The second Networking Club meeting will take place on Thursday, November 1 at 5:15 p.m. in Room 555.  This meeting will focus on “Choosing Your Target Market and Preparing Your Elevator Speech.”  All students are welcome to attend Networking Club meetings!  You will receive invaluable guidance from Career Service Counselors, as well as other students, as you work together to prepare a network of contacts in your target market.  These efforts will culminate with a networking trip to each city – Atlanta, Orlando, and Washington D.C. – to attend an event sponsored by the Career Services Department with the local bar association.  Students who participated in the Networking Club last year gained confidence in their networking abilities and learned how to translate those skills into legal experience and job opportunities.

If you are unable to attend the Networking Club meeting and would like to schedule an individual counseling session to discuss your target market, schedule an appointment with one of our counselors on Symplicity.

Over 80% of law students obtain their first post-graduate position through networking contacts. 

The Career Services Department recognizes how critical networking is to your success, and to foster your networking abilities.  We are launching a networking initiative targeting three key markets – Orlando, Florida,  Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.  The program consists of monthly meetings in which we will present a specific aspect of networking.  Members will first meet in one large group to learn a new networking skill.  We will then divide the meeting into our three targeted locations in order to investigate and apply the skills you have learned to a real market.  You will receive invaluable guidance from career service counselors, as wells as other students, as you work together to prepare a network of contacts in your target market.  These efforts will culminate with a networking trip to each city to attend an event sponsored by the Career Services Department with the local bar association.  Students who participated in the Networking Clubs last year gained confidence in their networking abilities and learned how to translate those skills into legal experience and job opportunities. 

All meetings begin promptly at 5:30.  The dates and room assignments for meetings are listed below:

• Thursday, October 4                        Room #400—Speaker Bryce Krampert, member of DC club and attendee at event in May 2012
• Thursday, November 1                    Room #555
• Wednesday, November 28              Room #555
• Thursday, January 24                      Room TBD 
• Thursday, February 7                      Room TBD
• Thursday, March 21                         Room TBD
• Thursday, April 25                            Room TBD

The events are planned for the week of May 20, 2013 (week after graduation) depending on the event schedule for the bar association.                       

If you would like to participate in Networking Clubs, please RSVP to the first meeting on Symplicity.

Please bring your laptop to the meeting so that you can participate in group research projects.

We look forward to your participation!

The CSD recognizes how critical networking is to your job search success.  As a result, we launched a networking initiative targeting  key markets in Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.  The program is organized into four separate Networking Clubs for each target area.  Each club has met throughout the semester to cultivate students’ networking skills in the context of a specific geographic market.  These efforts will culminate with a trip to each city in May to attend a reception sponsored by Florida Coastal with the local bar association.  Although participation in a Networking Club enhances the experience, you do not have to be a member of a Club to attend the networking event.  All students and alumni are invited to participate.

Below are the details for each reception.  You will be responsible for your own travel arrangements, although students are encouraged to work together to share travel costs when appropriate.  If you are truly committed to finding a job in any of these markets, the trip is worth the investment. 

During difficult economic times, most people find jobs through a contact or someone they met at an event.  As such, this trip could be the most important thing you do in your job search.  If you have not already accepted an invitation to a reception, you can add your name to our list of attendees by emailing careerservices@fcsl.edu.  Below are the dates for each reception:

Atlanta Networking Event
When: Thursday, May 17, 2012
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Networking Reception
Where: Rooftop 866 Restaurant, Midtown Renaissance Hotel
866 West Peachtree Street Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Miami Networking Panel & Reception
When: Thursday, May 17, 2012
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on the Landscape of the Miami Market
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Networking Reception
Where: Fado’s Irish Pub , Mary Brickell Village
900 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33130

Orlando Networking Club Panel & Reception
When: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on Life and Law from the Perspective of Young Lawyers
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Networking Reception
Where: Orange County Bar Association
880 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801

Washington, D.C. Networking Panel & Reception
When: Thursday, May 17th
4:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m – Panel Discussion on the Landscape of the D.C. Market
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Networking Reception
Where: The University Club
1135 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

In order to attend you will need to RSVP by emailing careerservices@fcsl.edu.

Need something to look forward to after finals?  How about the Miami Networking Event?!  The date and location have been confirmed, so go ahead and make your travel plans!  More information will follow.

What: Miami Networking Event (with attorney panel presentation prior to the networking event)
When: Thursday, May 17th
Where: Fado’s Irish Pub
 Mary Brickell Village
 900 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33130 Website: http://www.fadoirishpub.com/miami/directions

In order to attend you will need to RSVP by emailing careerservices@fcsl.edu.

Please email me if you have any questions.  Hope to see everyone there!