For many young lawyers, law school and its memories are still fresh. While it takes time to develop professional skills, build a client base, and provide substantive value as legal professionals, young lawyers should focus at least some of their time on connecting with both law students and law schools in imparting the knowledge they have recently gained in order to build relationships with their soon-to-be colleagues. There are a many ways to connect, give back, and benefit from these relationships, but a few easy wins include helping with mock interviews, mentoring, and presenting at law schools.

Mock Interviews

For many law students, the mere idea of interviewing with a potential employer is enough to bring on intense anxiety. Understandably, the interview process represents one of those make- or-break events where a student is tasked with both articulating their scholastic achievements and showing that they are a good fit with the firm’s culture. Given the stakes and the relatively minimal time allotted to the interview, young lawyers can help students through this process. One of the best ways a young lawyer can help is to volunteer their time by participating in mock interviews. These interviews, generally coordinated through the law school’s career services office, take place at the young lawyer’s firm where interview conditions are simulated to provide students with the opportunity to answer common questions and receive instant feedback. Additionally, mock interview programs benefit the young lawyers as they are presented with the chance to give back to their local legal community early on, engage with the legal institutions at a grassroots level, and build relationships with the next crop of lawyers who will soon ascend to colleague status.

Mentoring in a Casual Setting