If you’re reading this, you’ve likely completed law school, or are close to achieving the milestone. Either way, congratulations! You’ve worked hard, from getting into law school in the first place to getting through it successfully. Now, you need a job, after all not only did you work hard, you probably spent a lot of money getting to this point. Here are some tips to help you get your first job after law school and how to take the first step on the pathway to success.
Apply, Apply, Apply
You can’t get a job if you don’t apply. You can’t be selective without any job offers. The bottom line is – the more positions you apply to, the more opportunities you will have. The more opportunities you have, the more potential interviews you will have scheduled: the more interviews, the more possible job offers. With multiple job offers, you can be selective. And so, apply, apply, apply to every opening, and use your resources to uncover positions that may not be advertised. Here are the top best job search engine resources:
Don’t Be Afraid to Relocate
You may need to relocate to find a job. Flexibility is key. Apply to every opening, everywhere. Don’t limit yourself to a single geographic location where you think you’d like to practice law. Look for positions where the jobs are – oversized metropolises, small towns, and everywhere in between. The goal is to get a job and to do that you may need to relocate to where there are open job positions.
Getting a job means gaining much-needed experience and growing a solid reputation on which you can build future success. Potential jobs can be located across the county or the globe and the opportunities are endless. A quick search on Indeed or LinkedIn will show that relocating could be a great asset for you when considering new job opportunities.
Use Your Network, Your Resources, and Career Services
Don’t utilize just a single resource in your job search, use every avenue available to you. Begin your law career aspirations by:
Networking
Network the people you know, know people, and most people who know people like to help people they know. It’s like the old saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” so network continuously. Many law firms hire through referrals, so don’t underestimate the power of networking.
As a new law school graduate, you are now a part of the university’s alumni network. Alumni can access the network to ask for career information or job search advice from other alumni. College alumni networks are an excellent way to make contacts in one’s field or to get help starting on a new career path.
Career Services
Most colleges and universities have a career services center, even for alumni. You may be surprised at what they have to offer. Depending on your situation, you may even be able to ask your guidance counselor or a professor about job opportunities on campus. They may even be able to connect you with someone in your line of work.
Talk to your career counselor at your law school, they can be an outstanding resource and source of support.
A college’s career services or alumni affairs office may also hold events for members of the network so graduates can network in person. They organize socials, send out newsletters, conduct fundraising, and create a window of opportunity for networking and business relationships.
Conversely, college alumni networks are also available as a mentoring directory for current students. Many schools allow undergraduates or those looking for advice from a professional to contact alumni through a portal in order to gain insight into postgraduate life or career advice.
Resources
Along with networking and university career services, you should be using every resource available to you. Whether you need to prepare for interviews, get professional help with your resume, or ask for advice. The more resources you utilize and incorporate into your career search, the better.
Resource sites and tools like:
Stay Positive & Be Prepared
While in law school it is easy to become an idealist with negative tendencies. You need to leave that all behind as you begin your job search. Be excited about your job prospects, whether you are interviewing with a small firm or a large one. Show your enthusiasm for every job. Make a good first impression on everyone you meet during the interview process, regardless of their position. Get yourself together before you arrive – to be dressed for success and have all the needed paperwork in hand and organized – simply stated, be prepared!
Now Go Out and Get Your Dream Job
Take all of these valuable tips, resources, and advice with you on your career search! Legal firms are ready to hear what you have to bring to their office. Working for California law firms like The Barnes Firm can take your career aspirations to the next level. To view available job positions and apply, contact us today.
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