http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/academic_support/2012/05/two-most-common-bar-exam-confidence-traps-by-ronald-dees.html
By Ronald D. Dees
Building and maintaining a healthy confidence level is an important component to overall bar exam preparation. There are typically two “Confidence Traps” that cause examinees to be at risk of performing poorly on the bar exam. Students can either be so paranoid about failing that they lose confidence and literally allow their fears to overwhelm them, or on the other end of the spectrum a student can be too confident and thereby underestimate the level of preparation necessary to be successful. By knowing the traits of students who typically fall victim to these “Confidence Traps,” you can evaluate your bar exam confidence level in order to avoid falling into the traps.
The most common confidence trap is the “paranoia trap.” This student is the one who allows his lack of confidence to overwhelm him. The causes of the lack of confidence can be many things. Perhaps the student performed somewhat poorly in law school, or for some reason just does not feel like he can handle the stress and difficulty of preparing for the bar exam.
The key to success for students who lack confidence for any reason is to develop a study plan designed to build confidence through self-assessment and feedback.
If you find yourself in this category, know that you are not alone and the best way to overcome these feelings is to construct a study plan that will help you build a healthy confidence level over time. Doing so will cause you to reach a point where you will know in your heart and mind that you are ready to perform well on exam day.
Many bar takers lack confidence and almost everyone feels overwhelmed by the volume of material they are presented with during bar preparation. Don’t allow such feelings to defeat you. First of all, you must remind yourself that no one gets every question correct or writes perfectly edited script on the bar exam. Secondly, everyone who has ever taken the bar exam felt like they could have used a few more days or weeks to prepare. No student can possibly know “all” of the law. However, if you prepare diligently, on exam day you should feel that you are as well prepared as anyone else in the room and are probably prepared better than most. That feeling itself is a great confidence booster.
Self-assessment and feedback are the keys to building a healthy level of confidence. Throughout your bar preparation, track your progress as you improve on your MBE test questions and take note as you succeed in memorizing more and more law. Write essays and turn them in to someone in your school’s Bar Services or Academic Support Program for review and feedback. If your school does not have such a program, find a professor who is willing to look at your essays and give you feedback.
Another facet of avoiding the paranoia trap is to make a study plan that you feel confident about. It should be one that you know will work for you based on your past success. Stick to your plan, work hard, and work smart. Identify the things you have done in the past that were not helpful or were detrimental to your studying or study habits, and eliminate those things. Constantly assess your plan and be willing to get rid of things that are not working and do more of the things that are working well for you. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have the best score on the bar exam, you just have to pass. However, you want to prepare like you are trying to earn an A, so that even if you have a bad day, you can still be confident that you are capable of scoring a C and passing the exam.
Not as common, but still worth discussing are those bar takers who fall into the “overconfidence trap.”
The student who may fall into this trap underestimates the difficulty, complexity, and demands of proper bar exam preparation. This student typically self identifies as very intelligent and falls into one of two personality types. She may have been either a top-of-the-class “Law Journal Type,” or she was what I refer to as the “Voluntary Under-Achiever.”
The key to success for both of the above types of students is to develop a healthy respect for the difficulty of the bar exam.
The Law Journal Type thinks to herself, “I am one of the top law students in my class, so passing the bar exam is not going to be a problem for me. I will study for it a little, but I am smart enough to pass the bar exam without much real effort. I mean, after all, it is just a test of minimal competency. No problem for a smart girl like me.”
The Voluntary Under-Achiever has trouble staying devoted to studying and typically does just enough to get by. She is smart and knows it. After all she was smart enough to make it through law school with average or above average grades while putting forth only moderate effort. She thinks to herself, “I am a smart girl and I pretty much skated through law school with no problem, so I can do the same on the bar exam. I’ll put in a few hours of study time here and there and maybe cram a little just before the exam, but I don’t need to study for hours and hours, day after day, week after week. I never had to study that way in college or law school and I still passed, so the bar exam should be no different.”
Both of the above types of students need to develop a healthy respect for the difficulty of the bar exam. If you fit into either of these personality types, you need to realize early on that the bar exam is a lot like law school finals, except that it is about five to ten times as difficult. You see, final exams in law school are usually tested over a two week period and you may even have some time to prepare between tests. Furthermore, you typically take four or five classes per semester, so you only have to prepare for four or five legal subjects. Also, many times one or two classes might be a “paper class” where turning in a paper is the final, and one or two classes might also have an open book exam. So, you actually only have to memorize the law for one to three subjects to prepare for finals.
On the bar exam, you will need to memorize the rules of law for 15 to 20 subject areas depending on what is tested in your state. Thus, it will take five to ten times as much work to prepare for the exam as it did to prepare for finals. If you spent three to four weeks preparing for finals, you would need thirty to forty weeks to prepare for the bar if preparing at the same pace that you used in law school. Now, obviously you don’t have that many weeks between graduation and the bar exam, so you are going to have to devote more time per day and per week to studying for the bar than you did in law school, even though you are really smart. Otherwise, you risk being poorly prepared and having an unsuccessful result on the exam.
Developing a healthy respect for the difficulty of the bar exam will help you avoid falling into the overconfidence trap and will motivate you to develop and stick to a study schedule that reflects the time commitment necessary to properly prepare.
In conclusion, the key to this success for all students is to balance a healthy respect for the difficulty of the bar exam with the confidence that comes from being well prepared on exam day. You can allow that healthy respect to motivate you to prepare properly, and in turn, knowing that you are well prepared will help you maintain your level of confidence, reduce stress, and improve your performance on exam day.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Attitude=Internship Success
http://studentbranding.com/attitudeinternship-success/
by Joe Bucher
(from Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel)
Congratulations to those of you who will be ending the spring term and going on to summer internships. This is an exciting time as this may be your first experience working in your desired field. While gaining an internship is a great start to your career, there is still much ahead of you.
I started my career as an intern myself and during my time I have seen many students successfully take an internship opportunity and turn it into a full-time role. What I have found is that attitude is one of the key things that separates good interns from great ones.
Here are 3 tips to make your internship experience a success:
1. Treat the internship like an “extended interview”
The internship experience allows both the organization and the student to get a sense of long-term viability. Both you and the organization are asking: Does this look like a long-term relationship?
When I started my internship, I basically told myself that I had the duration of my internship to earn a job. I knew that I would be competing against other interns or outside candidates when a counseling position opened up. The perspective that I took was to treat the internship as if I was being interviewed for a job the whole summer. I wanted to know if San Jose State was really the place that I wanted to be.
However, it isn’t that simple. You might be able to see yourself working in the organization, but what about your supervisors and co-workers? Do they see you as a valuable employee?
While getting an internship is a great first step in starting your career you must also put in the work once you get the internship to support why you should be hired full-time.
2. Have a plan for success
It’s quite challenging to succeed if you don’t know how success is measured.
While it’s easy to say that you’ll go out and do your best and succeed, it is much more complex than that. First off, different organizations and positions will have individual measures of success.
When I started my internship, my strategy was to convert it to a full-time position. During my first week on the job, I started this process by meeting with my supervisor to ask questions about communication, management style, and other aspects of the company so that I could better understand her goals.
You should definitely ask these questions during the interview process and then continue to have dialogue with your supervisor during your internship. Being able to communicate with others is an important skill that will affect your ability to get the job done.
I tried to communicate from the start that I wanted to understand what was expected of me so I could deliver. In turn, my supervisor understood that my intent was to do my best, so if something wasn’t working out quite as expected we could talk and I could reconfigure.
3. Get to know your co-workers
Your co-workers will become your future advocates, get to know them.
At Studentbranding.com we talk about networking all the time. As cliche as it may sound, this is the way that most people find work. Your internship experience will be a great way for you to get some introductory skills and to meet some of the key players in your field.
During your internship, you may come across many individuals you can learn different things from. You may learn about specific skills, work styles, or you may even decide that you want to take your career in a slightly different direction than you originally thought.
One of the aspects that I really liked about my internship was that I had the opportunity to sit down and do informational interviews with various employees in my office. I learned about the different career paths people took as well as the challenges people faced in their positions. As a result of these conversations, I was able to identify ways to help specific people in my office.
Additionally, as busy as you may be, it is smart to make an effort to attend formal and informal gatherings. Even things as simple as getting coffee or lunch allow you to get the chance to know your co-workers. When the time comes that you may need some help, it is much easier to ask people that you have made the effort to get to know.
When your internship ends, you may find that some of the people that you worked with or came into contact with have moved onto other organizations. This will be helpful to you because your network of contacts will extend beyond your internship location.
by Joe Bucher
(from Student Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel)
Congratulations to those of you who will be ending the spring term and going on to summer internships. This is an exciting time as this may be your first experience working in your desired field. While gaining an internship is a great start to your career, there is still much ahead of you.
I started my career as an intern myself and during my time I have seen many students successfully take an internship opportunity and turn it into a full-time role. What I have found is that attitude is one of the key things that separates good interns from great ones.
Here are 3 tips to make your internship experience a success:
1. Treat the internship like an “extended interview”
The internship experience allows both the organization and the student to get a sense of long-term viability. Both you and the organization are asking: Does this look like a long-term relationship?
When I started my internship, I basically told myself that I had the duration of my internship to earn a job. I knew that I would be competing against other interns or outside candidates when a counseling position opened up. The perspective that I took was to treat the internship as if I was being interviewed for a job the whole summer. I wanted to know if San Jose State was really the place that I wanted to be.
However, it isn’t that simple. You might be able to see yourself working in the organization, but what about your supervisors and co-workers? Do they see you as a valuable employee?
While getting an internship is a great first step in starting your career you must also put in the work once you get the internship to support why you should be hired full-time.
2. Have a plan for success
It’s quite challenging to succeed if you don’t know how success is measured.
While it’s easy to say that you’ll go out and do your best and succeed, it is much more complex than that. First off, different organizations and positions will have individual measures of success.
When I started my internship, my strategy was to convert it to a full-time position. During my first week on the job, I started this process by meeting with my supervisor to ask questions about communication, management style, and other aspects of the company so that I could better understand her goals.
You should definitely ask these questions during the interview process and then continue to have dialogue with your supervisor during your internship. Being able to communicate with others is an important skill that will affect your ability to get the job done.
I tried to communicate from the start that I wanted to understand what was expected of me so I could deliver. In turn, my supervisor understood that my intent was to do my best, so if something wasn’t working out quite as expected we could talk and I could reconfigure.
3. Get to know your co-workers
Your co-workers will become your future advocates, get to know them.
At Studentbranding.com we talk about networking all the time. As cliche as it may sound, this is the way that most people find work. Your internship experience will be a great way for you to get some introductory skills and to meet some of the key players in your field.
During your internship, you may come across many individuals you can learn different things from. You may learn about specific skills, work styles, or you may even decide that you want to take your career in a slightly different direction than you originally thought.
One of the aspects that I really liked about my internship was that I had the opportunity to sit down and do informational interviews with various employees in my office. I learned about the different career paths people took as well as the challenges people faced in their positions. As a result of these conversations, I was able to identify ways to help specific people in my office.
Additionally, as busy as you may be, it is smart to make an effort to attend formal and informal gatherings. Even things as simple as getting coffee or lunch allow you to get the chance to know your co-workers. When the time comes that you may need some help, it is much easier to ask people that you have made the effort to get to know.
When your internship ends, you may find that some of the people that you worked with or came into contact with have moved onto other organizations. This will be helpful to you because your network of contacts will extend beyond your internship location.
Monday, May 21, 2012
An Inside View: What Students Need to Know to Succeed This Summer
https://www.nalp.org/viewbulletin/?documentID=2410&bulletinID=321
By Janet Smith, NALP Director of Publications
So, what does it take to succeed as a summer associate? NALP sought the “inside view” by inviting advice from a sampling of recruitment directors who have watched summer associates
2. What is the most frequent reason for a summer associate NOT to get an offer (disregarding firm financial reasons)?
Several major themes emerged in response to these questions:
• producing quality work;
• demonstrating a positive work attitude;
• developing positive workplace relationships;
• making the most of the learning experience; and
• taking responsibility for the summer experience.
Ellen Zuckerman, who is Firmwide Attorney Recruiting Manager for Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP and based in Los Angeles, highlights a particular work characteristic. She says what she most wishes she could tell incoming summer associates is, “If you don’t understand an assignment, don’t be afraid to ask for further explanation.”
Attitude is key in other work areas as well.
“At Shook, Hardy & Bacon, we hire as many summer associates as we have offers for associate positions to give at the end of the summer; thus we do not foster a competitive environment within the class,” says Jessica Baker, Director of Legal Recruiting and Professional Development for Shook, Hardy in Kansas City, echoing Coey’s comments. Baker continues, “Nevertheless, while we set high standards as far as a summer associate’s academic criteria are concerned, exemplary grades in law school and top-notch work product are not everything. The best advice that I can give a summer associate is to take a genuine interest in what the firm deems important (e.g., diversity issues, professional development, etc.) and to treat all members of the firm with respect, which includes both the attorneys and support staff. We look to hire well-rounded individuals who ‘play well’ with others —so do our clients.”
Diane Marshall, Director of Recruiting for Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in Nashville, puts a slightly different spin on positive work attitudes. The advice she shares: “Summer associates should know that, while they are the firm’s guests for the weeks they’re here, they are also on a long job interview. I think the elements of a good job interview include being relaxed but not too relaxed and being confident but not too confident. Some summer associates try too hard to ‘fit in’ during the summer by being too relaxed and it shows. While summer associates should be on their best behavior, they should also be themselves. If they feel as if they are in the spotlight and that they have to perform a certain way in order to get the job, they are only hurting themselves in the long run and attorneys (who were once summer associates) see right through the performance.”
Carrie Shepherd, Attorney Recruitment Coordinator for Holland & Knight LLP in Atlanta, echoes these thoughts by saying, “My most important piece of advice to incoming summer associates is: Make the most of the 12 weeks (or whatever amount of time you will be spending) at the firm. Not only do you need to do your very best work but you should also make an effort to get to know the lawyers and staff in the office to determine if it is a right fit for you. Try to attend some of the social functions; they are for you and designed to introduce you to different lawyers in different practice groups and settings.”
Jeanne Salerno, Director of Professional Development, and John Schembari, Summer Program Chairman, at Kutak Rock LLP in Omaha, sum it up this way: “Take advantage of everything a summer program has to offer, from seeking lawyer feedback to participating in cultural and social activities. Make a real effort to get to know both staff and attorneys.”
What Jennifer Blaga, Manager of Attorney Recruiting and Development at Thompson Hine LLP in Cleveland, most wishes she could tell incoming associates is: “Treat EVERYONE in the law firm with the utmost respect; everything you say and do each day at work makes an impression on someone.”
T.J. Conley, Hiring Partner for Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A., in Minneapolis, notes the role of relationships in the broader context: “The most important thing summer associates can do is to begin to develop relationships with people at the firm so that they can build on these relationships when they return to the firm as regular associates. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know a wide variety of people, to build friendships, to identify potential mentors, and generally to begin to put some roots down. While it is critical to do solid written work, it is equally critical to build relationships that will last.” Conley continues by underscoring writing as a top quality-of-work issue: “Writing is one of the most important indicators of success, and summer associates can learn a lot during their time at the firm if they take advantage of the opportunities and resources available.”
Falling short of an offer . . .
Asked to comment on the most frequent reason (disregarding firm financial factors) that summer
associates occasionally fail to receive an offer, recruitment directors highlighted three interrelated areas: quality of work and/or work attitudes; communication skills; and relational skills and/or attitudes.
Sarah Staup notes that not doing acceptable work could mean a variety of things: “your work was
late; your work was not in acceptable format; your work contained errors because you were not
applying the level of analysis required; the time you spent was way out of line with the complexity of the assignment; you got overloaded and something had to give. The essence of being an effective lawyer,” she adds, “is effective juggling. While you can view the summer as a great chance to practice juggling, don’t do yourself in by over-committing and then turning in other than your best work.”
Jennifer Blaga adds, “Work product and high billable hours lose in the balance if you’ve been a ‘problem child’ administratively.”
Summing it up . . .
Diane Marshall and Nancy Louden offer a final summary of what it takes to succeed—or not to
By Janet Smith, NALP Director of Publications
So, what does it take to succeed as a summer associate? NALP sought the “inside view” by inviting advice from a sampling of recruitment directors who have watched summer associates
succeed—and once in a while fall short.
Comments were invited on two questions:
Comments were invited on two questions:
1. What is the most important piece of advice you wish you could convey to incoming summer associates?
2. What is the most frequent reason for a summer associate NOT to get an offer (disregarding firm financial reasons)?
Several major themes emerged in response to these questions:
• producing quality work;
• demonstrating a positive work attitude;
• developing positive workplace relationships;
• making the most of the learning experience; and
• taking responsibility for the summer experience.
Leslie Colvin, Professional Recruiting Director for Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP in Palo Alto, sums up three of these areas by advising students: “Do your best work on all projects. Be accessible and responsive. Be a team player.”
Sarah Staup, Professional Personnel Specialist for Dykema Gossett PLLC in Detroit, focused on quality of work by noting that her most important piece of advice for incoming associates is: “Always do your best work. There is no such thing as a rough draft.” Staup adds, “Even if all they want is an emailed summary of your research, be sure to forward applicable cases, highlighted appropriately. Spell check and proofread your email after making sure it is as organized as a memo would have been.”
Sarah Staup, Professional Personnel Specialist for Dykema Gossett PLLC in Detroit, focused on quality of work by noting that her most important piece of advice for incoming associates is: “Always do your best work. There is no such thing as a rough draft.” Staup adds, “Even if all they want is an emailed summary of your research, be sure to forward applicable cases, highlighted appropriately. Spell check and proofread your email after making sure it is as organized as a memo would have been.”
Ellen Zuckerman, who is Firmwide Attorney Recruiting Manager for Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP and based in Los Angeles, highlights a particular work characteristic. She says what she most wishes she could tell incoming summer associates is, “If you don’t understand an assignment, don’t be afraid to ask for further explanation.”
Attitude is key in other work areas as well.
Kimberly Coey, Recruiting Coordinator for Sherman & Howard L.L.C. in Denver, provides this perspective: “First and foremost, summer associates should come to the firm willing to learn and work hard. At firms like ours, summer associates do not compete against one another for a limited number of positions. It’s important for them to be themselves and not treat the summer as an audition. Finally, summer associates should focus on getting a realistic view of what it’s like to be an associate at the firm so they can make an educated decision when they consider their fall associate offers.”
“At Shook, Hardy & Bacon, we hire as many summer associates as we have offers for associate positions to give at the end of the summer; thus we do not foster a competitive environment within the class,” says Jessica Baker, Director of Legal Recruiting and Professional Development for Shook, Hardy in Kansas City, echoing Coey’s comments. Baker continues, “Nevertheless, while we set high standards as far as a summer associate’s academic criteria are concerned, exemplary grades in law school and top-notch work product are not everything. The best advice that I can give a summer associate is to take a genuine interest in what the firm deems important (e.g., diversity issues, professional development, etc.) and to treat all members of the firm with respect, which includes both the attorneys and support staff. We look to hire well-rounded individuals who ‘play well’ with others —so do our clients.”
Diane Marshall, Director of Recruiting for Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in Nashville, puts a slightly different spin on positive work attitudes. The advice she shares: “Summer associates should know that, while they are the firm’s guests for the weeks they’re here, they are also on a long job interview. I think the elements of a good job interview include being relaxed but not too relaxed and being confident but not too confident. Some summer associates try too hard to ‘fit in’ during the summer by being too relaxed and it shows. While summer associates should be on their best behavior, they should also be themselves. If they feel as if they are in the spotlight and that they have to perform a certain way in order to get the job, they are only hurting themselves in the long run and attorneys (who were once summer associates) see right through the performance.”
The top advice from three firms is for summer associates to make the most of their experience.
Bonnie Bell, Director of Personnel for Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, in Philadelphia, comments: “Listen, observe, and learn. Listen carefully to the details regarding the assignments you are given, to the attorneys you are working with, to the administrator running the program, and to the support staff at your organization. Observe the culture and professional ‘temperature’ of the firm and adjust your actions accordingly. Use the program as a learning experience to increase your knowledge about the practice of law, the firm itself, and its attorneys so that you can make an educated decision regarding employment opportunities.”
Carrie Shepherd, Attorney Recruitment Coordinator for Holland & Knight LLP in Atlanta, echoes these thoughts by saying, “My most important piece of advice to incoming summer associates is: Make the most of the 12 weeks (or whatever amount of time you will be spending) at the firm. Not only do you need to do your very best work but you should also make an effort to get to know the lawyers and staff in the office to determine if it is a right fit for you. Try to attend some of the social functions; they are for you and designed to introduce you to different lawyers in different practice groups and settings.”
Jeanne Salerno, Director of Professional Development, and John Schembari, Summer Program Chairman, at Kutak Rock LLP in Omaha, sum it up this way: “Take advantage of everything a summer program has to offer, from seeking lawyer feedback to participating in cultural and social activities. Make a real effort to get to know both staff and attorneys.”
What Jennifer Blaga, Manager of Attorney Recruiting and Development at Thompson Hine LLP in Cleveland, most wishes she could tell incoming associates is: “Treat EVERYONE in the law firm with the utmost respect; everything you say and do each day at work makes an impression on someone.”
T.J. Conley, Hiring Partner for Leonard, Street and Deinard, P.A., in Minneapolis, notes the role of relationships in the broader context: “The most important thing summer associates can do is to begin to develop relationships with people at the firm so that they can build on these relationships when they return to the firm as regular associates. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know a wide variety of people, to build friendships, to identify potential mentors, and generally to begin to put some roots down. While it is critical to do solid written work, it is equally critical to build relationships that will last.” Conley continues by underscoring writing as a top quality-of-work issue: “Writing is one of the most important indicators of success, and summer associates can learn a lot during their time at the firm if they take advantage of the opportunities and resources available.”
The advice shared by Virginia Quinn, Manager of Law School Relations for Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York, ties the importance of cultivating relationships to the need to take responsibility for the summer experience: “Be an effective mentee —seek out your mentor, ask questions, and let him/her know what you hope to get out of the relationship,” she advises. “Speak up to the recruiting department or assigning partner regarding the kinds of assignments you want. Make an effort to get a broad range of work experience during your time at the firm. While you should never turn down an assignment because it doesn’t interest you, you can be proactive in seeking the kinds of assignments that do interest you.” Quinn continues, “Make an effort to get to know the attorneys at the firm—don’t wait for an attorney to introduce himself/herself to you. Seek out attorneys who practice the kind of law that interests you and also make an effort to get to know attorneys from other practice areas.”
Finally, Nancy Louden, Director of Recruiting & Hiring for Hughes & Luce, LLP, in Dallas, underscores the need to assume responsibility. “Act like an owner,” advises Louden. “While it will be many years before a new associate is considered for partnership, you can show ownership in a variety of ways during your clerkship. Ownership could be viewed as the way you approach projects; the dedication you show in your work; the effort you show in truly getting to know the firm, culture, and people. Take pride in what you do, be professional, work hard, and show a true dedication. It will be noticed.”
Falling short of an offer . . .
Asked to comment on the most frequent reason (disregarding firm financial factors) that summer
Sarah Staup notes that not doing acceptable work could mean a variety of things: “your work was
late; your work was not in acceptable format; your work contained errors because you were not
applying the level of analysis required; the time you spent was way out of line with the complexity of the assignment; you got overloaded and something had to give. The essence of being an effective lawyer,” she adds, “is effective juggling. While you can view the summer as a great chance to practice juggling, don’t do yourself in by over-committing and then turning in other than your best work.”
Bonnie Bell shares a similar comment: “Quality of work,” she says, “is impacted by a variety of factors: lack of understanding of the assignment, incomplete research, quality of written work (grammar, typos, etc.), quality of oral presentation (can you articulate your findings with confidence), lack of attention to time restraints. The competitive bar is high; prove that you have earned the right to an offer.”
“The most frequent reason that a summer associate does not get an offer,” says Kimberly Coey, “is poor analytical skills demonstrated on one or more projects during the summer.” Jeanne Salerno and John Schembari see poor quality of work as manifesting itself in two ways: “the written work product is not up to par, or the summer associate is not able to work with attorneys or staff in a collegial manner.”
“The most frequent reason that a summer associate does not get an offer,” says Kimberly Coey, “is poor analytical skills demonstrated on one or more projects during the summer.” Jeanne Salerno and John Schembari see poor quality of work as manifesting itself in two ways: “the written work product is not up to par, or the summer associate is not able to work with attorneys or staff in a collegial manner.”
“Failing to keep attorneys informed of the status of projects; failing to complete an assignment in a timely manner due to social activities; failing to put your best effort into your work product; and declining to take on an assignment because you do not find it interesting,” are ways Virginia Quinn sees a poor work attitude or poor judgment demonstrated.
Poor communication skills are an ingredient in several of those responses. T.J. Conley underscores this area: “Most often [if a summer associate does not receive an offer] it has to do with poor communication skills. Either the summer associate did not talk with the assigning lawyer enough to understand the lawyer’s expectations for a particular project or the summer associate managed to alienate several lawyers for one reason or another.” Conley advises students, “Don’t make the mistake of spending too much time holed up in the library or in your office, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ninety-five percent of the time, the problem is not asking enough questions rather than asking too many.”
Poor communication skills are an ingredient in several of those responses. T.J. Conley underscores this area: “Most often [if a summer associate does not receive an offer] it has to do with poor communication skills. Either the summer associate did not talk with the assigning lawyer enough to understand the lawyer’s expectations for a particular project or the summer associate managed to alienate several lawyers for one reason or another.” Conley advises students, “Don’t make the mistake of spending too much time holed up in the library or in your office, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ninety-five percent of the time, the problem is not asking enough questions rather than asking too many.”
Immaturity, poor work attitudes, and poor relational skills were also highlighted as factors most likely to cause a summer associate to fall short. Pointing to the negative impact of immaturity or poor relational skills, Ellen Zuckerman says the question at the end of the summer is: “Would we feel comfortable having this future associate working directly with our clients? If we wouldn’t, they won’t get an offer.”
Jennifer Blaga adds, “Work product and high billable hours lose in the balance if you’ve been a ‘problem child’ administratively.”
Summing it up . . .
Diane Marshall and Nancy Louden offer a final summary of what it takes to succeed—or not to
succeed—as a summer associate. “We know before we hire the summer associate,” says Marshall, “that he/she is intelligent enough on paper to work at the firm. Often we will see that, regardless of their academics, some have a hard time communicating and getting along with others. Or they have trouble juggling the projects and tend not to take deadlines seriously. Some summer associates will concentrate on doing projects and ignore the opportunities given to interact on a social basis. Or they will give all their attention to the social events and not produce quality work. These are both equally important and the balance is something a successful summer associate will figure out. (We tell them this up front, but some listen and some don’t.) If the attorneys don’t have a chance to work with the summer associate or get to know him/her in a social setting, they simply won’t feel they have enough knowledge to vote on them at the end of the summer.”
Nancy Louden offers this summation: “When you see a person with stellar credentials who doesn’t receive an offer, likely a wide variety of circumstances surround the firm’s decision. Sometimes, people observe a lack of respect for their clerkship responsibility. Summer associates are highly compensated individuals on whom firms spend a great deal of time and resources to recruit. They have a responsibility to put forth the effort to get their projects done and produce a high-quality work product. If they don’t put forth the effort and respect the importance of their clerkship, it will typically translate to poor work product. It is also the responsibility of the clerk to put forth the effort to get to know the people and the culture of the firm. We want students to have the information to make informed decisions. To do this, summer associates must take their clerkship experience seriously and get to know the firm both personally and professionally. In turn, the firm should expend the same effort. It takes effort on both sides to make the program work effectively. Both should treat the process with respect.”
From NALP Bulletin, April 2002
Thursday, May 17, 2012
What's Going On in the Law World?
Want to know what's happening around the law world? Want to find some law blogs to follow or find out more about a specific practice area? How about what's happening in a particular region? This is a good place to start:
http://law.alltop.com/
http://law.alltop.com/
Monday, May 14, 2012
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting an Offer
by Beth Hansen
As hard as this may sound, when a firm needs to make cuts, they don't just put everyone's name on a wall and throw darts - they use criteria. Hiring decisions are made "with a scalpel". It may be seniority (i.e. all the new clerks are being deferred), but other times billable hours, rainmaking abilities and the ability to get along and work with others in the firm will also play a factor. Here are some tips to improve your chances of getting a post-grad offer from your summer employer:
1) Make friends with the secretary. She can be your greatest ally or your worst nightmare depending on the relationship she has with the boss. Don't treat her like an inferior. Good legal secretaries know a lot about civil procedure and can be very helpful to a new law clerk.
2) If you are in a clerkship that tracks billable hours, get the hang of their billing system right away. The bottom line is the bottom line. They keep people who make them money. Ask for a sample timesheet that has been filled out so you can see how things are phrased and ask for some guidelines about what is billable and what is not.
3) Be agreeable and use your head. They are checking to see if you will fit in so be sure to . . . fit in. Don't complain about the office you're assigned or the work you are given. Don't abuse any "perk" programs they may have and don't work nine to five when everyone else works eight to six.
4) Socialize when appropriate. If a group from the office goes to lunch, go with them. You want them to see your personality and you want them to like you as a person.
5) Work your tail off. Unfortunately, your summer break is the only time you have to show them what you can do. Now is your time to shine. Work long and hard and let them see it. If you need to ask for work, ask for work. Don't assume that if they don't give you work, it’s their problem and they won't hold it against you. When they look at the billable hours, if yours are low, they are going to assume it’s you.
6) Be sure you understand the assignment. Parrot back the assignment to your supervisor in your own words to make sure you are on the same page. We've had clerks lose offers and associates lose jobs over this one. Also, be sure you know whether they are looking for law to support a particular position or are looking for the state of the law generally.
7) Always read the updates (pocket parts and supplements). Make sure you are dealing with the most recent version of the law.
8) If you are in litigation, read the state court civil procedure rules and the local district court rules. Each court (both federal and state) will have their own set of local/district rules which will often dictate more of what you do than your caselaw, state civil procedure rules or the FRCP. If you can stand it, take them home at night and read them. The sooner you get a good grasp of them, the more useful you will be.
9) Be on your best behavior, regardless of what others are doing. Someone else telling a dirty joke or making a rash political statement is not permission for you do to the same. Do NOT reprimand anyone - its not your place, but don't add fuel to the fire either.
As hard as this may sound, when a firm needs to make cuts, they don't just put everyone's name on a wall and throw darts - they use criteria. Hiring decisions are made "with a scalpel". It may be seniority (i.e. all the new clerks are being deferred), but other times billable hours, rainmaking abilities and the ability to get along and work with others in the firm will also play a factor. Here are some tips to improve your chances of getting a post-grad offer from your summer employer:
1) Make friends with the secretary. She can be your greatest ally or your worst nightmare depending on the relationship she has with the boss. Don't treat her like an inferior. Good legal secretaries know a lot about civil procedure and can be very helpful to a new law clerk.
2) If you are in a clerkship that tracks billable hours, get the hang of their billing system right away. The bottom line is the bottom line. They keep people who make them money. Ask for a sample timesheet that has been filled out so you can see how things are phrased and ask for some guidelines about what is billable and what is not.
3) Be agreeable and use your head. They are checking to see if you will fit in so be sure to . . . fit in. Don't complain about the office you're assigned or the work you are given. Don't abuse any "perk" programs they may have and don't work nine to five when everyone else works eight to six.
4) Socialize when appropriate. If a group from the office goes to lunch, go with them. You want them to see your personality and you want them to like you as a person.
5) Work your tail off. Unfortunately, your summer break is the only time you have to show them what you can do. Now is your time to shine. Work long and hard and let them see it. If you need to ask for work, ask for work. Don't assume that if they don't give you work, it’s their problem and they won't hold it against you. When they look at the billable hours, if yours are low, they are going to assume it’s you.
6) Be sure you understand the assignment. Parrot back the assignment to your supervisor in your own words to make sure you are on the same page. We've had clerks lose offers and associates lose jobs over this one. Also, be sure you know whether they are looking for law to support a particular position or are looking for the state of the law generally.
7) Always read the updates (pocket parts and supplements). Make sure you are dealing with the most recent version of the law.
8) If you are in litigation, read the state court civil procedure rules and the local district court rules. Each court (both federal and state) will have their own set of local/district rules which will often dictate more of what you do than your caselaw, state civil procedure rules or the FRCP. If you can stand it, take them home at night and read them. The sooner you get a good grasp of them, the more useful you will be.
9) Be on your best behavior, regardless of what others are doing. Someone else telling a dirty joke or making a rash political statement is not permission for you do to the same. Do NOT reprimand anyone - its not your place, but don't add fuel to the fire either.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch
Just about everyone has heard of the elevator pitch – that succinct summation of what you do that piques the interest of a potential customer or investor. Of course, in the Internet age, the elevator pitch has been shortened to the escalator pitch, then the Twitter pitch. As a result, a person has to adapt to the situation they’re in.
So, what do you do when you’re hit with the inevitable question “what do you do?” Do you captivate strangers right off the bat? Do you get people asking questions, or following up with you later?
One of the most important things a businessperson can do is learn how to speak about what they do. Here are five tips to help anyone perfect their pitch and network like the pros.
1. Find the Sweet Spot
One of the key mistakes people make when answering what they do is to automatically start at the macro level, with their industry or job category. For example: “I’m in IT,” or “I’m in social media.”
While such broad descriptions may be true, they’re far too abstract. You can be sure that the less specific your answer, the more likely that the other person’s eyes are glazing over. Instead of dealing in vague descriptions, focus on the problems you solve… “my clients are typically struggling to…and I help them…” By talking about how you help people, your job or business becomes instantly relatable.
Remember, your cocktail pitch doesn’t need to tell your entire story; it doesn’t even need to cover all the important points. A great pitch succeeds if it draws interest from the other person and gets them to want to know more.
2. Speak Like a Human Being
Yes, you should prepare and practice your pitch, but it should always be simple, natural, and in plain English. And if you find yourself stuck on the receiving end of a stuffy, jargon-filled elevator pitch, try to shift the dynamic with a question like, “so what does that mean?”
3. Exude Confidence
Whether you’re dating or networking, confidence is a major turn-on. When answering what you do, don’t mumble through the response. Definitely never sound as if you’re apologizing.
Yes, in the digital age, people can have incredibly niche roles and it’s all easy to assume that others won’t understand or won’t care about your augmented reality company. By making that assumption you’ve lost their interest before ever opening your mouth. No matter how obscure your job or company, begin with the assumption that the other person will be interested.
4. Ask Questions
Sometimes we become so focused on how to answer basic questions that we forget to actually make conversation. The best way to be remembered is to build a connection. For this reason, never consider the other person “your audience.” Ask them a few questions as well.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice
While some people may look like natural networkers, in actuality, very few create a perfect pitch on the fly. Practice in your head, in front of the mirror, or a video camera. Then try it out on a group of friends or colleagues, and ask what specific points they remember. That instant feedback will help you determine what to cut or change in order to make a connection and be memorable.
And don’t worry about making mistakes. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn through trial and error. The best way to improve is to just practice. You never know whom you’ll meet and what opportunities that will bring your way.
Nellie Akalp is the CEO of CorpNet.com, an online legal document filing service, where she helps entrepreneurs incorporate or form an LLC for their new businesses. Connect with Nellie on Twitter or visit her free resource center for more tips!
Monday, May 7, 2012
5 Tips for Shy Networkers
http://www.careerealism.com/network-tips-shy/
by Dawn Rasmussen
If you say that you are shy and that is the reason why you aren’t good at networking, that is a self-imposed barrier you have put up in front of yourself.
Yes, it can be uncomfortable. But here are a few quick tips for you to get through that initial awkward conversational stage and transform the people that you meet at events into powerful contacts in your network:
1. Be fearless. Walk up, stick out your hand, introduce yourself, ask them about what they do, then shut up. People love to talk about themselves. So let them. Being quiet means you don’t have to come up with things to talk about and you can take their conversational lead!
2. Be well-read. Keeping up with current events and business trends gives you a treasure trove to draw from in terms of conversational topics.
3. Initiate a call to action. If you want to learn more, there’s only so much you can chat about comfortably in a crowded room. Suggest to meet the person over coffee in a less busy setting. You’ll both be more relaxed and the ideas can flow more freely.
4. Follow up in 24 hours. Don’t shove the person’s card in your drawer and call it good. That’s not networking. That’s called disposing of your contacts (I am not talking about the kind you stick in your eyes).
E-mail messages are good, but even a nice little hand-written note can lend some distinction to your thoughtfulness.
5. If the conversation isn’t working out very well, release the person. You can always excuse yourself if they have lost interest or there isn’t any rapport building. (Or if they are looking over your shoulder!)
Say, “Well, it was nice meeting you and we should both probably mingle a little more… thanks again for chatting!” and then let them go.
Sometimes, shy people have a habit of clinging to people that they are able to talk to and then never letting them go. Don’t be one of those networkers! The purpose is to meet as many people as you can.
Don’t let yourself become your own worst obstacle to networking. Get out there, and get a networking workout… the more you do it, the easier it will become!
by Dawn Rasmussen
If you say that you are shy and that is the reason why you aren’t good at networking, that is a self-imposed barrier you have put up in front of yourself.
Yes, it can be uncomfortable. But here are a few quick tips for you to get through that initial awkward conversational stage and transform the people that you meet at events into powerful contacts in your network:
1. Be fearless. Walk up, stick out your hand, introduce yourself, ask them about what they do, then shut up. People love to talk about themselves. So let them. Being quiet means you don’t have to come up with things to talk about and you can take their conversational lead!
2. Be well-read. Keeping up with current events and business trends gives you a treasure trove to draw from in terms of conversational topics.
3. Initiate a call to action. If you want to learn more, there’s only so much you can chat about comfortably in a crowded room. Suggest to meet the person over coffee in a less busy setting. You’ll both be more relaxed and the ideas can flow more freely.
4. Follow up in 24 hours. Don’t shove the person’s card in your drawer and call it good. That’s not networking. That’s called disposing of your contacts (I am not talking about the kind you stick in your eyes).
E-mail messages are good, but even a nice little hand-written note can lend some distinction to your thoughtfulness.
5. If the conversation isn’t working out very well, release the person. You can always excuse yourself if they have lost interest or there isn’t any rapport building. (Or if they are looking over your shoulder!)
Say, “Well, it was nice meeting you and we should both probably mingle a little more… thanks again for chatting!” and then let them go.
Sometimes, shy people have a habit of clinging to people that they are able to talk to and then never letting them go. Don’t be one of those networkers! The purpose is to meet as many people as you can.
Don’t let yourself become your own worst obstacle to networking. Get out there, and get a networking workout… the more you do it, the easier it will become!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
How to Land a Dream Job (Alternative Legal Careers - Nonprofit)
http://thecareerist.typepad.com/thecareerist/2012/04/tips-for-non-profit-jobs.html
In the following post—based in part on her book Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal Needs of Nonprofits (Wiley 2012)—Rosenthal gives us the scoop on how lawyers can parlay their firm experience into a job in the nonprofit sector.
How to Get That Nonprofit Job
By Lesley Rosenthal
America’s 1 million charities represent a gorgeous array of goodness. They lead efforts to cure diseases, alleviate poverty, advance education, and ennoble through culture.
But what people don't realize is that these nonprofits tend to have a tiny or nonexistent legal team. That was the case with every nonprofit I've worked with. From the modern dance company I helped out as a fledgling attorney, the child care advocacy organization I served when its outside pro bono counsel suddenly passed away, to the foundation of one of the greatest violinists in history and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation—the total number of in-house counsel in each organization had been binary: zero or one.
When I arrived at Lincoln Center (I heard about the job from a mentor of mine at Paul Weiss), the legal department of the world’s largest and most comprehensive performing arts center consisted of just me and an executive assistant. When friends asked me how big Lincoln Center’s staff of lawyers was, I would look myself up and down and joke, “Oh, around five-foot-five!”
That's not at all unusual: Of the nation’s charitable organizations, only a minuscule fraction has regular access to counsel, whether in-house or outside, paid or voluntary. Unless the organization has an unusually high-risk profile or is particularly savvy about legal matters, it is unusual to put an attorney in charge of the organization’s legal affairs.
Until now. Tectonic shifts in the nonprofit landscape are persuading directors and senior executives that it is necessary and desirable to bring on counsel to oversee the organization’s legal function. Outside or in-house, paid or volunteer, there should be one person—a general counsel—in charge of overseeing the legal affairs of the organization. (Today, my department has three lawyers, including me and a paralegal/executve assistant.)
To land one of these coveted jobs, you have to be creative and resourceful, sometimes even persuading the organization that it’s time to get full-time legal help. Once the leaders are persuaded, here are some things to do to make sure that position goes to you:
1. Build up your resume. Gain experience drafting and negotiating contracts. Learn nonprofit corporate law, governance, and compliance basics. Understand how business laws and regulations apply in the nonprofit context, and how they differ.
2. Do pro bono or volunteer work, or serve on a nonprofit board. Work with the type of organization you would like to be employed by.
3. Build your network through social networking, bar associations, and legal education programs. List your resume with search firms that specialize in nonprofit searches.
4. Ask for informational interviews—and be sure to ask your contact for suggestions about others you should meet. But don’t go in under the guise of an informational interview and then ask for a job!
5. Show your passion for the cause. Some examples: travel to a troubled area to do relief work, contribute to or raise money for the cause, or launch and manage a social media presence on a pressing social concern.
6. Be informed. Subscribe to trade publications such as Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, Idealist, Arts Journal, and RSS feeds of newspapers and job Web sites. These publications carry industry-insider information about nonprofits in transition, nonprofits facing regulatory or legal challenges, and general issues of importance to the sector. Job seekers can pick up clues about which organizations may be hiring in the future—or which could be susceptible to a pitch to create a new legal position now.
In my case, my experience as outside pro bono general counsel to several nonprofits helped me land the job. My broad-ranging experience, plus the "chemistry" I had with people at the center, helped too.
But there's another route to the nonprofit sector: Apply for a nonlegal job—which, in time, might turn into a legal job. Consider the following:
—Fund-raising. This
means being a zealous advocate for the organization. You'll need
persuasive writing and oral expression skills. Moreover, the connections
between fund-raising and law are legion–trusts and estates, tax
planning, and compliance.
—Government affairs/lobbying. This is a great fit for lawyers with political, policy research, and analytical experience.
—Corporate secretary. This entails facilitating good governance, coordinating communication between the board and management, keeping corporate records, taking minutes, disseminating information, advising on bylaws matters, and drafting resolutions.
—Operations/administration. This builds on skills that lawyers running busy law practices may have in abundance, or may have acquired outside of their legal career. The GC at the Alvin Ailey Dance Co., for example, started there as a director of operations.
—Government affairs/lobbying. This is a great fit for lawyers with political, policy research, and analytical experience.
—Corporate secretary. This entails facilitating good governance, coordinating communication between the board and management, keeping corporate records, taking minutes, disseminating information, advising on bylaws matters, and drafting resolutions.
—Operations/administration. This builds on skills that lawyers running busy law practices may have in abundance, or may have acquired outside of their legal career. The GC at the Alvin Ailey Dance Co., for example, started there as a director of operations.
—Human resources. This job
involves a range of legal issues: hiring, firing, complying with
nondiscrimination and wage/hour laws, crafting and enforcing employee
policies and handbooks, negotiating collective bargaining agreements,
investigating workplace grievances, and more.
—Finance. If you have finance, business, accounting or dealmaking background, it can eventually lead to a chief financial officer role.
Some of these may seem far afield, but there are general counsel of
major nonprofits–cultural, educational, social services, animal
welfare, and others–who have come via each of these routes. —Finance. If you have finance, business, accounting or dealmaking background, it can eventually lead to a chief financial officer role.
Paid work as in-house counsel at a nonprofit is hard to find, but with some persistence, planning, a generosity of spirit, and a little luck, you can locate or create the job. And the opportunity to bring legal skills to a cause you care about is priceless.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
New York City (Manhattan) Move-In Information
For those of you who will be working in New York City (Manhattan) during the summer or post graduation, this is a fantastic resource that one of our alumni, Stu Mitchell, shared with us. It has all kinds of great information on getting to know Manhattan, finding housing, getting around, contacts for LDS wards in the area, etc.
Manhattan Move In Packet
Manhattan Move In Packet
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