SKILL ROADMAP 24 · PRACTICAL CAREER SKILLS

Networking Roadmap

College network → Internship contacts → Professional profile → Conversations → Long term relationships

Track your progress

  • This roadmap has 5 steps, 3 checkpoints and 2 projects.
  • Open the interactive version to tick checkpoints and projects. Your progress is saved in your browser.

1 What this path is

Networking means building genuine professional relationships with people in law. It is not about collecting contacts. It is about learning from people and letting them know your work.

2 Who this path may suit

Every student, including those who find it uncomfortable.

3 The roadmap, step by step

  1. Start with your college.
    Learn: who your seniors, alumni and faculty are and what they do.
    Practise: by speaking to one senior each month about their work.
  2. Build relationships during internships.
    Learn: that good work is the best networking.
    Practise: by staying in touch politely with supervisors after internships.
  3. Create a professional profile.
    Learn: to present your work honestly online.
    Practise: by updating your profile with projects and writing, not just certificates.
  4. Have useful conversations.
    Learn: to ask specific questions and respect people's time.
    Practise: by requesting short conversations with professionals in your target field.
  5. Keep relationships going.
    Learn: to share updates and help others in return.
    Practise: by sharing your publications or moot results with your contacts occasionally.

4 Your levels and checkpoints

Beginner

  • Spoken with seniors and faculty about careers

Intermediate

  • Maintained contact with internship supervisors

Advanced

  • Have a network in your chosen field that knows your work

These checklists are for honest self assessment. They are not an official certification.

5 Build these projects

  1. A professional profile showing your work
  2. A contact log of people you have learned from

6 Internship direction

Every internship is a networking opportunity. Focus on doing excellent work.

7 Portfolio evidence

Recommendations and a professional profile.

8 Common mistakes

  • Asking for jobs in the first message
  • Networking without any work to show

9 Go deeper

Internship Guidebook

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