As a Loyola law student you will get daily emails on the happenings around the school and Chicago. One thing I see about every day is an opportunity for a networking event in the building or near the school. Networking is how a strong majority of people, in and outside of the legal profession, find jobs. It can be intimidating, but it is really a great way to explore the many options in the legal field, gain experience with these kinds of interactions and truly connect with people who have the potential to shape your career.
On September 24, 2014, the Office of Career Services (an office you will start to know quite well!) hosted a government networking reception from 4:00 – 5:30pm in the 13th floor faculty lounge. They served light appetizers and refreshments and created a comfortable atmosphere for those interested to meet and converse with attorneys working in different government settings.
Who attended?
| Background | What they do now | |
| Jim Cummings | Cummings got his B.A. in Anthropology and M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame, then his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. He worked as a high school English teacher for nearly 6 years before transitioning to law. | Assistant Attorney General: Special Litigation at Illinois Attorney General’s Office |
| Tanya Dworkin | Dworkin got her B.A. in English Literature and Language from the University of Florida, and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. | Assistant General Counsel at Illinois Department of Public Health |
| Matt Glavin | Glavin got his B.A. in Political Science and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. | Deputy Director at Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development |
| Hilary Johns | Johns got her B.A. in Political Science at University of California, San Diego and her J.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago. | Fair Hearings Chief at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services |
| Clay Rehrig | Rehrig got his B.A. in Economics, International Relations and German from Syracuse University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago, specializing in International Law. | Assistant General Counsel at Chicago Housing Authority |
| Michael Szott | Szott got both his B.A. and J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. | Associate General Counsel at Office of Governor Pat Quinn |
| David J. Tanury | Tanury got his J.D. from University of Chicago. | Attorney at U.S. Department of Labor |
What should you wear?
Most of these events suggest dressing business casual. For men, that would be slacks and a collared shirt (with or without a tie). For women, I would suggest nice slacks and a blouse, pencil skirt and a blouse, or a conservative dress. I would wear nice flats or heels, something in which I am comfortable moving. My friend Marco, below, is dressed perfectly!
When should you arrive?
Try to arrive on the earlier side for a networking event. There may be an introduction of the guests and you can get an idea with whom, in particular, you may want to speak. Since this event started at 4:00 pm, I would suggest making sure you are there about five minutes early! The bulk of this event was a reception, so it was nice to know a little bit about the person before introducing myself.
What should you expect?
After the introductions, most of this event was simply a reception where you could meet and discuss your potential career and learn about new possibilities. Light refreshments, like fruit and pastries, were served along with a few different options of wine and beer. The government attorneys were extremely approachable and often initiated conversation, which certainly helped with the networking nerves!
How do you network?
The big question. It’s easy to say “put yourself out there, be confident!” but sometimes a lot harder to actually do! Luckily, Loyola has some great resources on how to get comfortable with networking. They have samples of good questions to ask, tips for introverts, and examples of what we, even as 1L law students, bring to the table, among so many others. Be sure to check out these networking resources.
When is your next chance to network?
| ABA Construction Law Forum | October 14 @ 12:00 p.m. Corboy Law Center, Room 1102 | Join us for lunch to discuss the practice of construction law presented by members of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry. The panelists for this session are: Krista Hallberg Kapp (’98), Partner at Laurie & Brennan LLP; Kendall Woods (’02), Associate at Laurie & Brennan LLP; and Kimberly R. Reome, Vice President at The Kenrich Group LLC. |
| Explore the Possibilities: Pro Bono & Public Interest Law Opportunities | October 18 @ 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 West Adams Street | Looking to secure a placement at a public interest law organization or in the government sector? This program is for Chicago-area law students who are interested in learning more about placements as volunteers, interns or externs, fellows or staff at public interest law organizations and in the government sector. Learn more at http://pili.org/events/event/explore-the-possibilities-2014. This program is free for law students but advance registration is required by October 15. |
| Public Interest Student Panel | October 21 @ 12:00 p.m. Corboy Law Center, Room 1303 | Panelists: Tori Dempsey Ghirlandi Guidetti Jon Sheffield Amanda Walsh |
| Health Law Fellowships Information Session | October 27 @ 3:00 p.m.
Corboy Law Center, Room 1202 |
This panel will feature speakers discussing health law fellowships for 2L & 3L students as well as post-graduate opportunities. Learn about various fellowships and how to craft a successful application. Co-Sponsored by Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy. |
| Meet the Public Service Organizations Reception
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October 29 @ 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Loyola Corboy Law Center, Kasbeer Hall | Around 45 public interest organizations and government agencies will be attending this reception. Learn about non profit and government agency volunteer, intern and employment opportunities. |
I hope this helped give you an idea of what to expect, and hope to see you at the next event!
Kelly Kearney is a 1L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is blogging about the journey of her first year of law school. To search all posts written by her click here or search the Kelly K category on the right hand side.Questions for Kelly? Email law-admissions@luc.edu with the subject “Ask Kelly” and she will make sure to answer them.