Monica Gangar – Creating Your Legal Community. Published April 3, 2026.
Being a law student or a National Committee on Accreditation (“NCA”) candidate can come with many challenges along the route to becoming a lawyer. Oftentimes many questions arise, whether it is in relation to working on job applications, going through the accreditation process, going through the interviewing process, or even deciding what area of law you want to practice. Along with this, you will also be looking into entering the legal profession as an Articling Student at some point in your journey. But, what if you have questions? Who do you turn to?
Well, it is important to slowly build a legal community around you that is not only relevant to you, but also is a place where you can seek support and ask questions. So where does one start with trying to build such a community?
1. Education and Alumni Networks
First, lean into the education community you already have. Who are your fellow classmates? Who are your professors? Does your school have an alumnus network? Does your school have a career office or a work/study program? It can be helpful to start having those conversations by building that connection by highlighting those shared experiences at your school or program.
Alumni who are now working in the legal field, or in a future position that you may be considering, are fantastic people to reach out to. While you may not receive a response right away, many are happy to speak with you, you just have to ask! Or, consider seeking mentorship from a more senior lawyer or a legal professional.
2. Employment and Volunteering Networks
Second, lean into the community that you have if you are already employed in the legal field, or alternatively, where you volunteer. Who are these people that you interact with? Do you interact with other lawyers or legal professionals on files or deals? Do you travel to other offices or to court houses? Are there events outside of working hours that you can attend? Are there any legal organizations which interest you?
The people that you work with or volunteer with are great connections to have and great people to bounce ideas off of. They may have also faced the same challenges or barriers that you may be currently against. Further, if there are after-hours events that you could attend, it would be a great opportunity to attend and network with other professionals in your particular sector.
3. LinkedIn Network
Lastly, lean into the online LinkedIn community. It is a fantastic platform to connect online with the people that you perhaps work with or volunteer with, connect with your fellow peers or professionals, but also connect with alumni. Using LinkedIn can particularly be valuable if you are planning to move to another jurisdiction to practice law and may not know anyone who lives there.
It also allows you to produce and publish your own content. Are you interested in writing your own blog? Are you interested in case commentary? Are you interested in pro bono work in your area of law? Are you interested in changes in legislation? Well, LinkedIn allows you to post and connect with others who also publish or comment on content. It allows for another shared interest that can be used to connect with others.
It is also important to make sure you have a LinkedIn profile that is current, has a head shot, and also provides information about where you are in your legal career. If others cannot find you or identify you, it makes it harder to connect.
Ultimately, regardless of which network you lean into and develop, the goal is to create a broader legal community around you that you can turn to if you have questions, concerns, or just need support. If you are a first-generation law student, or someone who is moving countries to practice law, it may be especially challenging as you may not have much information on how things work or pitfalls to avoid. You also may not have many people who you can turn to to ask those questions.
There are going to be many unknowns in your career as you transition from law student or NCA candidate to Articling Student to Associate, or to a legal adjacent job. Some common upcoming issues that you will have think about can include:
- Job applications and interviewing
- Choosing which area of law or sector to work in
- Choosing potential firms or offices to work in
- Financial compensation for employment
- Work/life balance
It is important to remember that the things in your control are that you get to choose how, when, and at what speed you develop this community. The great thing is that you can create your community and continue to build it as time goes on. Perhaps even having opportunities to attend in-person events such as networking events, conferences, or training sessions. It is also important to keep in mind that you can tailor your community to reflect who you are as a person, your background, as well as to your industry.
Disclaimer – By contacting Portside Law Corporation through email, phone or direct message does not establish an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed once both parties agree in writing to such a relationship. The information found in this document is of general nature and is not intended to be legal advice. Please contact our office to speak further about any particular legal question you may have.