GGU School of Law|Law Career Development

Transitioning from Law Student to Lawyer

by Melissa Smart (GGU JD 2012)
LCS Graduate Fellow

Now that law school is over, it's time to transition from your previous role as student, to your current role as (soon-to-be) lawyer.  The transition is not always simple, as you've spent the last 3+ years presenting yourself as a student and tailoring your employment materials to highlight your successes as a student.  So, here are some practical tips on how to make the transition a smooth one.

Recognize Employer Expectations

Employers expect attorneys to be professional members of the team who can make immediate, independent contributions.  As a law student, it was appropriate to present yourself as an eager student ready to learn about the law and support the attorneys in the office.  As a graduate it is important to present yourself as a capable member who will contribute to the organization's goals, clients, and success.

Strengthen Your Cover Letter and Resume

Understanding an employer's expectations, it is now time to strengthen your materials to show that you can hit the ground running.  As a law student, you may have emphasized your general abilities to conduct legal research and writing, or your previous experience supporting other attorneys in an office.  Now is the time to transition from the role as "supporter," to the role as "doer."  Draft your cover letter using concrete examples of the practical skills you possess to show the employer that you are prepared and ready to be an independent contributor.

You can strengthen your resume by replacing any supportive verbs (assist, support, help, observe) with strong action verbs (manage, draft, determine, handle, analyze) to show that you have experience making substantive contributions.  List your professional organization affiliations on your resume, as well as your bar admission once you receive it, to communicate to employers that you are a committed legal professional.  Finally, emphasize your legal experiences on your resume rather than non-legal experiences.

Present Yourself as a Lawyer

Detaching from student status can cause some anxiety because it is such a familiar zone.  However, it is important to not repeatedly tether your experiences to law school.  Doing so just reminds the employer that you don't have experience as a lawyer yet.  Don't mislead the employer, but you needn't repeat that you are a recent graduate or post-bar law clerk.  Instead, focus attention around your experiences and especially any hands-on legal work that you have done.  Also, once admitted to the Bar, refer to yourself as a lawyer or attorney - you've earned it!

Note: Ideas for this article were drawn from "Present Yourself Like a Lawyer, Not a Student" by Erin Binns (American Bar Association, Student Lawyer, March 2011).