Archives for the Month of November 2006 on CSO Blog
The Guerrilla Tactics Book We Keep Referring To...
You have probably heard us mention Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, by Case School of Law alum Kimm Alayne Walton as a great resource. It is available in the CSO for you to peruse in the office, or sign out to borrow for a week or two. It provides step-by-step advice on how to get the "perfect" job, or at least something close to perfect.
Since many of us struggle to write effective cover letters, here is Kimm Walton's advice on how to write the ever-so-challenging second paragraph of your letter:
1. Don't just repeat what is on your resume.
2. Don't just list what you are good at or make assertions about yourself without backing them up with examples.
3. Make sure the reader can tell you've researched the employer.
4. Show interest -- and of course connections if you have them -- in the city in which the employer is located.
5. Employers want to know there is a real person behind the application. You aren't a law clerk or attorney robot -- they want your personality to come through, so they know how you'll "fit" with them. If you are having trouble with how to get this across, take a look at your law school application essays.
(pages 186-193)
So, you get the idea -- this is a great resource! It is required reading for new CSO counselors, and we recommend it to you as well.
Don't Miss the Last Two Days for the Resume Table!
Have questions about your resume or cover letter? Get them answered by a CSO counselor at the Resume Table!
Today and tomorrow from 12:00- 1:00 pm in the Upper Rotunda
Looking for a Federal Job?
If you are interested in a federal career, make plans to review a copy of The Student's Federal Career Guide, 10 Steps to Find and Win Top Government Jobs and Internships, by Kathryn Kraemer Troutman and Emily K. Troutman. The book contains tips on finding job openings and internships, writing a federal resume and supporting documents, and timing and strategy for effective follow up on applications. Also included with the book is a CD with sample federal application components including KSA's and cover letters. The Federal Career Guide is available for you to borrow in the CSO Resource Room along with many other government job resources.
Networking & Informational Interviewing
Questions to Ask in an Informational Interview
• I know that you graduated from Case but could you tell me a little bit more about your background?
• How did you decide on the practice area that you are in now?
• What did you do during the summers in law school and would you recommend the same experiences to me?
• What classes did you find most useful or the least useful in preparing for the bar exam?
• Can you tell me more about what you do on a daily basis?
• What is the most interesting project you have worked on lately?
• What do you find most challenging about your work?
• What do you find most rewarding about your work?
• As someone who is new to the legal field, can you tell me about the legal market here in Cleveland?
• If I am interested in a career similar to yours do you have any specific advice for me?
Long Distance Searches/ Interviews
• I know that you graduated from Case but could you tell me a little bit more about how you got from Cleveland to this city?
• How did you find the job market when you relocated to this city?
• How is the current legal market in this state and this city?
• As a student who has been studying in Ohio, do you have any advice regarding classes I should be taking to prepare for the bar exam in this state?
• If I am committed to relocating to this city after graduation do you have any specific advice for me?
Always ask “is there anyone else that you think I should talk to?”
Always thank the contact for their time.
After the Interview
• Always send thank you notes
• Always follow up with your contacts
• Debrief yourself – keep note cards with the name & contact information of each contact including when and how you met, anything personal or relevant they mentioned (interests, activities, spouse, children, etc.)
- Use these notes to re-initiate contacts that may have cooled or to keep in touch as your job search progresses. Send articles, point of conferences, CLEs, etc.
Women of Color & Large Law Firms
The American Bar Association has just released a report, Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms, based on a two-year study by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. The ABA's study examines what happens between year one, when women of color enter the firm, and year five -- which is often when women of color leave their firms. Among the findings: nearly half of the women of color surveyed reported that they experienced overt racism or received demeaning comments; 44% of women of color said they were denied assignments to work on financially significant cases; and almost two-thirds said they were excluded from networking opportunities, both formal and informal. Lack of effective mentoring was cited as a major concern for women of color, and high attrition rates create a vicious cycle in this regard (few mentors are one reason women of color leave). As part of the report, the ABA makes several recommendations to help reverse the trend. Information about this report should be available at www.abanet.org in the near future.
Interested in the NYC & San Francisco Markets?
Interested in learning more about the legal markets in New York City and the San Francisco Bay area from an alumnus who has worked in both markets? Please join alumnus David Levine (1998) for a video conference on Tuesday, November 28th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. After practicing for 7 years in New York City in both the public and private sector, Mr. Levine is now a Fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School. During the video conference Mr. Levine will discuss the job markets in New York City and the Bay Area, give advice on job search strategies for both markets, and answer your questions.
If you are interested in attending this session, you will need to RSVP through Symplicity. Simply log on to Symplicity, click on the Events tab, click on the David Levine Video Conference, and click RSVP. This will be a first come first serve event with limited space so RSVP early! The location of the session will be announced soon.
If you have any questions please contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO.
Making the Most of Your Winter Break
When thinking of Winter Break the first thing that comes to mind right now is probably finding time to sleep. However, once you have caught up on your sleep, there are several things you can do over break to enhance your job search. Your goal should be to get to know the legal landscape and make connections in your target market.
First, find alumni to give you advice and help. (Ask the CSO for alumni lists and/or run a search at www.martindale.com.) Contact alumni by email, phone or letter to set up informational interviews. During these interviews you can ask about their practice area or geographic location. You should even consider asking alums if you can shadow them for a day or two to get an better idea of what their practice entails.
Next, consider attending a local bar association event. This time of year there will be holiday events and lots of CLE’s that you could attend. What better way to find yourself in a room full of lawyers to network with! Students can often attend bar association events for little or no charge.
Also, be sure to tell everyone you know you are looking for a job. Even if you don’t know members of the legal community directly, other people will. For example, your hairdresser and local barrista have lots of other clients besides you and some of them are bound to be lawyers.
Finally, consider making an appointment with a CSO counselor over break. We are in the office and available for in-person or phone appointments.
A Few Words About CSO-Sponsored Workshops
Greetings. Over the summer, the CSO spent time thinking about how to make its workshops, both mandatory and voluntary, more interesting for you! Among the changes we implemented were smaller sessions for mandatory workshops to make them more interactive and less about us “lecturing” to you; theme weeks for various areas of the law (more to come in the spring semester); more food, since most sessions occur over the lunch hour; and some raffles. We feel that the changes have been positive, and hope you do as well.
However, we would like to comment on a couple of disturbing trends we have seen this semester. Basically, this comes down to asking students to refrain from the following:
1. Please do not assault CSO staff members for leftover food (usually pizza), and do not take food if you do not attend the workshop. We purchase food for specific events, and do our best to order the right amount for the projected number of attendees. If there are leftovers, we usually set them out – if they are set out for public consumption, then you may take them. This food is paid for by the CSO’s budget, and is intended to be consumed by the students and workshop participants. We know that school is expensive, but...we’re sure you understand. Thank you.
2. If you decide to attend a workshop, please plan to stay for the full hour UNLESS you really have somewhere else you need to be (and if that is the case, sit by the door so your exit is not so disruptive). The fact that students are walking out is especially troubling during the attorney panels. Securing speakers for panel discussions is difficult and very time-consuming (we contact two, three or four times as many potential speakers as actually say “yes”) and while the attorneys enjoy participating in these events it takes at least a couple of hours out of their day. It is disrespectful and disruptive to see people walk out, and some speakers may decide not to volunteer their valuable time again. Again, thank you.
Greetings from the World of Employer Development
Over the past few days, I have met with over a dozen employers in both Seattle and Portland and I was intrigued to hear their advice with regards to how someone without any ties to the area can break into the area. Here are a few examples:
“ We need someone to show a genuine interest in the area. If a student flies out here on their own dime to visit, and wants to sit down with us and learn about the firm and the city, we will be happy to do so. If a student is will to show this kind of commitment to us and the city, we will feel much more comfortable about extending an offer.”
“ When I go to the hiring committee with an applicant that doesn’t have ties to the area, I really have to sell it to the committee and prove to them that the candidate is not going to spend 2 years here, then leave. Tell your students to sign up for the bar, come out here and visit the city and make their reasons for coming out here absolutely clear in their cover letters.”
“ Of course we would love to see a tie to the region, but the lack of tie is not a deal breaker. If they explain their reasons for why they want to come out here in their cover letter and they come out and visit; we will see the commitment to the area that we are looking for.”
Notice a couple of recurring themes here? If you have any questions, I urge you to speak with a career counselor here at the CSO.
Using Your Winter Break to Your Advantage!
Wondering How to be Proactive in Your Job Search Over Winter Break?
Then Don’t Miss the Using Your Winter Break to Your Advantage Workshop!
Monday, November 20, 2006
12:00 -1:00 pm
Room A57
**Please feel free to bring your lunch to the session**
This session will focus on Winter Break job search strategies for 1L, 2L and 3L students. Get tips and advice on everything from networking (including potential contacts, when and how to reach out to them, and what to say) to what you should be doing for a local or long distance job search during your winter break.
To attend this session you will need to RSVP through Symplicity. Simply log on to Symplicity, click on the Events tab, click on the Using Your Winter Break to Your Advantage workshop, and then click RSVP.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO.
Interviews with Prosecutors & Public Defenders
Hypothetical questions distinguish job interviews with prosecutors and public defenders from other types of positions, such as law firms or other public sector positions. Hypotheticals are used to assess the student’s ability to spot issues and analyze legal and ethical questions. While you want to show you understand both or all sides of a particular issue or question, you may also need to reach a conclusion – and be prepared to back it up if challenged. Hypotheticals may involve Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure. Of course as with most legal questions, there isn’t necessarily one “right” answer; you’ll be doing well if you can spot issues, demonstrate your analytical skills, and withstand follow-up questions which may be challenging and designed to see how you respond to pressure!
Other likely areas of questioning:
• Why do you want to be a prosecutor/public defender? Be prepared to discuss coursework, internships, clinic, etc.
• Why do you want to be a prosecutor/public defender for this particular office? Know the office you are interviewing with!
• Where do you see yourself in five years? Interviewers are looking for a genuine commitment to public service and their organization.
• Questions and lines of conversation to get a sense of how you will deal with a heavy workload and lower pay than what some of your peers are earning. (Let the interviewers get to know you and see that you have a sense of humor.)
Interested in Sports Law Careers?
In the CSO we are often asked about opportunities in Sports Law. Lawyers work in the sports industry in several capacities, including providing legal representation to teams, serving as agents for players, and working in management positions for sports teams. Some of these positions require a law degree, while the degree is helpful but not required for others. One of the most important steps to take if you are interested in this practice area is to start networking. Two resources in the CSO resource room that ca help you do this are our Sports Law Handout and the Sports Internship Book. The handout includes a list of law firms with sports practice groups, sports management firms, and sports marketing firms throughout the country. It also includes Case School of Law alumni who practice sports law, as well as information about sports law bar associations. The Sports Internship Book, published by the Career Education Institute, details internship opportunities with teams around the country.
Resume Tables
Have questions about your resume or cover letter? Get them answered by a CSO counselor at the Resume Tables!
November 13, 15, 16, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Located in the Upper Rotunda
If You Want to be a Litigator...
If you are a 2L and are thinking about pursuing a career in litigation, you may want to target either prosecutor or public defender offices in your summer job search. While criminal law may not be your cup of tea, many states across the country allow students who have completed 2 years of law school (and have taken evidence) to represent clients in front of a judge in non-felony cases. For example, the District Attorney’s Office in Multnomah County, OR (Portland, OR area) allows clerks to handle their own docket after only a few days of training. In this particular program, each clerk will handle at least two jury trials and about six bench trials during the summer.
There are similar programs at the Cuyahoga County Public Defender’s Office and the Alleghany County Public Defender’s Office, just to name a few. If you want to be a litigator, the experience gained in these programs is unmatched. If you have any questions, please contact a career counselor in the CSO.
International Law Week
Don’t Miss International Law Week!
Starting Monday, November 13, the CSO will host a week of events focused on careers in international law. Attend as many events as you like - each event is open to all classes (including 1Ls)! Check out the schedule of events below!
Monday, November 13
International Law Resources Table - Learn about the resources available for your international law job search.
Upper Rotunda, 12:00 -1:00 pm
Wednesday, November 15
International Law Student Panel - Learn how your classmates found their summer positions in international law, the types of employers they worked for, and the types of assignments they worked on.
Room A57, 12:00 -1:00 pm ***Pizza will be served***
Thursday, November 16
International Law Career Panel - Hear attorneys discuss their practice in the field of international law.
Room A57, 12:00 -1:00 pm ***Pizza will be served***
“Collapse of the Doha Rounds: Where Do We Go from Here?” lecture and panel discussion presented by the Student International Law Society and the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center. Students are encouraged to attend both the lecture and the reception being held afterward.
A59, 4:30- 6:00 pm
Have questions? Feel free to contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO!
Interested in Criminal Law Opportunties?
If you are focused on justice and interested in fast-paced trial work, criminal law may be the right practice area for you. Potential criminal law employers include prosecutor and public defender offices as well as some law firms. According to The Official Guide to Legal Specialties, An Insider's Guide ot Every Major Practice Area by Lisa L. Abrams, J.D., "criminal lawyers must be good negotiators, investigators, counselors, and even social workers." If you would like to explore this practice area further, check out the Official Guide's chapter on Criminal Law. Also, stop by the CSO and pick up our handout which lists contact information for all of the prosecutor and public defender offices in the State of Ohio.
Crain's Cleveland Business Magazine
Want to know what is going on in Cleveland in terms of the business, legal, real estate, and other sectors of the economy? Come to the Career Services Office library each week and read through Crain's Cleveland Business. Every month Crain's has a Legal Affairs section, and the November 6-12, 2006 edition contains articles about a recent NLRB ruling, law firm use of outside contractors, a partnership between The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center, a profile of an attorney at Ulmer & Berne LLP, and more. If you are interested in Cleveland employers or the local economy, or just want to know what is happening in the city in which you live, read this publication!
Serving the Public Through International Law
If you are interested in job opportunities that combine International and Public Interest Law, a good starting point is Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide, Volume II - International, 2006-2007, published by Harvard Law School. This Guide is divided into three sections. The first part, An Overview of International Public Service, provides narratives from attorneys working for nongovernmental, intergovernmental, governmental, and entrepreneurial organizations. Part II, An Overview of International Organizations and Opportunities, describes how to break into Nongovernmental Organizations, the UN, Interngovernmental Organizations, Government, and Entrepreneurial Options. The book ends with a substantial Directory of International Resources and Organizational Listings.
While this resource may not be checked out of the CSO, students are welcome to review it in the office and/or make copies of relevant pages. If you are interested in international public interest opportunities, this is a terrific resource and we encourage you to take a look at it!
What NOT to do when Applying for a Job
Over the past few months, I have been speaking with employers all over the country to find out about their hiring practices and promote all of you as candidates to those employers. I also ask for any advice that they may have with regards to resumes and cover letters. Here is just a sample of what employers have said:
When sending an email to a prospective employer, treat it as a cover letter. Make sure you use proper punctuation, spell check and proof read what you send.
Make sure you look at the employer's website before sending an application. You have no idea how many cover letters employers get saying how an applicant is interested in litigation when they don't even practice litigation. Those resumes get tossed right away.
It is important to try to distinquish yourself through your cover letter but employers don't like letters that are overly cutesy, informal, or humorous or otherwise are trying too hard to stand out from the crowd.
1L Optional Resume & Cover Letter Workshops
Attention 1Ls: Wondering what legal employers want to see on your resume? What to hear what you need to include in your cover letters? Then be sure to attend the Optional Resume & Cover Letter Workshops taking place next Tuesday through Friday.
If you are interested in learning more about creating a great legal resume and cover letter, you will need to register through Symplicity for the session you would like to attend. Once you receive the email from Alyson Alber tomorrow with your Symplicity password you will need to log in to Symplicity, click on Events, select the session you would like to attend, and then click RSVP.
Check out the schedule below. If you already have a draft of your resume please bring it with you to the workshop. If you have specific questions about your resume we would be happy to answer them at that time.
Questions? Feel free to contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO.
Tuesday, November 7
4:00 – 5:00 pm, Room A59
Wednesday, November 8
12:00 – 1:00 pm, Room A57
** Please feel free to bring your lunch to this session
Thursday, November 9
4:00 – 5:00 pm, Room A62
Friday, November 10
12:00 – 1:00 pm, Room A57
** Please feel free to bring your lunch to this session
Cleveland Bar Association's Minority Judicial Externship Program - 11/7 Information Session
On Tuesday, November 7 at noon in Room A59, The Honorable Ronald A. Adrine from the Cleveland Municipal Court will present information about the Cleveland Bar Association’s Minority Judicial Externship Program. The Program places qualified law students as law clerks in local courts (at the local, state, and federal levels) during the summer after their second year of law school. This valuable experience will provide minority students the opportunity to further develop their legal writing and analysis skills while benefiting from mentoring relationships with the judges.
Looking for Information on Salaries?
The Career Services Office library has a number of resources with salary information.
NALP's Starting Salaries: What New Law Graduates Earn presents a detailed look at new law graduates' salaries by type of employment, by size of firm, by city, and by state. It also compares the "buying power" of a salary in New York City with salaries in other major cities. In addition to helping students compare salary offers from different cities, the "buying power index" provides employers in cities with lower costs of living with a tool to promote what their salaries will buy.
Want to know what associates are earning? Take a look at NALP's 2006 Associate Salary Survey This annual research report takes a comprehensive look at associate salaries nationwide by class year; by city and/or state; by region; and by firm size. Comparisons of law firm compensation and bonus structures are also included. Firms surveyed for this annual research report are not limited to NALP member law firms. Take a look at city-specific tables and also at tables by class year, by region, and by firm and office size.
Finally, the Public Sector and Public Interest Attorney Salary Report — 2006, also published by NALP, features a section on federal government salaries and benefits as well as information on salaries by years of experience for attorneys at five types of organizations: civil legal services organizations, public defenders' offices, local prosecuting attorneys' offices, offices of attorneys general, and other public interest organizations. Salaries are reported for each of these five types of organizations both nationwide and by geographic markets. Basic information on benefits (health and dental insurance, retirement or pension plans), and on the availability and nature of Loan Repayment Assistance Programs is also included.
All of these resources can be found in the Information on Salaries binder in the CSO library (reference only). Please drop by and take a look!