When I started law school last August the placement office drilled into our heads the importance of networking within the legal community; that our professional reputation begins in school rather than in our career. It’s advice I wish I’d been given seven years ago when I was a freshman. At that point in time I’d never imagined myself in law school so it’s not like I’d have been seeking out attorney contacts, but that should not have precluded me from honing the fine art of professional networking.

Maybe it’s strange to describe networking as an “art”, but for those of us operating on a more introverted plane of human interaction, that’s precisely what it is. In my field introverts are not particularly common in a sea of domineering type-A personalities. We are not suited for unsolicited introductions or skilled at carrying entire conversations comprised entirely of small talk. For those of us to whom the art does not come naturally, the introduction and subsequent small talk that make up the heart of networking take the strategy and planning of a well calculated attack.

I’ve had to learn the strategy fast. In early January I was invited to and attended several receptions with professionals in Portland, hosted by some of the largest law firms on the west coast. These got easier as time passed, but the first reception was one of the most harrowing experiences I’ve had in recent memory. Standing awkwardly in a hot, crowded room, entirely unsure how to approach an attorney with those words on the tip of my tongue: “Hello, my name is…”

The introduction always felt contrived and unnatural, and I was never sure how to continue the conversation after a fumbling introduction to somebody I’m sure did not want to talk to me. I was told by my career services counselor that I should just “pick an attorney and talk to him” as if this was a simple task.

Still, with a bit of experience under my belt, these encounters got easier with time. I can’t say that I’m an expert at introductions and idle small talk, but I’ve learned a few that have made these networking events more bearable, and the task of creating new contacts less daunting.

I’ve learned to do my research prior to the event. Generally you can know who will be present at these things, and most of the attorneys there are important enough to have information available on the internet. The thing is, I don’t prefer to talk about myself, so research helps me ask questions that can keep the other talking about his field, or perhaps a project he’s been working on.

I’ve also learned that despite my misgivings, most attorneys want to talk to me. Well, maybe not to me in particular, but they did not attend the event just to stare people down. Professionals, particularly those with some level of success, are excited about people who are interested in their field and are generally willing to help others achieve success. They actually want to know about your interests, and they’re always willing to make a few more contacts.

Knowing this, coupled with a little preparation, has made networking a little easier. The honest truth is I will probably never feel comfortable forcing small talk and exchanging information with strangers, but it has to be done, and as I hone the strategies needed for networking, I’m getting better at it.

(Steve Crawford is a second year law student at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He is a long time friend of the GiTH crew, and his keen insight and quirky humor has made for many wonderful nights full of conversation.)