What to Do While Awaiting Bar Results

Courtney Brown 
Graduate Fellow 
Law Career Development 

     It has been almost two months since law school graduates took the July 2016 bar exam. Some of you may be wondering what you can do during this waiting time to help you get a job when you pass the bar exam. The time while you are waiting for results is time you should use to increase your chances of getting the job when you pass the bar, and below are some ways you can be using the next month and a half.

1) Bridge Fellowship 

     This is a great time to look for volunteer opportunities in the community no matter where you are currently living. Volunteering will allow you to gain valuable practical experience and continue to improve your skills. This is also a great way to meet new attorneys that can be references for future jobs, and get experience in different areas of law. Also by doing this, you are helping organizations and populations that need the help and usually do not have the necessary resources.
     As a recent graduate myself, I understand that volunteering as we struggle to pay our bills does not sound like a good option. However, GGU tries to help with the financial difficulties that recent graduates face while taking on volunteer opportunities by providing Bridge Fellowships. The Bridge Fellowship program supports recent graduates in making a successful transition into the legal profession by providing them with a stipend for the volunteer work they do. If you are interested in the program and want more information, make an appointment at LCD prior to the next application deadline on October 15th.

2) Networking and Informational Interviews

     Use the extra time you now have to set up informational interviews with lawyers, mentors, and alumni that you didn’t have time to meet with before. These interviews may help you narrow down specific job possibilities that you did not think about during law school. Interviews also allow you to learn more about the field you think you want to enter after you pass the bar.
     Now is also a great time to become involved with local bar associations. These groups provide opportunities to meet lawyers, find mentors, and learn more about areas of law that may be of interest to you.
     For more tips on networking and informational interviews, visit the LDC Blog.

3) Career Kickstart Bootcamp Webinar

     GGU is giving new graduates a great opportunity to take part in a FREE webinar by Susanne Aronowitz. This weekly webinar series will be airing Mondays from noon to 1 PM PST from October 10th to November 14th. The program will give you the tools to conduct a job search, develop a professional network, and help employers recognize the unique value you have to offer. For more information and to sign up, please visit the webinar sign-up form. Spots are limited!

4) Polish Your Resume and Online Profiles

     You never know when the perfect opportunity is going to show itself. So make sure you are spending the time now updating your resume so that includes recent job experience, awards, and leadership experience. Having a resume that is polished means that when an opportunity presents itself you will be ready to apply and send in application materials that you are confident about.
     Along with updating your resume, make sure you are also updating your online profiles, such as LinkedIn. Make sure you have a proper headshot and that it includes all recent work experience. A potential employer could be pulling up your information without you realizing it, and having your profile updated could assist you in getting the job you want. For more tips on updating your LinkedIn profile, visit these blog posts.

5) Enjoy This Time!

     Although job searching is very important, especially now that the legal field is saturated, it is also important to enjoy this time before becoming a lawyer. You most likely will never have another time in your life where you have the free time you do while waiting for bar exam results. Now is the time to pick up a new hobby that you didn’t have time to do when you were in law school. Take a cooking class, teach yourself how to knit, or do projects around the house or apartment that you have been putting off. This is also a great time to spend time with friends and family you have neglected the last three years, and especially neglected this summer.