Tonight, I spent the evening hobknobbing with the Justices of the California Supreme Court. They are in Sacramento today and, tomorrow, are hearing oral arguments (in my building!). The Justice I’m interning for was great at introducing us (me and the other intern) to the Supreme Court Justices and the other Justices on the Appellate Court, but I hate these kind of events. I am such a BAD mingler. It was one of my goals, throughout law school, to get better at walking up to random people, making conversation and convincing myself that we really do want to talk to each other. Yet, I never managed to feel good about it. The thing is that I’m GREAT at making small talk. But, the initial introduction – I hate that part. Especially when it is not clear, right off the bat, what you have in common. I think that instead of (or in addition to) listing where you go to law school/work, each person should note an interesting fact about themselves: “First job: paper boy;” “Worst Grade: D in High School Spanish;” “Alternative Career: Adventure Guide.” Instead of the normal, “Hi, I’m so and so. You are so and so. What do you do? Why are we here?” conversation, you can look at their nametag and their fact and instantly have a more meaningful and fun conversation topic to break the ice.

With events like these, I also have a hard time determining my role in the whole thing. It is not an event where everyone is on the relatively same playing field – like, say, at an ABA meeting. At the ABA meetings, granted, you have varying levels of success, but everyone there is typically an attorney and they’re all there to get MCLE credits. There’s not exactly an undercurrent of anything else going on. Tonight, there seemed to be an atmosphere of jockeying for positions. There were tons of students from McGeorge and Davis, other attorneys, folks from county or state organizations, and then, of course, the Justices. All of the students, as is to be expected, were gathering around those prominent individuals who could potentially lead to a job, internship, etc. The Superior Court Judges and Appellate Justices were there because it looks good and also because it’s a chance to hang out with their friends again and see people they don’t see that often. The attorneys are probably there for the same reason. The Supreme Court Justices are there because the event was hosted for them. I have no problem with any of this, but I just am not quite sure what *I’m* there for.

Like I said, my Justice was great at pulling us into conversations he was having with some of the bigwigs. Once I’m there, I can chat them up as good (maybe better) as anyone else. However, I am also quite perceptive of the eventually wandering eyes and polite nods which indicate that they’ve enjoyed speaking with me, but this is a mingling event and they can’t devote all their time to one person. So, we wrap it up, move on, etc. That’s the problem – these events are ok for introducing yourself to people, but that’s all it is – an introduction. There is no room for meaningful conversation, in-depth discussion of potential job leads, time to make a lasting impression…. And the thing is – THAT is what some of these receptions are supposed to be about! Especially the ones specifically for students to use to network. At an event like tonight’s, I think it is very inappropriate to say, “Hi, I’m K, just graduated from XX law school, am waiting for my bar results and looking for a job. Do you know of anyone in the Bay Area who is hiring? Better yet, can I come into your office next week so you can get to know me and actually recommend me to an employer?!” Instead, you have to go through the requisite chit-chat and finally when – IF – you reach the point in the conversation where they can say, “So, what kind of law are you interested in…??” someone comes up and tugs their arm and they have to be excused. So, now maybe they have a face to put with a name, which may come in handy at some point, but it’s not really the best scenario for getting yourself an “in.” I think if you were able to attend events on a fairly regular basis, like part of a local bar association or something, then that’s different. Each time you go, you can continue to build on contacts you met previously until you have a relationship that resembles more of an acquaintance or colleague status, rather than just a quick, whirlwind encounter.

And – don’t think I didn’t do my homework. Before we went, I read the Justices’ biographies and looked at what organizations they were involved in. I looked at where they went to school and what they did before going into the judiciary. I made little notes about them so that I could glance at it before I introduced myself, hoping that it would be a good way to start off the convo. On two instances, it didn’t help all that much. Once, I was talking to a Justice and I noted that he had started off down in LA. In my nervousness, I asked how he liked the move from LA up to Sacramento… he then graciously reminded me that the Supreme Court sits in San Francisco. Right. I knew that. Totally felt like an idiot, but he was kind enough to brush aside my flub. Then, I noted that another Justice had started off in Fresno, where I had lived for 2 years and worked with a fairly prominent family in TV broadcasting. I instantly thought I had the perfect shtick. I clumsily introduce myself and mention the Fresno connection, noting that I had worked with the tv station…………. nothing. blank stare. uh……. great. Thankfully, he had to leave – saving both him and me from trying to awkwardly recover from that moment.

I’ve already complained about how I don’t know how to network, and now this, but I think it’s just not my style. I like going out to lunch with people, or sitting in their office… getting enough face-time in so that you’re a little more memorable than the next guy, and actually getting to have a REAL conversation during which you can get advice and reveal yourself and your interests in a way that is useful.

I tried tonight. I really did. I walked up and introduced myself to a couple of random Justices. I introduced myself to some students who were wandering around. I walked up and joined a group of people gathered around a Justice and waited until I could burst in. I didn’t play wallflower. I obeyed the rules – putting my nametag on the right side of my jacket (because that’s the line of eyesight when people shake your hand), only holding one item at a time (*for me, a glass of wine* because if you hold food and wine, it’s really difficult to balance it enough to shake hands), and showing interest in the other person. It should have been a recipe for success. Yet, I still feel unsatisfied and unsure of what the evening was supposed to have accomplished, if anything.

But, I hung out with the California Supreme Court Justices – how cool is that?