What No One Tells You Before You Go to Law School: It Helps to Know What Job You Want on Day One

http://ms-jd.org/what-no-one-tells-you-you-go-law-school-it-helps-know-what-job-you-want-day-one

Submitted by alisonmonahan

When I went to law school, I thought I’d have a good couple of years to decide what type of job I wanted. That’s the way school works, right? You go, work hard, and figure out what you want by the time it’s all over.

Well, law school’s not like that! To my surprise, I quickly realized the schedule’s a lot more compressed. Ideally, you should know what type of job you want, before classes start.

Your Summer Jobs Matter
The reason it’s helpful to know what you want to do very early on is that your summer jobs matter in law school, a lot. You can start applying for 1L summer jobs (under the NALP rules that govern law firms and many other legal employers) on December 1st. Summer funding fellowships might have even earlier deadlines.

So, if you want to have the best shot at a paid 1L summer job, it’s critical to get organized early!

What can you do now?
If you’re starting law school in the fall, now’s the time to get ready.

• Even if you’re not 100% sure what you want to do when you graduate, start thinking of some ideas. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t know exactly what job you want when you graduate. But start brainstorming areas that might be interesting! Make a list of three or four options, and think about what kind of summer experience would position you to get those jobs when you graduate.
• Look into summer funding options. It’s no secret that the job market is tight these days. Funding is in short supply, and competition is fierce. Now is the time to figure out your options! Does your school offer funding for certain types of positions? What do you have to do to qualify? Are there external funding sources that might help? Mark the deadlines for any feasible funding options on your calendar now (and leave enough time to finish your application). These deadlines are often very early, rewarding well-prepared applicants.
• Get your résumé in order. Trust me, once school starts you’re not going to have time to deal with this! Go ahead and update your résumé now. Add your law school information and do some research on what legal employers expect to see on your résumé. Starting November 1st, you’re allowed to access your school’s Career Services office, but you need something for them to review!
• Explore your options. Along with brainstorming the type of job you want, start looking at more specific options for the categories you identified. If you’re interested in law firms, the NALP directory has a list of firms that claim to hire 1Ls. Go ahead and start a spreadsheet of firms in your geographic areas of interest. If public interest work is more your speed, start checking out sites such as Idealist, PSLawNet, and Equal Justice Works for ideas. Various law schools also have great resources on their websites, so cast a wide net and keep track of your research. There’s a ton of info out there, but it’s up to you to go find it!
• Start networking early. Don’t overlook one of your best resources – your fellow students. Before you even get to campus, think about what organizations you might want to join. When you get to Orientation, you’ll be ahead of the game. Also become familiar with resources in your local legal community. Should you join the local bar association? Probably! It’s a great way to meet people and learn about different career options. Figure out now what you need to do to become a member, and things will go more smoothly later!
• Prepare your elevator speech. Finally, since you’re going to be meeting people who might be able to help you secure a job, you need an elevator speech. This is the short, focused answer you give to the “So, what are you interested in doing?” question. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked law students that question and gotten, “Um, I’m not really sure,” as an answer. Look, even if you don’t really know for sure, make something up! Let other people help you. If someone’s asking what you want to do, they’re mentally preparing to give you a list of useful people to contact. If you don’t give them any options, you’ve just missed a great opportunity, so have some answer to this question!

In a nutshell, the more you can do NOW to position yourself for a job later, the better. Law school moves quickly, and you don’t want to be searching for summer funding in April if you can possibly avoid it.

Use these last few weeks of “free time” to position yourself for the career you want!

Alison Monahan is the founder of The Girl's Guide to Law School and the co-founder of the Law School Toolbox and the Bar Exam Toolbox. Stay tuned for her monthly Ms. JD column debunking myths about the legal profession. You can find her on Twitter at @GirlsGuideToLS or on Facebook.

What's Your Elevator Pitch?

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/07/whats-your-elevator-pitch/

 By Alison

With classes starting soon and interviewing looming for summer associate positions and clerkships, I figured this would be a good time to bring up a sensitive topic: the elevator pitch.

Somehow, law students (and lawyers) have gotten the idea that it’s unseemly to have a straightforward answer to a simple question: What kind of work are you interested in doing?
This attitude is crazy! If you don’t know what you want (or you’re reluctant to discuss it), how can anyone help you? People need to know what you’re looking for, and you need to be prepared to tell them.

“I Don’t Know” is NOT a Good Answer

Look, I understand you might not know exactly what kind of job you want on the first day of law school. But, by the time you’re interviewing for jobs, you need some reasonable answer, even if it’s not your “forever” answer.

Surely you have some preferences, right? Are you really totally indifferent between litigation and corporate practice, for example? Would you be equally happy working in a small law firm and a government agency? I find that hard to believe. Law jobs aren’t fungible! And neither are you. You have preferences — so start paying attention to them!

How to Finesse Uncertainty

Say you really, truly have no idea what you want to do when you graduate. Fine. Pick a couple of areas that seem interesting, and start exploring them.

Then the next time someone ask what type of law you’re interested in, instead of saying, “I don’t know,” tell them that you’re exploring a few different options and are currently interested in X, Y, and Z.

You know what’s likely to happen? The person you’re talking with is going to say:

Oh, you know who you should talk to? My law school friend, Becky, who does X. I’m sure she’d be happy to grab coffee and talk about her work.

It’s like magic! Insta-networking.
But you’ve got to give people something to work with.
So take a few minutes right now and formulate your answer. What ARE you interested in?

Thank You Notes

Several of you have had questions about thank you notes and interviews.

• Yes, you should write them for each interviewer. 
• You are not their contemporary, so use Mr. or Ms. when addressing them in the note. (This goes for cover letters too--I'm seeing too many addressed using people's first names. Never say, "Dear Jim, or "Dear Sue," it should always be, "Dear Mr. Smith," or "Dear Ms. Jones.")
• Mention something specific you discussed during your interview--something you enjoyed, something you learned, etc.
• Handwritten is always best, BUT a warm, sincere, personal email will suffice, especially if time/money or your handwriting is an issue. 
• Notes should be sent the same day or the next day following your interview.  
• If you are invited for callback interviews, you should send a hand-written thank you to the person serving as your main point of contact and key people you've met (recruiting manager, hiring partner, etc.)  
• Double check your note for any misspellings, grammatical errors, etc. You don't want to have a great interview and then blow it in your thank you note.

For specific questions or concerns, you can email, call, or drop by the CSO. We're open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Am Law 100 Lawyers Discuss the Dos and Don'ts of the Interview Process

http://thecareerist.typepad.com/thecareerist/2012/08/am-law-100-lawyers-discuss-the-dos-and-donts-of-the-interview-process.html

Vivia Chen

Today's guest blogger, Meghin Delaney, gives an inside look at the Big Law interview process from the perspective of lawyers at Paul Hastings, Wilson Sonsini, McDermott, Cooley, and Ballard Spahr.

While the interview process can take its toll on prospective law firm candidates, it's no walk in the park for the lawyers tasked with conducting the interviews. Partners can see up to 25 students per day, including during their lunch break. They spend their travel time reviewing resumes and coming up with questions tailored to a candidate’s specific experience. Immediately after an interview, partners take notes to help them distinguish one candidate from another. In 20 minutes, the lawyers are responsible for choosing between eight and 10 students who “fit” with their firm.
The students have shared their experiences, so now it’s time to hear from the interviewers.

Let’s start with the resume.

Defend your resume. If you’re going to put something on there, you'd better be able to talk about it, lawyers say. Most lawyers’ questions derive from an applicant’s resume, so applicants need to be well versed about what they put on their resumes.

Proofread your resume and cover letter. It sounds simple, one lawyer says, but they are often surprised by how many simple mistakes they see on resumes and cover letters. “The problem isn’t the error. We make mistakes every day,” one lawyer says. “But we do look at past performance and behavior to predict future performance and behavior.”

Prepping for the interview.

Research the firm. Again, it seems like the basic piece of advice, but lawyers say it can make or break the interview. Don’t ask lawyers basic questions about the law firm; that’s what the website is for, they instruct. Research your interviewer and ask about their specific practice or some of their recent deals. “I’ve had students ask me why I chose the firm,” one lawyer says. “They ask me why I chose to stay for so long, and that’s an even better question.”

Work your connections. If you go to a top-tier law school, there are probably alums working at the firms you are interviewing with. One lawyer remembers a candidate who had reached out to meet for coffee with an alum before the on-campus interview. “That showed he had real drive and was really interested in our firm,” she says.


The interview.

Follow all the professional norms. This is, after all, an interview. According to the lawyers, some students treat the 20-minute slot too informally. They don’t wear suits, or they forget to shake the interviewer’s hand, or—even worse—they show up late. At this point in the game, law firms are buying and students need to be selling, lawyers say.

Lead the conversation. Again, students need to sell themselves, lawyers say. They need to be able to expand on a basic question and create a conversation. “I enjoy sitting down with people who do two-thirds of the talking,” says one lawyer. “I test how well the day goes by how many cough drops I need to take.”

Know the basic answers. Students should come prepared with a few key stories. They should be able to answer why they went to law school and why they are interested in that firm in particular. “It doesn’t need to be the most compelling answer,” one lawyer says. “You should, however, have an answer that’s genuine.”

The on-campus interview may be one of the most important interviews for prospective lawyers, but as long as students are prepared and ready, the lawyers say that they will do just fine.

Law Firm Pronunciation Guide

Stumped on how to pronounce a law firm's name?  Here is a pronunciation guide that can help:

Law Firm Pronunciation Guide

How to Make the Cut (OCI interview tips)

http://thecareerist.typepad.com/thecareerist/2012/08/tips-for-surviving-that-first-interview.html

By Grover E. Cleveland

Not unlike speed dating, the on-campus screening interview process is a game of elimination. Your primary goal is the same: Make it to the next round. That means you need to avoid obvious errors that will trip up some (lose the nose piercing) and stand out from others who won’t make much of an impression. Here are important tips for succeeding in your lightning round of interviews:

• Own the room. Greet the interviewer confidently. It may sound corny, but don’t slouch. Look the interviewer directly in the eye and give a firm handshake (but not a bone-crunching one). And smile. If you exude enthusiasm, you are likely to get it back from the interviewer, which will help put you at ease.

• Ask strategic questions. You don’t have much time, so the more time the interviewer spends telling you about the firm, the less time you have to highlight your attributes. Ask questions that show that you researched the firm and that you are enthusiastic about working there. You should be ready to answer the “Why do you want to work here?” question with an answer that is specific to each firm. On the other hand, if you ask how many offices the firm has, you will look lazy.

• Don't ask about the quality of life. Firms want to know what you can do for them. Initial interviews are not the time to address your personal concerns. For example, if you ask about work/life balance, the interviewer is likely to hear, “I am not interested in working hard.” Get that kind of information another way—or ask after you have an offer.

• Develop key messages. Come up with a list of points that you want to get across—regardless of the questions you are asked. Again, research the firm. If you understand the qualities that a firm values, you will do a better job of crafting answers to demonstrate that you will be an asset to the firm. Whenever you can, provide specific examples of your skills and show how they will benefit the firm.

• Listen closely to each question. If you are anxious, you may be tempted to blurt out the first answer that comes into your head or start talking before you have fully composed your answer. Don't fall into those traps. Pause for a second or two before answering. That may seem like an eternity, but it will become more natural if you practice. The time will give you a chance to compose your thoughts and hit the most important key messages in your answer. If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification rather than guessing at an answer.

• Be Memorable. Try to highlight an interesting fact or accomplishment—preferably one that took tenacity. If the interviewer remembers you as “the one who ran the marathon,” you are much more likely to make it to round two.

• Manage anxiety. Interviewing is anxiety-provoking for almost everyone. Remember that the interviewer was once in your chair. If you have done your research, practiced your answers, and have your key messages down cold, you will be much more confident. And exercising will help banish adrenaline so it can’t mess with your mind.
Right before your interviews, you may also want to try stress-reduction expert Jordan Friedman's Quick Calm technique:

1. Inhale deeply and hold your breath for four seconds;

2. Think “I am warm”;

3. Exhale and think “I am calm,” and repeat twice.

Good luck!

Ten Ways Law Students Can Be More Persuasive in Interviews

by Lisa Abrams

1. Thoroughly and thoughtfully research the organization. It’s not enough to simply review an employer’s website the night before an interview. Review news articles about the employer. Nexus and Bloomberg can be helpful, as can The Wall Street Journal and legal news sites. Take your research one step further by talking to students and alumni who have worked for the organization.

For example, if you’re interviewing for a summer associate position, talk to 3Ls about what they enjoyed about their summer at the firm. If you are interviewing for a judicial externship, talk to students or young alumni who have worked for the judge with whom you are interviewing.

During your interview, you’ll be able to mention the fact that you’ve taken time to talk with these persons, sharing the positive reports you’ve heard and talking about how this makes you even more interested in the organization. This networking based research will demonstrate your resourcefulness, your interpersonal communication skills, and your credible interest in the organization.

2. You MUST be able to answer the question “Why did you go to law school?” In coached interview sessions, we often find that this is the hardest of all questions for students to answer, perhaps because they feel prepared to answer it because they went through the law school application process and wrote essays about the topic. Don’t fall into this trap. Know exactly how you’re going to answer this question, and make sure that you develop a thesis sentence that answers the question (“I came to law school because …”) rather than a long, roundabout story of how you came to your decision.

Then go one step further, implementing a persuasive strategy by talking about how your reasons for coming to law school link up with your interest in this organization, or talking about why you are glad you did come to law school — and give examples of what you’re enjoying about the law school experience.

3. To show you’re a valuable candidate, be able to identify your strongest skills (at least three) and give up to three examples of each from your educational experience or work history. Interviewers generally don’t ask you to name your top three skills and to give three examples of each, but by knowing this information cold and having it available in a mental outline, you’ll be able to build specific examples of value to interviewers.

For example, “Writing is one of my strongest skills. As a history major, I loved the extensive research and writing involved in developing my senior thesis, and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of my legal research and writing class. Now I’m looking forward to gaining more practical legal research and writing  experience by working with your lawyers.”

4. Be able to tell the firm, government agency, or public interest organization what you think is special about them. One of the most common complaints of interviewers is that they find most candidates are unable to articulate why they are interested in their particular organization. Law is a service profession, and legal employers want to hire people who are truly engaged in what they do. What about the employer do you value? Its mission? The type of work done at their office?

5. Show your ability to advocate by communicating why you want this job. Employer feedback indicates that students lose out on opportunities because they seem ambivalent or unsure or just not “hungry.” When we relay this to students, they tell us, “But I wouldn’t go on the interview if I didn’t want the job.” Yet in this market, just applying for a job or showing up for an interview isn’t enough to persuade an employer to give you serious consideration. Students must be able to explain why they want to be an extern or a summer associate with a particular employer. And students who are 3Ls must prove that they are a wise investment by showing that they are eager to pursue this opportunity and look forward to contributing from day one.

6. Demonstrate the high quality of your work product by giving examples of on-the-job accomplishments and relating anecdotes about work habits or characteristics employers have praised. Draw examples from both paid and volunteer experiences, offering specific examples of situations in which you’ve demonstrated work traits such as efficiency, follow through, initiative, and ownership.

7. Carefully plan the questions that you want to ask during the interview. One thing you can count on is that an interviewer will ask you (often at the end of an interview but sometimes at the beginning), “What questions do you have for me?” Have at least three questions in mind in advance of the interview. Carefully planned questions communicate your intellectual curiosity and show your sincere interest in the organization and the work you would do for them. The questions should be engaging for the interviewer to answer and should not be questions that can readily be answered by the employer’s website or through cursory research.

8. Anticipate the questions you are most likely to be asked and plan in advance how you plan to answer them. It’s a given that you’ll be asked questions such as “tell me about yourself” or, if you’re interviewing in a city that doesn’t appear on your résumé, “What makes you interested in working in this city?” If there is an area of questioning you’re dreading (a gap in your résumé, grades weaker than you would like), know what your persuasive strategy is going to be to address questions about this area. The confidence you gain from knowing exactly how you’re going to answer the toughest questions will increase your confidence throughout the entire interview, even if the dreaded question is never asked. And, if it is asked, your thoughtful answer will show your advocacy skills

9. Practice your answers out loud. The goal is not to memorize your answers but rather to readily access a mind map of your persuasive points when you’re under stress. Practicing out loud makes you much more likely to remember your examples, stories, and anecdotes. Repeatedly hearing yourself relate the persuasive points will lodge them in your long-term memory, and you’ll be able to insert bits and pieces of the points at appropriate times throughout the interview.

Hearing in your own voice your carefully planned answers will make you feel more sincere and comfortable — and thus make you even more persuasive.

10. Seek the advice of your career services office. You can never get enough feedback; interview skills can always be developed further. Try out your persuasive strategies in a session with a career services professional.

Take advantage of the interview coaching or mock interview programs offered by your career services office, student and alumni groups, and local bar associations.

Lisa Abrams is Director of Career Services at the University of Chicago Law School and is the author of The Official Guide to Legal Specialties.

How to Conduct Great Informational Interviews

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/how-to-conduct-great-informational-interviews/

Informational interviews are a massively underused tool.
They’re useful in a variety of situations including, but not limited to:

• deciding if law school is the right choice for you
• trying to figure out what area of law to focus on
• getting a job for the summer or post-graduation

In reality, “informational interview” is just a fancy way of saying “take someone out for coffee and get to know them.”

It seems complicated and intimidating, but it’s actually pretty easy to conduct great informational interviews!

Let’s get to it!

A Four-Part Guide to Conducting Great Informational Interviews

1. Step One: Identify Your Target Interviewee
2. Step Two: Request an Informational Interview (with Examples!)
3. Step Three: Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview
4. Step Four: What Did You Learn?

Good luck, and have fun!

How to Follow Up Your Job Search - Tips

http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-navigation/how-to-follow-up-job-search.shtml

by Hannah Morgan

5 Situations Where You Can Take Control

Here are instances for you to take ownership of your part of the process. You can have control, power and influence in these situations, that is, as long as you don't miss the opportunities.

How to follow up when:

1. Some One Gives You a Name
 

2. Some One Gives You a Job Lead
 

3. You See or Hear of a Job


4. You Apply for a Job


5. You Interview for a Job






Hannah Morgan is a job search strategist and founder of CareerSherpa.net. Feel free to connect with Hannah on Twitter (@careersherpa) and Facebook (Career Sherpa).

Kicking It Into High Gear: Job Searching After the Bar

http://pslawnet.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/kicking-it-into-high-gear-job-searching-after-the-bar/

By: Maria Hibbard and Steve Grumm
Congratulations! You’re done with the bar! Your three years of hard work, countless hours in the library, and thousands of pages of reading have paid off. Now that you can officially set aside BarBri books and study plans, it’s time take a deep breath and focus on your job search in order to find your next step. We have some leads to highlight:

• Job Search Fundamentals: Even though you may think you know how to write an awesome cover letter and focus your resume, it never hurts to review the basics. Besides actually earning your J.D., what has changed on your resume since your last internship? How does your previous work reflect your skills and areas of interest? Visit our Job Search Fundamentals page for advice on cover letters, interviewing, and resume development. Also, check out this two-part public interest job search webinar, with Part I focusing on cover letter and resume drafting, and Part II focusing on interviewing and networking. (The webinar was geared toward the summer job search, but the main principles still apply to the postgrad search.) Oh, and speaking of networking…
• Using your network:Remember to “water the plants!” Reconnecting with previous employers – even from 1L summer or before law school – could potentially lead to conversations about available positions. If an employer has seen your work before, you immediately have a step ahead in the hunt for permanent employment.
  • Previous employers are not the only people it may be worth getting in touch with again – professors whose classes you’ve enjoyed or did well in or attorneys with whom you may have done volunteering also may be open to talking with you about your job search. Continuing the conversation with people you’ve connected with in the past – and maintaining these relationships – could lead to potential recommendations or referrals in the future.
  • Government Positions:Check out PSLawNet’s Government Careers page for more information on federal, state, and local government positions. With the advent of the Obama administration’s hiring reform, the new Pathways Program promises increased transparency for entry level hiring. Now, you are eligible to apply for the Presidential Management Fellowship Program and for Pathways Recent Graduates positions for up to two years after receiving your degree. Keep checking PSLawNet and USAJobs for opportunities for recent graduates.
  • Fellowships: One way many non-profit and legal aid organizations recruit entry-level is through post-graduate fellowships. You may think it’s too late to apply for fellowships – although many organizations recruit for fellows a year in advance, quite a few others recruit during the summer for positions starting that fall. Check out PSLawNet’s Postgraduate Fellowships page for more information. Although many “Sponsoring” organization deadlines may have already passed, running a “Fellowship – Legal” search on PSLawNet’s job search page can help you find relevant organization – based fellowships. You’re also eligible to apply for Equal Justice Works fellowships even after law school graduation.
  • Equal Justice Corps/Americorps Positions: One fellowship program worth highlighting is the EJW/Americorps program. All of these positions are based at civil legal aid organizations, and these 1-2 year placements recruit annually in the summer for positions starting that fall. Running a search on PSLawNet for “EJW/Americorps” or visiting EJW’s Americorps page will help you learn more about these positions.
  • Read for fun! Amidst all of this job searching, don’t forget – you finally don’t have to read bar review material! Take a look at our Summer Reading List for some suggestions on relevant – and fun! – reading. Who knows – maybe one of your interviewers will have read some of the same books.

Rock Your On Campus Interviews

http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/law-student-summer-associate-oci-on-campus-interview-questions-tips/

By Alison

Congratulations, you’ve got an on campus interview! Let’s get you prepared.

Common Summer Associate Interview Questions

The Easy Questions 

How to Organize Your Thoughts on a Bunch of Indistinguishable Firms

What About the Tough Questions?

The Most Important Question of All

Federal Government Pathways Program Info

In December 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order 13562 to modernize the internship, recent graduate and Presidential Management Fellowships (PMF) programs (collectively known as Pathways Programs).  Regulations went into effect on July 10, 2012.

·         Internship opportunities will start to be posted on www.USAJobs.gov/studentjobs.  In order to qualify, students must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis and meet other requirements for the two types of internships: (1) temporary (not to exceed one year; no conversion potential); and (2) Non-temporary (more than a year with conversion potential). For more information, visit the OPM website at http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/Pathways/index.aspx

·         Opportunities for recent graduates will also start to be posted on www.USAJobs.gov/studentjobs.  In order to qualify, you must be a graduate with an associates (AA) degree or higher, within the previous two years, except (1) veterans precluded from applying due to military service receive up to six years; and (2) for individuals who graduated on or after December 27, 2010 and before July 10, 2012, the two-year eligibility period begins on July 10, 2010.  The positions are one-year duration with conversion potential and require an agreement, career development, and individual development plan (IDP), among other requirements. 

·         Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) requires a graduate or professional degree within the previous two years. Starting this year, there is a self-nomination process; applicants are no longer required to have a school sponsor.  The positions are two-year duration with conversion potential and require an agreement, rotational assignments, and individual development plan (IDP), among other requirements.  Application period opens and closes quickly, usually in early September. For more information, visit http://www.pmf.gov/

Job interviews: 5 ways to leave a good impression

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57462613/job-interviews-5-ways-to-leave-a-good-impression/?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

By Amy Levin-Epstein

(iStockphoto.com)

There are few things that feel better than walking out of a job interview you think you've nailed. But just because you've answered the last question doesn't mean the evaluation process is over. From the time you stand up, to the time you get into the elevator, leave the building or walk to your car, you're still under review. Previously, we discussed things to do at a job interview before you even sit down. Here are five things to do after you stand up. They just might be as important as the Q&A itself.

Engage in conversation


Keep your chin up


Hold your tongue


Ask for the next step


Thank the receptionist or assistant