In the first Session of its type, Patricia Gannon, former lawyer, law firm and Platforum9 founder, shared her insights on crafting an effective elevator pitch—a crucial skill for law students and early career lawyers navigating the competitive legal job market. In opening the curated Sessions for law students this week, the attendees got to practice how they present themselves in a 3 minute elevator pitch format.
Providing practical feedback to Live attendees, Gannon offered advice on how to make your memorable first impression in interviews and networking scenarios.
What Is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch—named for the brief time spent travelling between floors in a lift—is a concise, compelling introduction that communicates who you are, what you offer, and why you’re valuable in just a few minutes. As Gannon explained, “How long does it take you to get from floor zero to floor ten with somebody in the elevator? You’ve literally got two or three minutes to present yourself in an interesting and meaningful way.”
In the context of legal recruitment, this concept translates to the ability to articulate your background, skills, motivations, and value proposition clearly and efficiently. “First impressions matter,” Gannon emphasised. “Being able to get to the essence of who you are, what you’ve studied, what you’re good at, and what kind of work you’d like to do in the future is essential in this fast-paced world.”
Key Elements of an Effective Pitch
According to Gannon, a strong legal elevator pitch should include several crucial elements:
1. Self-Knowledge and Authenticity
Employers are looking for candidates who understand themselves well—their strengths, weaknesses, passions, and goals. “What we are looking for as employers… is somebody who understands yourself quite well. You understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. You’re playing to your strengths,” Gannon noted.
Rather than trying to emulate others, focus on being comfortable with yourself and proud of your accomplishments. Authentic enthusiasm is more compelling than rehearsed perfection.
2. Targeted Research
One common mistake is providing generic information that could apply to any firm. Instead, Gannon advises tailoring your pitch to demonstrate specific knowledge about the organisation you’re speaking to: “Don’t waste their time telling them things that they already can see and know. What they’re going to look for from you is… you’ve done the research on my law firm.”
This might include mentioning the firm’s key clients, practice area rankings, recent cases, or distinctive cultural attributes—showing you’ve invested time in understanding what makes this particular organisation unique.
3. Relevant Skills and Experiences
While early career candidates aren’t expected to have extensive experience, they should highlight academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and transferable skills that demonstrate potential: “Law firm leaders are looking for people who are open-minded, who do more than just study the law, who actually look at how you can integrate your studies into real life, who think about what’s going on in the world around you.”
In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, firms increasingly value candidates with technological aptitude, global awareness, and adaptability. As Gannon observed, “We spend a lot of time on this app talking about legal tech, talking about change management, talking about the new role of the lawyer in the future.”
4. Confidence and Communication Skills
The delivery of your pitch matters as much as its content. Gannon emphasised that lawyers need to be “comfortable speaking… comfortable asking difficult questions… and confident.”
This confidence extends to handling challenging interview scenarios, including the “good cop, bad cop” dynamic where difficult questions are deliberately posed. “Don’t be flustered by them,” Gannon advised. “Part of our role as a lawyer is we gotta deal with difficult questions, difficult people… that’s what people in an interview are trying to analyse.”
Preparing Your Pitch
Developing an effective elevator pitch requires thoughtful preparation:
- Identify your unique value proposition: What distinguishes you from other candidates with similar qualifications?
- Research thoroughly: Understand the firm’s practice areas, clients, culture, and recent developments.
- Practice repeatedly: Rehearse your pitch until it feels natural rather than scripted.
- Seek feedback: Test your pitch with mentors, professors, or career advisors.
- Refine continuously: After each interview, reflect on what worked well and what could be improved.
As Gannon noted, “When you come out of the interview immediately, just think about, ‘Okay, what could I have done better? Where do I feel I wasn’t prepared enough for the question?'”
Beyond the Interview: Building Your Career
While securing that first position is crucial, Gannon emphasised that the skills developed in crafting your elevator pitch serve a broader purpose in long-term career development.
The ability to articulate your value concisely and confidently supports networking, client development, and advancement opportunities: “Put your hand up and say yes. Just take that first step, say yes, people will notice you. And that will help you along your career.”
She also encouraged persistence in the face of rejection: “This is a really challenging environment out there… you’re gonna get a lot of ‘nos’. Everybody gets a lot of ‘nos’, okay? So don’t worry about it. Just keep going. Something will turn up. If this is something that you’re passionate about and you’re determined to do it and practice, you’ll make it.”
Conclusion: The Evolving Legal Professional
The legal profession is undergoing significant transformation, with firms increasingly valuing professionals who demonstrate curiosity, technological aptitude, and global awareness alongside traditional legal skills.
As Gannon concluded, “Having an open mindset… is really important. We’re a very globalised world… we’re serving clients who are active all over the world. The curious mind is going to be one of the differentiators in the future where you’re willing to try out new technology.”
By crafting a compelling elevator pitch that showcases these qualities while highlighting your unique strengths and genuine interest in the firm, you position yourself as not just a candidate for today’s positions but as a lawyer prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.
