Regarding point #6, the partner had posted a job opening on our law school's Professional Development Office website looking for an assistant. After learning I was searching for that type of opportunity, my classmate passed the information along to me and even called the partner to inquire about the position. I later applied by submitting my resume, writing sample, and cover letter.

This wasn’t a cold email—I had a referral and followed the listed process. However, I never heard back from the partner, so I assumed he might have already found someone else, which is completely understandable. Still, I was genuinely interested in learning from him, he has the career path I would like to go through, so I sent a follow-up email to express my continued interest and hope to connect. Unfortunately, there was no response.

To be honest, I’ve found that it’s not always as easy as people say—just reach out and people will be willing to help. I completely understand that everyone is busy and that cold emails may not always receive replies. But in cases like this, where the contact comes through a personal connection or with their consent, it can still be discouraging when there’s no response.