To Drink or Not to Drink, That Is the Question

Alcohol is served at almost every single professional event.  You always see people walking around the room with a beverage in hand.  Is it appropriate as a recruit, or prospective employee, to drink?  If so, how much is acceptable?  There is no hard and fast rule, but here are a few tips to help you navigate these tricky waters.

Gauge the Environment Around You

Does it seem like only the partners are indulging?  Are most people enjoying beer and wine, or are mixed drinks the norm?  You want to blend in as much as possible.  Think "chameleon".  Also, you do not want to overdo it at a professional event.  Self-police how many alcoholic beverages you can enjoy, so you do not lose your focus, and you are still conscious of your actions.

You never want to be the center of attention.  If you drink a little too much, excuse yourself and head home.  It is better to show up and leave a positive and short impression than be "that person who ended up dancing on an elevated surface".  If you are not a drinker, do not fret--no one is asking what is in your glass.  Get water, soda, or any beverage that you want, and no one is going to cross-examine you.

Keep a Clear Head

Everyone knows alcohol impairs your judgment.  This is no secret, and it is easy for someone to tell when your judgment is impaired.  You need to pace yourself, and you need to regulate yourself.  You may make connections at these professional events that could land you your dream job or your dream internship, but unfortunately, it can all be erased if you do not keep tabs on yourself.  Just because there is unlimited free alcohol does not mean that you can treat the event like an undergraduate fraternity party.

At professional events, you are there to make a good impression.  Sloshed and slurring is not the image that you want to leave with anyone, even if it is an associate.  Following these events, the firm often asks its employees to share information about the people that they found memorable (and this means the good and the bad).  Make sure that your behavior lands you on the nice list.

Take an Uber or Lyft

At these events, I personally choose not to carpool--I would much rather depend on Uber or Lyft to get me home.  There is no way to keep perfect tabs on a designated driver, so I always choose to be safe and take one of these services home.  I am lucky in the fact that my Uber/Lyft rides are never very long, so I come out with a fare that's usually less than $10.  But, if there is a large surge in the area, I will share the ride with a friend that lives close to me.

The important thing is to be smart, be safe, and do what is best for you.

Lots of love,

How to Network and Why it is Important

Shake Hands with Anyone

Believe it or not, almost everyone feels awkward at networking events.  It is a room of people where people only know a handful, and they are not sure who they should talk to first.  Usually, the best approach is to introduce yourself to the first person you see.  When you begin to discuss your interests, that person will usually introduce you to the key people that you need to know.

For example, you see a woman standing near the entryway who is not already engaged in a conversation, just approach her.  The conversation will naturally flow, and then she will introduce you to another person.  This is the simplest way to work the room.  Eventually, you will come full circle.

Have a Variety of Topics in Your Back Pocket

You never know what you could have in common with a person--and people always surprise you.  Maybe you both have climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, maybe you both love deep-sea fishing, or maybe you both love to attend Major League Baseball games.  It is also smart to check current events right before you leave or on your way over to the event.  Sometimes a new headline might sneak its way into a conversation.  Just make sure not to make any super politically charged statements--it might turn people off.

Having a list of generic questions prepared is good, but having specific ones while revealing you did research before the event is even better.  Everyone loves telling stories without having to start at square one.  A notebook to write down pertinent information might be useful in this situation, just in case something really sticks out as interesting.

Make Sure to Get Their Contact Information

This is probably the simplest, yet most commonly made mistake.  Someone attends an event, has numerous spectacular conversations and no way to contact the people following the event.  I like to send a little thank you blurb to everyone that I met via email.  That way, you remind them who you are, and you stay on their mind.

Also, if you get business cards, it is useful to make a note on the back of each one.  You can write when and how you met them and your common connection.  This way, you will be able to remember who they are in case he or she invites you to coffee or another event afterward.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, and don't be afraid to show them who is boss.

What's A Social Life?

This is the question that every law student asks themselves...

Yes, from the first day of law school, it seems like your schedule is always packed with assignments, club meetings, and studying.  It is important to keep on top of your school work and obligations, but you cannot function on all of this alone.  Every person, even a law school girl, needs to come up for a breath of fresh air from time to time.  Social interaction and free time is just as important as studying--even the ABA agrees with us.

Make Breaks Productive

When you do decide to take a break from your studies, make it as useful as possible.  If you are feeling extremely stressed, choose an activity that will actually relax you.  Do not pick something that will cause other issues to weigh on your mind, this will make you even more stressed.  You should also pick one day a week where you push law school out of your mind and fill your day with fun activities.

"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy."

Elle Woods was correct on this point.  A run around the block, a quick workout video, or a SoulCycle class with a friend can make a strong positive impact on you and your body.  Working out can actually give you a boost of energy, and it can help you power through reading a tough case.  It also helps you keep a healthy lifestyle during a time where it does not seem that you have the time.  Law schools are notorious for their free food to attract students to attending events.  Usually this food is not the healthiest (cookies, pizza, donuts, etc.).  Making exercise part of your weekly routine can help balance this out and keep you awake and alert.

A Clean Home is a Happy Home

I know, I know, this is such a cliche.  And cleaning your room/apartment/house sounds like the the last thing you want to do when you get home after class.  However, it is very true.  Clutter in real life equals clutter in your brain.  I feel guilty even putting this suggestion up here because I don't always follow my own advice on this.  I can say that when all my dishes are clean and put away, my laundry is done, and my carpet is vacuumed I feel physically better.  One of my favorite things to do while doing the housekeeping is blasting my favorite music and singing along.  It makes chores seem less endless, and you can even bust out into your most embarrasing dance moves.

Read a Book for Pleasure

Looking at more words on a page may sound like the last thing you want to do after reading hundreds of pages of legal jargon, but allowing your brain to stretch creativity can actually help with problem solving.  If you don't want it to be a solitary activity, you can make a small book club among friends with no deadlines, pressure, or expectations.  The creative part of your brain can actually kick in when writing your law exams--you may see something that other students don't, or come up with another solution that your classmates may not consider.  Even rereading an old favorite can help, making your mind more perceptive.
 

"He drinks a whiskey drink / He drinks a vodka drink / He drinks a lager drink / He drinks a cider drink."

Tubthumping may have enjoyed staying out all night partying, but they did not need to get up the next day to finish a twenty-something page brief.  Drinking to cope is never the answer, and pushing yourself past your limits can lead to some really regrettable consequences.

Everybody Loves Game Night

Being social does not mean that you have to be the life of the party.  Sometimes the best thing to do is have a low-key game night where everyone brings their favorite snack or splurges for some take-out.  For this activity, it is best not to let your competitive side get the best of you.  Pull out a game that doesn't have high stakes.  Cards Against Humaniy, Uno, Clue, and Scrabble are some of my favorites.  They are not complicated games, everyone knows the rules, and you can basically start and stop the game whenever you want.

Avoid Staring at Another Screen

Netflix and Chill is never the best choice.  You are already straining your eyes so much during the week, that staring at another screen is just going to deteriorate your vision even more.  I know, sometimes you feel like you need to watch a mindless episode before bed, but the light from the screen will actually keep you up and make you have less fitful sleep.  If you want to do something that does not require too much thinking, have your friends come over for a casual night in for just talking and laying out on the couch.

You Don't Need to Impress Anyone

Do not let yourself feel pressured to go out just because everyone else appears to be doing it.  This is the along the lines of the "if everyone jumps off a cliff..." argument.  If you are in the mood to go home and use your freetime to take a nap, go for it.  If you just want to play fetch with your dog, you do you.  If running around the house with a cat toy tied to a string sounds like your idea of a good time, then that is what you should do.  The only person that you need to impress is yourself and future employers.

Love and luck to all,