Networking 101: How to Make the Most of CLLSS Career Events

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Networking can feel intimidating, especially if you’re attending your first legal event. The good news is that you don’t need to know everyone in the room or deliver the perfect introduction. The goal is simply to meet people, ask thoughtful questions, and leave a positive impression.

The Carleton Law and Legal Studies Society (CLLSS) hosts networking events throughout the academic year, including guest speaker sessions, law school panels, moot competitions, LSAT workshops, social events, and visits to legal institutions. These opportunities allow students to learn directly from legal professionals, connect with fellow students, and better understand different legal career paths.

Whether you’re planning to attend your first networking event or want to improve your approach, this guide explains how to prepare, what to say, and how to follow up so your conversations continue after the event ends.

1. Why CLLSS Career Events Are Worth Attending

Career events give you something a job posting never can: a real conversation with someone doing the work. A speaker series, a law school visit, or an LSAT prep session shows you what a practice area or the law school path is actually like day to day.

Most of the time, the goal isn’t to land a job offer on the spot. It’s to build familiarity, so that when you apply somewhere or reach out again, you’re not a complete stranger. Check the CLLSS events for the last event regularly so you know what’s coming up.

Carleton’s Career Services also runs university-wide Career & Networking Fairs each semester. These aren’t law-specific, but they’re good practice for applying what’s below.

2. Before the Event: Set Goals and Research Attendees

A little preparation goes a long way, and it doesn’t take much time.

  • Check the list of speakers or employers. Most events share this in advance. Skim it before you go. Mooting competitions at Carleton Law Society help you gain knowledge about members, other law students and practice.
  • Pick three to five people or organizations to prioritize. You can’t have a meaningful conversation with everyone in the room, and trying to will leave you with nothing but small talk. Pick a short list instead.
  • Do a little research. Look up their practice areas or recent work, enough to ask an informed question instead of a generic one.
  • Prepare a short introduction. Think about how you’ll describe who you are and what you’re interested in, so you’re not figuring it out on the spot.

3. During the Event: Start Conversations and Make a Good Impression

Once you’re there, a few habits make a real difference:

  • Arrive early. It’s easier to start conversations before the room fills up, and it shows you’re organized.
  • Dress professionally. You want to look like you take the event seriously, without overthinking it.
  • Smile, make eye contact, and be respectful of people’s time. These events are often short and busy, a good conversation doesn’t need to be long.
  • Introduce yourself clearly. Say your name in a way that’s easy to catch.
  • Avoid dominating the conversation. Ask questions and actually listen to the answers.
  • Focus on learning, not impressing. The people you’re talking to have heard a lot of rehearsed pitches. Genuine curiosity stands out more than polish.

Want to learn the whole process of applying to a law school in Canada? Check out our guide on applying to law school in Canada.

4. What to Say: Elevator Pitch and Smart Questions

Your elevator pitch

A few questions that tend to work well:

  • What do you enjoy most about your work?
  • What skills matter most in this area?
  • What advice would you give someone interested in this path?
  • How do students usually get involved with your organization?

One or two good questions, followed by real listening, beats a long list read one after another. Keep it brief, this is where our vision at Carleton Law Society comes in. We want to prepare the next set of legal advisors that have the knowledge and the confidence to win an argument. This is meant to open the conversation, not summarize your whole resume.

Questions Worth Asking While Networking in Lawyers

Good questions show that you’re genuinely interested, not just going through the motions. A few that tend to work well:

  • What do you enjoy most about your work?
  • What skills do you think matter most in this area?
  • What advice would you give to someone interested in this path?
  • How do students usually get involved with your organization?

If you’re looking to clear your LSATs, check our guide on LSAT prep and get ready for the exams.

5. After the Event: Follow Up the Right Way

This is the step people skip most often, and it’s the one that actually makes networking useful. A good conversation that goes nowhere afterward doesn’t do much for you. A short follow-up does.

  • Write down notes right after the event. While it’s fresh, jot down who you spoke with and one or two things you talked about. You’ll thank yourself later.
  • Send a brief thank-you email or LinkedIn message within a few days. Don’t wait too long – the moment loses its energy fast, so aim to send it within two or three days at most.
  • Mention one specific thing from the conversation. This is what makes a follow-up message feel real instead of copy-pasted. Referencing something they actually said shows you were paying attention.
  • Stay in touch if it makes sense. An update, a question, or a shared interest is a natural reason to reach out again.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few things that quietly undermine an otherwise good effort:

  • Asking for a job too early. It can come across as transactional rather than genuine, especially in a first conversation.
  • Talking only about yourself. Networking works better as a conversation than a pitch.
  • Not preparing at all. Walking in cold usually means vague small talk instead of a conversation people remember.
  • Forgetting names or notes. If you don’t write things down, you’ll lose the details that make a follow-up feel personal.
  • Failing to follow up. This is the single biggest missed opportunity. Without it, even a great conversation tends to fade.

7. Quick Checklist

Before the event

  • Reviewed the speaker or employer list
  • Picked 3–5 people to prioritize
  • Did a little research on their work
  • Prepared a short introduction

During the event

  • Arrived early
  • Dressed professionally
  • Introduced myself clearly
  • Asked genuine questions and listened
  • Avoided dominating the conversation

After the event

  • Wrote down notes while it was fresh
  • Sent a follow-up message within a few days
  • Mentioned something specific from the conversation
  • Planned to stay in touch where it made sense

Good networking isn’t about talking to everyone in the room or having the perfect pitch. It comes down to three things: show up prepared, have real conversations, and follow up properly. Get those right, and CLLSS career events become a lot more useful than just another item on your calendar.

If you haven’t been to a CLLSS event yet, now’s a good time to start. Reach out to CLLSS to see what’s coming up next.

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