On-campus Interviews (OCI) areproving to be the bane of many a rising 2L as well as for those 3Ls still on the prowl. As a matter of fact, us law students are a bit spoiled. Most of us in undergrad or other grad schools would consider ourselved wildly fortunate to have gainful employ well before we enter our last semester in school. But us 3Ls have gotten mighty used to the ways of old.
As a veteran twice wounded by the firing guns of the dot-bomb debacle of the early 2000’s, I look at this current legal employment morass and say, ‘oh here we go again.’ So what’s a 2L looking for a summer job or a 3L looking for any job to do?
Well here’s a few lessons from someone (i.e. me) that’s seen the ugly side of a job hunt and has the scars to prove it:
1. Resume’s, e-mails, etc.:
Obviously before you get on the hunt, arm yourself with a well written, proof-read resume and a non-red flag inducing email address (e.g. john.doe@gmail.com rather than FrankTheTank@gmail.com ). When I was job hunting I would send my resume to my sister, my best friend, whoever was willing to look at it and check for errors and readability. Good resumes might not get you anywhere but bad resumes send you to the trash can.
2. Tell people you’re on the hunt:
Most people don’t get jobs from job boards or recruiting fairs or anything of the like, they get it through their network. Now before you imagine a world of high-priced attorneys hob-nobing over whiskey sours at ‘the club’, consider that your Uncle Bob who owns a ball-point pen distributorship probably has a lawyer he uses. He probably has a bunch of people he knows that are lawyers that might be willing to talk to you if your Uncle Bob puts in a good word. If you’re already in church praying for some greenbacks, turn to your neighbors and your pastor – somebody knows somebody, I guarantee it.
3. Unpaid internships, clerkships etc.
When I worked at the Federal Courthouse, I didn’t get paid but I probably should have been paying them because I got great feedback with regard to my writing skills, got to meet a boat-load of top-notch legal professionals and got to put on my resume that I worked for one of the nicest judges this side of the Mississippi. Unpaid judicial internships during Fall and Spring are a lot of work but my friend that prodded me on to do one, was right when she said “it’ll be the best thing you could ever do for your legal career”. A good friend of mine volunteered his weekends working with the local bar association’s volunteer lawyer service. Lawyers who are volunteering their time are already open to the idea of helping somebody out. Go out there, volunteer and get your good karma going.
4. Professorial Brown-nosing is a craft I tell you
Law students have access to one of the richest legal resources out there and they’re usually obligated to talk to you -especially if you’re taking their classes. Law school professors know TONS of lawyers. Hundreds pass through their classrooms every year, not to mention the legion that consult with them and listen to them at CLEs and the like. I got one of my summer associate positions this past summer just by asking a professor I took a class with, if he knew of any firm that did a certain kind of legal work and if he could refer me to them. He said he’d make a few phone calls and the next week I had an interview and the week after I had a summer position. Now we all might not be so lucky but if you don’t engage your professors and they don’t know who you are, you’re already missing out and getting a job is the least of your worries.
5. Add some feathers to your legal wig errr cap.
Anything that makes you special, gives you an area of expertise or plays to your strengths should be highlighted, strengthened and brought to the forefront. If you spent time with the Peace Corps your senior year of college in Algeria, you might want to make it known that you’re familiar with North African tradition and can be of help when a firm’s client wants to construct a pipeline there. Someone who played cello for the philharmonic can go a long way in getting that non-profit but high profile theater coalition signed up as a client. As my dear Father would say, “if you’ve got it, flaunt it!”
Hopefully these ideas will get you started and get me started back on regular blogging. My 1L mentor-group seems to be keen on most of what I say so I suppose I should spread the light.
Until next time dear readers….I hope the two of you had a good summer!
