LCS Graduate Fellow
Up until now, many of us have presented ourselves as eager law students, ready and willing to provide support to employers in exchange for lessons in the tools of the trade (and often little else, save maybe a meager stipend). However, as graduation fades into the past, we must present ourselves in a way that makes us stand out in a post-graduate job search. Present Yourself Like a Lawyer, Not a Student, by Erin Binns, outlines strategies to define yourself as a ready-to-practice lawyer on your resume, in your cover letters and during interviews. The following are some of her tips:
Resumes
- Once you are admitted to practice, make certain to include a statement of your bar admission on your resume. Prior to being admitted, you can note the state and date for which you sat for the exam and the fact that results are pending.
- Affiliate with professional organizations and add them to your resume.
- Clean house on experiences and accomplishments that pre-date law school. An emphasis on undergrad and nonprofessional experiences highlights your lack of legal experience.
Cover Letters
- Ditch language that singularly touts your writing and research skills. Although these serve as a valuable foundation, employers want to hire someone with diverse, practical skills.
- Highlight your capacity to do rather than to support.
- Draft cover letters with a focus on your experience and skills rather than the fact that you obtained these skills as a student.
Interviews
- Be ready to discuss your business skills and savvy if applying for law firm positions. The business of law is often ignored in law school, but is critical to success as a for-profit lawyer. Even those of us without a background in business can highlight our “people skills” as an advantage.
- Articulate an interest in a long-term relationship with the employer.
How Do I Compete Against People with Experience?
- Employers often consider a range of experience levels when hiring. Unless you know the employer wants someone with zero years of experience, you’re not helping yourself by reminding the employer you haven’t practiced yet.
- Employers look beyond your immediate capacity to do the work when hiring you as a permanent employee. Employers consider the following characteristics as important traits of new lawyers: strong moral character; intellect; good judgment; work ethic; potential to develop clients; evidence of practical legal skills; and enthusiasm.
