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As law students continue to face difficulties in establishing industry connections, a firm owner who has encountered similar challenges shares insightful advice to help them navigate and overcome these hurdles.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, Selina Nikoloudakis, the principal of Divorce Legal, shared practical and invaluable advice for law students to help boost their chances of success and build lasting, meaningful connections within the legal profession.
In the same episode, she outlined key steps and strategies that law students and graduates can implement to strengthen and grow their professional network, as enhancing these connections can open doors to valuable opportunities within the legal profession.
Nikoloudakis observed that securing a position within the legal profession is “becoming more challenging these days” for law students as the job market grows more competitive.
Reflecting on her own journey through university, Nikoloudakis shared that law students’ primary focus is on “completing the coursework to the best of their ability” rather than worrying about “how am I going to get a job?”
While academic success is crucial, Nikoloudakis expressed how she believes that law students need to start thinking about networking and career-building a couple of years before they graduate.
“You do need to commit yourself to graduating early on, a couple of years before you graduate; you need to start turning your mind to these issues because I believe they are here to stay and put yourself out there,” she said.
Nikoloudakis shared that one of the most effective ways for students to build their professional networks is by utilising the platform LinkedIn.
“LinkedIn is a very good forum where you can connect with people, look up law firms and see who’s at a particular law firm, reach out to them, and ask for coffee. We’re not scary people,” she said.
She acknowledged that she regrets not taking a more proactive approach to networking opportunities early in her career, recalling: “I remember the heartache of getting those rejection letters. And I wish someone had sort of spoken to me about this and how I should be navigating it.”
Nikoloudakis reflected, asking: “Had I started this earlier, had I built connections, had I put myself out there, would my journey have been different?”
For law students struggling to get started and secure employment, Nikoloudakis offers words of encouragement.
“Pursue your dreams. If your dream is to be a lawyer, pursue it. Don’t lose hope. Keep the determination alive and remember, it’s an obstacle that can be overcome,” she said.
Nikoloudakis also encourages students to “reach out to senior lawyers” for guidance and support, urging them not to “be afraid”. She highlighted that sending a LinkedIn message or email demonstrates to senior lawyers that “you are committed and determined”.
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