Mentoring at APALSA Speeding Networking

Tonight I participated in the University of Washington’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association’s 10th annual speed networking event. Sponsored by K&L Gates, 1L UW law students got to speed talk to APA attorneys in a wide range of practice groups. I love these events because although law schools hammer into law students the importance of networking, it’s very difficult to actually network in law school. You’re bombarded with essentially a new language, it’s super competitive, and you’re cramming too much information every night.  So it’s great that the law schools are working to introduce  law students to attorneys.

I just graduated 3 years ago so I felt like I barely had any knowledge to impart, but it was so cool to talk to law students just starting school. It’s especially scary being APA (or a person of color) in a field dominated by people who don’t look like you. It was important to me to meet mentors who look like me and I’m glad to have these opportunities to give back.  (If you’re a law school student, or young lawyer who wants to know more about networking/mentoring events, contact me!)

My advice to new students is always: (1) work hard but don’t worry too much, and (2) build real connections with the people you meet.