Tag Archives: Alumni

Alumni

Consider a Bankruptcy Practice

Due to the current market conditions, bankruptcy is one of the hottest legal fields in our nation and is continuing to grow.  Bankruptcy lawyers represent creditors and debtors in financial restructurings, workouts, and bankruptcy cases, therefore the attorney must know the bankruptcy code as well as understanding mergers and acquistitions, corporate and securities, real estate, employment law and regulatory practice.

Bankruptcy is really a hybrid between litigation and transactional practice, so the practitioner should be skilled in both drafting documents as well as being able to argue them successfully.  Writing skills are a necessity for drafting the pleadings, motions, and other documents the bankruptcy attorney will use daily.  Because bankruptcy law is economy driven, now is a great time to find your opportunity in this field.

Interviewers’ Pet Peeves

So, you’ve landed an interview for a position and you want to be prepared.  Make sure, then, to avoid things that may jeopardize your chances. 

1.  Showing up late.  If being late is unavoidable, make sure you call and explain the reason.  Do not, though, run behind due to your lack of planning–it implies you will not be able to make deadlines and is unacceptable to employers.  Plan ahead, figure out where the interview is located and get an early start.

2.  Lack of preparation.  This is the single biggest complaint of interviewers and indicates to them that you may not be ready for the responsibillities of the position.  Make sure you have copies of your resume, have researched the position and the firm, and are dressed appropriately.

3.  Dressing inappropriately or wearing too much perfume/cologne.  Please consult the Career Services Handbook for tips.

4.  The inability to answer multiple questions or failing to answer the question asked.  This is where preparation comes into play–if you have researched and prepared some answers in advance to possible questions, you will not be caught off guard.  If you don’t know the answer, say so, and let them know that you will find out the answer.  With regard to failing to answer the question asked–practice your listening skills and during an interview directly answer the question asked, do not go off on tangents.

5.  Talking too much.  While you are probably nervous, answer the question at hand and then stop unless encouraged by the interviewer to go on.

6.  Lack of eye contact.  Again, everyone understands you are nervous, by you must greet the interviewer with a handshake, a smile, and eye contact.  This eye contact should continue for the duration of the interview.  Practice if you have to.

7.  Not having questions ready to ask the interviewer.  Nothing says lack of interest more than you not having a few well thought out questions ready to ask your interviewer.

Upcoming Webinar

This Thursday, December 20th from 1pm-2pm (EST), the Career Services Department’s Ray Adams will present “Electronic Job Searches, Postings and More!”  This will be the last installment of the 2012 Alumni Webinar series and will focus on different resources you can use in your job search.  The webinar will cover everything from writing firms to job posting websites.  You can register here.

Does Your Resume Need An Update?

Resumes are often a law firm’s first glimpse of you, so it is important to make a great first impression!  For example, it is a myth that your resume must include every single job experience you’ve ever had.  A resume is your opportunity to highlight experiences that are relevant to the job to which you are applying.  As such, you should carefully select jobs which were meaningful and which reflect the skills and abilities needed to perform the position you are seeking.  Including too many experiences can overshadow the more important ones.  Ask yourself what the experience demonstrates about you and whether it is necessary for this position.

Strategic Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

Legal Support Personnel.com has published a list of 10 questions you can ask a possible employer at the end of your interview.  There most likely will not be time to make too many inquiries, but you can utilize these to come up with some of your own.  For example:  You could ask–

“How would you describe the individuals who are successful in this position? What qualities or characteristics distinguish those individuals?”  or

“What are the greatest challenges of this position?”  or even

“At this point, do you have any concerns as to whether I would be a suitable fit for this position? If so, I would like to provide you with additional information that I hope would eliminate any doubt in your mind as to whether I would be an appropriate match for this position. I firmly believe that I am a strong fit and could make a valuable contribution to your team.”

To see the list in its entirety, Click here.

Need Legal Experience?

 

 Sally Kane writing for About.com has outlined ways to get legal experience during your law studies, or while you are looking for a permanent position upon graduation. 

 Internships, externships and clinics are a wonderful way to get your feet wet in the legal profession and this experiential learning necessity is much touted by Coastal and the Career Services Department alike.  Volunteer positions, both during and after law school, are also great ways to obtain quality experience and the non-profits, public interest organizations and legal aid offices would appreciate the help with tasks that really make a difference in the lives of people and the community.  While still in school, extracurricular activities like moot court, writing competitions, writing clinics and more hone your skills that may help you get your foot in the door of legal employers.  The more experience you gain during law school can only better prepare you for your practice in the future. 

Part-time legal jobs, like file clerks, court filers, data entry clerks and the like may allow you to work in the legal field, or in a particular firm you like until they will consider you for an associate position, if, for example, you are waiting for bar results, or they don’t have an opening.  Temping is another method where you may be placed in short-term assignments through a legal staffing agency.  Temping is a great way, also, to explore a particular firm and vice versa.  Some firms hire temporary employees to recruit permanent staff by testing them out on a trial basis, so keep that option in mind.

Contract jobs are becoming more plentiful in this market as law firms seek ways to reduce costs.  In a contract job, you are not considered an “employee” of the firm, but are an independent contractor hired to work on a contract basis.  Sometimes, these positions may work as a stepping stone to full-time permanent employment with the firm.

Research Your Target Market

One of the biggest mistakes law students make when conducting their job search is the failure to research their selected legal market.  While there may be many factors that influence where you want to practice, a significant factor should be whether there are opportunities there in the legal field.  Unfortunately, however, students often blindly select locales without ever considering what the local job market is like or whether the geographic location is already saturated with attorneys. 

To avoid this mistake, you must research your potential markets.  One of the best ways to do this is through informational meetings with local practitioners and judges, who are often finely tuned in to the local market.  In addition, you might contact the state’s bar association to request any demographics or surveys regarding hiring trends or average salaries. 

Researching the market should be one of the first things you do before you even commit to a state’s bar exam, so remember to start early.  Make an appointment with a Career Counselor in the Career Services Department to develop your individualized market research plan and ensure that you select the locale with the most potential, which can affect the time it takes to find a job, how hard you have to work for it, and what your compensation will be.

Networking in Smaller Gatherings

Networking is often most effective when you are at a smaller event .  Focus on opportunities that provide more intimate interaction with those attending, rather than huge receptions where it is difficult to establish a one-on-one connection with someone else.  The target attorney is more likely to remember you and to spend time chatting with you if you are only one of ten people attending an event, rather than 1,000 at a large reception.  Look for small gatherings sponsored by bar associations, including section breakfasts, small group CLE’s, and sports activities.  Moreover, people are often more relaxed and casual in small groups, so both you and your targets will be more comfortable and likely to make a real connection.

Create the Perfect Cover Letter

A cover letter is an important tool in your job hunt.  While a resume lists your education, experience and skills, it may not convey if you are a good fit for the law firm or organization.  That’s where your cover letter comes in–it helps the employer get a full picture of you, but it’s important to get it right!

1.  Tailor each cover letter to the firm or organization for the specific position you want.  Form letters (yes, employers can usually detect if it is a form letter) may eliminate you from consideration.

2.  Address your letter to the hiring partner or other designated person.  If you don’t know who that is–find out by contacting the firm.  Never, ever write “to whom it may concern”.

3.  Sell yourself.  This is your chance to let the firm know YOU are the right person for the job.

4.  It can be used as an opportunity to explain gaps in your employment, a return to school, staying home to raise a family or illness.

5.  Research the firm and possibly work in details like referencing a published case tried by the firm to give yourself an edge.  Showing you’ve done your homework will show that you are enthusiastic about this position.

6.  Check it and then double check.  Ensure there are no mistakes, whether they be spelling, grammatical, or factual, and make sure you’ve signed the letter.

7.  Use the right format.  If you have questions in this regard, please consult the Career Services Handbook in the Application Materials section, or make an appointment with one of our counselors through Symplicity.