eventbrite, or BNI Oregon & SW Washington. They can be hit or miss but you may find some virtual events that work for you.
• Get out there … virtually. The key to your success in networking is visibility and consistency. Look for opportunities to engage with your virtual contacts and get your name out there so that when an opportunity arises, you will learn about it early and be considered as a candidate. Use social media to congratulate people for their accomplishments, share information, or post that you just attended a trending webinar.

If you consistently approach networking with an intention to simply meet people, learn about your industry, and be helpful – and not from a place of need or desperation – then you will have the right attitude. People often cringe from the word “networking” because it feels like a sales job. But when done with the intention of making genuine connections it feels more authentic for both you and the people you meet. Making connections to people, industry, and information will be important for the rest of your professional life. And hey, it can even be fun.