3L Job Search Advice

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/12/wondering-how-to-get-a-job-heres-advice-from-a-law-school-career-counselor/

  By Alison

If you’re concerned about finding a job after law school, today’s interview is for you! We’re talking to Philip Guzman, Director of Public Service Programs at North Carolina Central University School of Law.

After an extremely varied career, as a teacher (high school and law school), prosecutor, law firm associate, solo practitioner, and more, he’s turned to career counseling — a job for which I’m sure he’s uniquely suited!

I’m a 3L going into my last semester of law school, and I don’t have a job lined up yet. What are the three most critical things I need to be doing right now to ensure I eventually find a job I like?

1. Do not lose track of the fact that the most important thing to do to become marketable is to PASS A BAR EXAMINATION. Do not panic. Many graduating 3Ls have told me that the majority of firms now hiring are waiting for the pool of candidates who have successfully passed the Bar. If you are not in that group, then all chances of getting a job are out the window. Keep your eye on the prize. Focus on becoming a licensed lawyer — first and foremost.
2. Hopefully, by the last semester of your 3L year you have identified a specific area of practice — maybe not a specific job but a general field. I advise students preparing for their 2L internship to select a job that will give them the “skill set” they need to be prepared for that first job out of school. This is the process that the graduating 3L needs to be doing at this time. Hone down the areas of practice (and the locations where you would consider practicing, by the way) for which you are best prepared given want you have done in law school. Then start focusing in like a laser beam on which firms, public interest entities, and non-profits might be a good employment fit.
3. Call in the Cavalry!!! (The people who can help you find a job.) Start with your alumni base. After you work through #2, above, look to those who are in your desired practice area and have walked the same halls that you are currently walking. (Remember that a strong alumni base is also a good thing to consider when you are applying to a law school.) Friends, family, classmates, contacts from prior internships/jobs — reach out to ALL! Make a list in your Spring Semester and start picking up the phone. Don’t be shy in asking “Can you help me get a job? Do you know anyone whom I should be speaking with?”

Thanks, Philip!

If you’d like to get more great career advice, follow him on Twitter at @pag2010. Or check out some of his other publications: A Day in the Life of a Law School Career Counselor and JD Profiles.

10 things Your Law Firm Boss Wants You to Know But Won't Tell You

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/04/10-things-your-law-firm-boss-wants-you-to-know-but-isnt-going-to-tell-you/

By Alison

10 Rules of Thumb for Law Firm Success

1. Don’t bring cases from the wrong jurisdiction. You remember Erie, right? If not, it’s time to review. There is very little that’s more annoying than giving a junior lawyer an assignment to find some case law, and having them come back with a state case, when you need a federal case, or vice versa. It’s one of those situations where you, as the assigning attorney, feel really confused. Did they not understand the assignment? Did they sleep through Civ Pro? Or do they just not care? None of these thoughts make me like you, or want to work with you again. Be sure you understand what you’re looking for, and resist the temptation to bring an irrelevant case, because you can’t find a relevant one.
2. On that note, no one cares how much effort you exerted. If you can’t find a case on point, just say that! If I ask what steps you took to search, feel free to tell me — in detail — so I won’t replicate your work. But do not go on about how many hours you spent, or how hard you looked. I don’t care. It’s nothing personal, I’m sure you’re doing the best you can. But, if you can’t find what I need, I’ll have to find it myself, so it’s best just to give me the bad news, and get out of the way.
3. Make sure you know how much time you can spend on something, and how much Westlaw or Lexis money you can burn. Partners and senior associates are terrible about communicating their expectations, in general. (If not, thank your lucky stars.) But you’re still going to be the one who gets yelled at when the client balks at the $30,000 research bill you ran up on a fairly minor point of law. If you’re not sure how much time something should take, ask. If you don’t know how much time you can spend on Westlaw or Lexis, ask. Even, “Hey, do you have a ballpark idea of how long this should take?” can save you from a very unpleasant situation down the road. (Oh, and make sure you know how to research cost-effectively. When in doubt, ask.)
4. Don’t screw up the copying. A partner once told me that my job was to make him look good. I found this sort of obnoxious, but it’s basically true. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, or how hard working. If your team shows up in Court with the wrong number of copies, it looks bad. Who’s going to take the blame? The most junior person on the team. If that’s you, double-check the copies, and make sure you know how many you need. Sounds silly, but it’s your job.
5. Know how to get the grunt work done, even if you don’t personally do it. Figure out in advance how to transport the boxes/transfer a call/order lunch, etc. Be competent with the little things and you can be a hero. Attorneys rapidly fall into a state of learned helplessness, but someone has to know how to operate the fax machine on the weekend. Be that person.
6. Double check the spelling of peoples’ names. You know what every person alive notices immediately? When their own name is misspelled. Any time you send a letter, or an email, or whatever, to a client, or a partner, or the Court, or anyone who’s supervising you, make sure all the names are correct! No, it’s not the end of the world if there’s a typo, but it makes everyone wonder about how careful you are in other aspects of your work. That’s not the impression you want to leave. Get the names right.
7. If you screw something up, take responsibility and fix it. Everyone makes mistakes, and you will, too. Greenhorn Legal had a great piece about this recently. The gist: If you screw up, apologize once, and offer to fix it. Don’t go on about your mistake all day, or waste time explaining what happened 15 times. Just make it right.
8. If you’re traveling with other people, don’t be the only one who has to wait for a bag. A partner I knew loved to tell a story about leaving a first-year associate at the airport waiting for a checked bag, while everyone else went to the hotel for dinner. Again, totally obnoxious, but the point is a valid one. If you’re the low person on the totem pole, don’t expect other people to wait around for you. They’re not going to.
9. At least pretend to be interested in/curious about the work. If you’re at a large law firm, you’re getting paid a lot to be there. At least try to feign interest in the work you’re asked to do. Sure, it might be boring, which is probably why I gave it to you instead of doing it myself, but it has to be done. If I sense a spark of curiosity, I’ll probably eventually give you more interesting stuff to do, because it’ll be clear that you can handle more complicated tasks. If you’re too put upon to do the grunt work, well, that’s probably what you’ll end up with. To get to anything more interesting, you’ve got to pay your dues, so just suck it up and get it over with.
10. Finally, and perhaps most important: Befriend a good corporate travel agent and get their personal cell number. I learned this one the hard way. We’re all used to booking our travel online and never talking to a real person. But, when you suddenly need to rebook a flight at midnight on a Saturday, that online website your secretary used to book your ticket isn’t going to do you a lot of good. You need the direct number for your corporate travel agent. They can pull a lot of strings for you, so put the number in your phone ASAP. Next time you get an upgrade on a long flight, you can thank me.

And, for good measure, one more: Be polite to everyone. Or as polite as you can be at the end of your second all-nighter in a week. Everyone in a firm has a pretty tough job, and it won’t kill you to say “Hello” and “Thank You” routinely. And you never know when a bit of built-up good will with the copy room is going to get you out of a jam!

1L Job Search Advice

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/04/are-you-looking-for-a-1l-summer-job-some-tips-from-a-law-school-career-expert/#more-4841

 By Alison

Are you looking for a 1L summer job? Lots of people are!

We’ve brought in law school career expert Philip A. Guzman, Director of Public Service Programs at North Carolina Central University School of Law, to share his expertise on the topic. If you’ve got questions, leave them in the comments, as we’ve got plans for another post or two on the topic!

Remember Your Goal

As the clock continues to tick toward finals and the end of your first year in law school, the first thing you need to do is give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. You have made it through, perhaps, the most challenging academic experience that you have had to date! You did it and now know that you belong here in law school!

But wait. What if — even given your best efforts to date (or maybe not!) — you still don’t have a summer job/internship?

• First, don’t panic and remember everything that you have already accomplished.
• Second, remember what you need to accomplish in the summer of your 1L year.

The first year of law school is an all-around learning experience: acclimating to a new teaching methodology, unique subject areas, and an entire environment that was completely different from what you experienced in college. You have learned much, but your journey still has two full years remaining.

A 1L is not expected to have his/her career plans set in stone. You have more room and flexibility in the selection of a summer position. It is not until the end of your 2L year that you are expected to have a handle on the specific kind of work that you will be doing as an attorney (i.e. litigation). At that point, your 2L summer internship search must be more specific.

But now as a 1L summer, your job search can be more general.

You need to look for a job with a portable skill set that will add to your overall résumé — a job that will provide you with opportunities to do legal research and writing.

If you can find such a position, you have accomplished your mission for your 1L summer! So why not start looking around right where you are now — at your law school?

Look for Work at Your Law School

Have you considered a job as a Research Assistant for one of the law professors? Such a job will give you the research and writing skill set that you are looking to add to your résumé as you enter your 2L year.

Plus, this is the very timeframe that law professors are starting to think about, and consider their need for an RA. Such a position can also be intellectually challenging and fun (if not, remember that you’re building your résumé). The good thing about RA positions is that you will get paid! Many schools have work/study programs, and/or other direct salary sources for law students. Start now! Speak with your professors and get a handle on which ones may be in need of an RA and go for it!

(Note from Alison: If you’re considering applying for clerkships, an RA position is a great way to get a strong letter of recommendation!)

Other good sources for job leads at your law school are the adjunct professors who work outside of the law school. Ask about possible employment opportunities where they work, or who they would recommend you contact for job leads.

Volunteer

At this point in time, it may be difficult to score a paying position. Thus, you may need to “bite the bullet” and volunteer for a job that will give you the research and writing skills that you are looking to add to your résumé.

What public service entities (or law firms) are near where you will be this summer? If possible, walk into the office  (no emails, please) and simply say that you are looking to volunteer to work for the summer.

If your geographic area is already saturated with law students thinking the same thing, then spread your net to other less populated areas of the state where there may be less competition for such positions. (I am mindful that “real life” issues — i.e. how am I going to live? — come into play, but you will need to be resourceful to get it done and secure that position.)

Work Your Network

I know, you hear this one all the time. Well, you hear it because it’s true! The best way to find a job occurs in situations where you have an opening from someone you know.

If you’ve already gone through your network, then do it again! Who have you forgotten?

Haven’t spoken with that working uncle or cousin lately? What do have to lose? Are you a member of a church or a social group? It stands to reason that there are lawyers there as well. Think! Then act quickly.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, it’s not easy, and there are no pat formulas for getting that first summer job. However, given what you have worked so hard to accomplish to date, there is no reason why you still can’t land a summer position that will serve you well in the future.

Good luck?  No, work hard and “make it so.” (with apologies to Captain Jean-Luc Picard)

Philip A. Guzman, Esq,
Director of Public Service Programs
North Carolina Central University School of Law

LinkedIn Networking 101

http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-networking-not-do/

by Susan Ruhl

Networking is about establishing and then maintaining a relationship with someone before you ask for help. The rules don’t change just because it is not face-to-face. Let me give you an example of a very common mistake we see in our business.

Last week, I received a LinkedIn request that simply said “Susan, I am looking for a new career opportunity and would like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

We are always open to meeting people and building our network. Of course, I accepted although already I am feeling a bit on the defense. Why, what’s the big deal? I have never met this person and I feel like a favor is being requested or is about to be requested of me.

So lets go over a few basic ideas when using LinkedIn or any networking tool.

An ineffective LinkedIn invitation typically has one or more of the following elements:

• The generic request to connect. 90% of the requests I receive are in this format. Would you connect with someone who walked up on the street and said, “Hi, you don’t know me, but be my friend!”? I don’t think that is likely to happen.
• The “I see you are connected to Ms. X, could you make an introduction?” What would your response be to this if the tables were turned? Likely, it would be something like, “Wait a minute… you’re a complete stranger to me, and you expect me to go out on a limb for you, and do you a favor?”
• The “Mr. X has indicated that you are friends” request but you have never heard of them.
• Misspellings. Introducation? Seriously?

A great LinkedIn invitation typically has one or more of the following:

• A brief idea of how you heard about the connection. Networking is about building a relationship. Relationships are about give and take, not take and give if you can. Remember this very important concept. Never ask for something right away. Just keep it simple. And start building that relationship.
• A personalized message. A great example is, “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you on Twitter and appreciate your retweets. How about we connect here too? I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” This invitation got my attention and I am more likely to help this person if requested to do so.
• If we have met, how we met. If you are at a large gathering, your intended connection might not remember every person he or she met. It’s always a good idea to say, “I enjoyed meeting you at the breakfast this morning.”
• Attention to detail. Make sure your spelling and grammar are correct.

So let’s get back to my story.

Immediately after accepting the request to join, my thoughts were validated. I received an e-mail with the following message:

“I would like to thank you for accepting my invitation on Linked In. I would like to ask for your assistance in my search for a new career opportunity. My last position ended after the business closed; I was with the organization for over eight years.”

A long description of her attributes followed ending with, “Any assistance with my search is greatly appreciated.”

Now, let me tell you why this approach doesn’t work (and we get this type of e-mail often). Would you march into a doctor’s office or an attorney’s office and ask for free services? I hope not, you wouldn’t get very far. It would be incredibly presumptuous and it puts those who can help you in a defensive mode.

My company helps people in their job search. It’s a gratifying business when you are able to help someone move on in his or her career. When we have a relationship with someone, and value them as part of our network, we often pass their names on to recruiters, review their resumes, etc. But notice, we have to have a relationship. While I will respond, I will likely not meet with this person.
So let’s look at an e-mail that did work. I met a potential employee at a conference. This is the e-mail I received following the event:

“My fellow presenter and I met you at the CHRA conference. You mentioned that you occasionally look for executive level coaches. After visiting your website I have a greater level of interest and would like to know more about your work and opportunities where my talents might be useful to Innovative Career Consulting. Would you like to get together? How does a time over the new few weeks look to you?”

For me, this e-mail was great.

It tells me how I know him, what he can do for me and compliments me on being a company he would like to find out more about. Clearly, he is interested in working with our firm but his approach was to comment on the idea that he might be able to help us. It was not how we would help him. It was short, sweet and effective. I set up a meeting that day.

Networking is not rocket science, although it can feel that way.
First and foremost, it’s about establishing a give and take relationship. It is also very important to be yourself and have fun meeting people. This is what will set you apart.
As you go forth in your networking, please remember it is as much about how you can help as it is about how you can be helped.

Susan Ruhl, founder of OI Partners-Denver, has developed a sharp eye for how both job seekers and leaders alike get sidetracked with inefficiencies, cross- purposes and miscommunication – and how they can retool for a sleeker, smoother, strategically focused career. Her quick wit, combined with more than two decades of operational and management experience, have made her a highly successful consultant.

Military/JAG Recommended Reading

For those of you interested in pursuing a career with the military as a JAG officer or in another capacity, here is a list of books you might find helpful and educational.  Thanks to our Air Force JAG Recruiter, CPT Bryce Poole, for the recommendations!

Civil-Military Relations

The Soldier and the State, by Samuel L. Huntington

Armed Servants, by Peter Feaver

U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11, by Mackubin Thomas Owens 

Warfare and Strategy

On War, by Carl von Clausewitz

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

A History of Warfare, by John Keegan

On the Origins of War, by Donald Kagan

The Father of us All, by Victor Davis Hanson

Ripples of Battle, by Victor Davis Hanson

Law and War

The Blackstone of Military Law:  Colonel William Winthrop, by Joshua E. Kastenburg
Law and the Long War, by Benjamin Wittes
The Powers of War and Peace, by John Yoo

Air Power

A History of Air Warfare, by John Andreas Olsen
Airpower for Strategic Effect, by Colin S. Gray
Air Power, by Stephen Budiansky

Preparing for Deployment

Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War, by David and Nancy French
Baghdad at Sunrise, by Peter R. Mansoor
Joker One, by Donovan Campbell
What it is Like to Go to War, by Karl Marlantes
Drowning in the Desert, by Vivian H. Gembara

Leadership

George Washington on Leadership, by Richard Brookhiser
Combat Leader’s Field Guide, by Brett A. Stoneberger
The Art of Command: Military Leadership from George Washington to Colin Powell, by Harry S. Laver and Jeffrey J. Matthews

Making the Judicial Clerkship Work for You

By Above the Law

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/03/career-center-making-the-judicial-clerkship-work-for-you/

You’ve heard the comments time and time again — a judicial clerkship is a great opportunity you should pursue if given the chance. Besides the prestige of the position, clerkships offer law school graduates a rare glimpse inside the chambers of the country’s brilliant and respected jurists.

While the writing and researching experience is invaluable, there are additional opportunities law clerks should look into before their clerkship ends. Now on to the tips….

As a practical matter, actively update a log of the cases and research projects you worked on throughout your clerkship. 

Be sure to maximize the additional training and CLEs you have access to for free at a major discount.

Master your researching skills on sites like Westlaw and LexisNexis. 

Don’t forget to keep your professional network active. 

Maximize your free time outside of chambers.

Find additional career resources at the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link.

Interview Etiquette at the Table (Lunch or Dinner)

http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/business_etiquette/job_interviews.html

Interview Etiquette at the Table

• Preparing for an Interview Lunch
• Etiquette During the Meal
• Interview Dining Etiquette Tips
• After the Interview

You will probably not be asked to an “eating meeting” unless you have demonstrated that you can do the job. An invitation to a meal means that you are under strong consideration. The interviewer’s main objective is to evaluate your social skills.

Don't neglect your table manners.

before the meal

• Confirm the location and time. Ask how you will recognize the interviewer.

• If you are nervous about the setting, visit the restaurant before the interview. Look at the menu - brush up on the correct pronunciation of menu items and the etiquette for eating those items.

• Turn off your cell phone before entering the restaurant and leave it off.

• Dress professionally (even if the restaurant is casual).

• Bring copies of your resume and a pen and note pad.

• Follow the steps you would normally take to get ready for an office interview. Research the company, practice your responses to interview questions, and prepare a list of questions you have for the interviewer.

• Arrive early to visit to the restroom to tidy up. Take a few minutes to relax before the interview.

during the meal

Job interviews over dinner require a less aggressive sell than an office interview. The company believes you can do the job at this point and would like to evaluate your social skills.

• Focus on the interviewer even if the restaurant is noisy and full of distractions.

• Avoid discussing religion, politics, or anything else that might be controversial.

• Although the setting might be casual, don't become too familiar with the interviewer. Remain professional.

• Try your best to remain relaxed and stay confident. Remember that the company believes you can do the job.

dining etiquette tips

Use excellent table manners and follow these dining etiquette tips at the table:

• If there is more than one person interviewing you, allow everyone to sit and then put your napkin in your lap.

• Order something that is easy to eat. If in doubt, order what the interviewer is eating.

• Don't order alcohol.

• Do not change your order or send food back.

• Be polite to servers. Say "please" and "thank you."

after the meal

• As the invitee, you have no responsibility for the bill, but be sure to thank your host for the meal.

• Ask for your host(s) business card(s) if you have not already received them.

• Leave on a positive note by expressing your interest in the job.

• Write the host a thank you note.

Job Interview? How To Stand Out From The Rest

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/job-interview-stand-rest/

Every interview requires a sales pitch – and you’re the hot commodity up for grabs. If you want to land the sale, you must stand out from all the other products on the market. Sure, you could take the Billy Mays approach and proclaim your problem-solving prowess in a loud, impassioned manner. You could also drape yourself in bling like one of hip-hop’s brashest rappers. Neither approach is likely to garner the result you desire. Instead, consider the following ways in which successful candidates set themselves apart.

1. Know who you are dealing with.
A successful candidate spends time preparing for an interview by learning everything possible about the hiring company. Visiting the company website is a great place to start. Peruse the products and services. Review the mission statement. Check out the executive bio pages and read everything posted in the “press” or “recent news” sections. Seek out the company’s Facebook page and Twitter feed as well.

2. Ask thoughtful, informed questions.
Now that you know everything you can about the company, formulate a list of questions that illustrate you’ve done your research. There will come a point in every interview when you are asked, “Do you have any questions for us?” This is when you spring your list. Include relevant facts about the company within each question and your interviewer is bound to be impressed. For example, “I read that the company is planning to expand into five new markets this year. How will that expansion affect your department?”

3. Tell them a story.
Everyone loves a good story. Interviewers love stories that illustrate past behavior in a similar role or situation. When you’re asked a question pertaining to a past job-related experience, how you behaved in a challenging situation or a time when you had a conflict with a coworker perhaps, don’t respond with a one-sentence answer – tell the story instead. Begin by describing the situation, then move on to your actions, and follow up with the results.

4. Prove your worth.
Explain exactly why you are the right person for the job. Of course, this requires taking time to understand the job first. When preparing for your interview, carefully review the job listing. If you can acquire an official job description for the position beforehand, that is even better. Make a list of the skills they’re seeking, then prepare answers to possible interview questions that prove you not only meet, but exceed their needs.

5. Show some enthusiasm.
Better yet, show lots of enthusiasm. Whether it’s your first interview or your thirteenth, you must appear enthusiastic about the opportunity. Smile, laugh (though not nervously), shake hands with gusto. And when the interview is over, don’t neglect to ask about next steps. This will show you’re eager to continue with the hiring process.

The job market may be tough, with fierce competition in most industries, but a successful interview candidate embraces the challenge. Like a good salesperson, take steps to blow your competitors out of the water – you may even seal the deal. – Originally posted on onTargetjobs by Angela Rose

Building Your Network on Campus

Career Center: Building Your Network on Campus
By Above the Law

http://abovethelaw.com/2012/03/career-center-building-your-network-on-campus/

Networking in law school usually conjures up the image of students desperately trying to hand out their résumés to a room full of uninterested attorneys. But networking doesn’t have to be that awkward, and it isn’t only limited to finding a job.

Networking is simply about connecting with people, and if your goal is to have a flourishing career as a lawyer, start building your network and acquiring networking skills now. If you haven’t realized it yet, your law school offers numerous resources at your fingertips. Not sure where to start? Read on for Lateral Link’s top three tips on how to effectively build your network as a law student…

1. Put together a panel discussion. 

2. Talk to your professors. 

3. Be nice to all of your classmates.