The Top 5 Keys to Law Job Hunting
As part of our law school & careers content, Charles R. Toy, Associate Dean of Career and Professional Development, Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School, here lists 5 top tips for job hunting, whether you’re a student who has just qualified, or a lawyer looking to take the leap to another line of work or firm.
There is more than one trail to the top of a mountain. The same is true of your job search. Regardless of the number of ways to achieve a goal, there are consistent keys to success. For law students, these are the five principle keys for job hunting.
Know Thyself. It is important to set defined career goals. A job hunt is meaningless without a known target – how will you know where to aim? First, do a self-assessment that includes reflective soul-searching. What are your interests, principles, ethics, preferred employment settings, financial requirements, geographical constraints, and work/life balance requisites? Next, identify which of your unique characteristics and attributes influence what you are passionate about – what areas of law are compatible to those traits – where will you thrive? Assess your personality traits to identify the type of work place culture that brings out the best in you and fosters your passion for the law. These considerations will lead you to your career goals.
Be Purposeful. With defined career goals, you can focus your job search. Direct your energies to purposeful actions that will result in achieving your goal. You learned research methods in law school. You can use those skills for your own benefit and find employers who hire for the positions you are seeking. If you are still in law school, the results of this research may indicate what co-curricular activities or elective courses you should pursue. Continually update all your marketing tools – resume, cover letter, writing samples, and social media accounts. Make sure they highlight the skills needed for the positions you seek. Always tailor your application materials and LinkedIn profile to emphasize skills and attributes that are important for the job you seek. Enroll in e-mail job alerts so you know the moment when opportunities are posted in your desired field. USAJOBS.gov and the ABA Legal Career Central are examples of sites that will notify you by email of new job postings that match your search preferences. Cast a wide net, but do so purposefully.
Seek Help. Your law school career services office is a great place to start in seeking assistance. Use the knowledge, resources and contacts that career counselors have gained through years of experience. Tap their networks. A systematic and strategic networking plan works. Expand your own network by asking your contacts to introduce you to attorneys in their network. Be specific and direct in approaching people for help. If you do not have a contact within your desired practice area or within a particular law firm, seek out an informational interview. The object is to meet attorneys who can provide current insight to their practice area, tell you about a job lead, or introduce you to someone who can.
Remain Flexible. Do not limit your job hunt only to the direct paths to your ultimate target. Indirect pipelines can also lead you to your career goal. Apply for positions where you will acquire significant t skills transferable to your ultimate career goal. For example, a judicial law clerk position is a great choice useful for any career path. Or, consider volunteering with a legal aid clinic where you can sharpen your inter-personal skills. Your resume and online presence are not static. Your legal experiences in law school should not be either. If you tailor your job hunt to opportunities that expose you to basic foundational skills – legal research, drafting pleadings, preparing transactional documents – you will end up with a competitive skill set.
Be Persistent. “Never, never, never give up” is one of Winston Churchill’s famous quotes. Another is, “Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.” Continuous effort pays off. This is where you can be original and creative in your approach. Be engaged in activities that demonstrate you want a desired job. Being active in an ABA or state bar subject-matter section is essential. You will meet attorneys in your desired field of practice and keep updated on trends and cases. Contribute an article to the section publication or create informative and positive content on a section listserve. Drafting a timely analysis of new legislation or court decisions in your practice area will highlight your legal acumen and will help those who you seek to hire to find you right away. Sweat equity will get you noticed.
