Archives for the Month of January 2008 on CSO Blog
Being Active in your Job Search
Although it might be easier if it were true, the fact of the matter is that the perfect job for you rarely, if ever, falls directly into your lap. Instead, a thorough job search requires you to be involved, active, and informed at each step in the process. And with the Spring Interview Program beginning now (the Phase I bid deadline closed yesterday), students still seeking summer and permanent employment should be well into the Spring job search process. (The Phase II bid deadline will close at 1PM on February 5th.)
Keep in mind, however, that in order to be thorough and complete, your Spring job search must extend beyond the Spring Interview Program. Relying only on the Spring Interview Program limits your options because there are a variety of additional employers who simply do not have the time, resources, or need to formally participate in on-campus recruiting. That does not, however, mean that those employers are not hiring. So what else should you be doing? The CSO recommends the following:
1) Research the types of opportunities available and make a decision about what type of opportunity you are most interested in. Are you interested in law firm work, public interest and government work, in-house positions, etc.? Think about the issues and classes that have interested you most and talk with attorneys who currently practice in these areas. Feel free to meet with a counselor in the CSO to talk about different types of legal jobs and to consult the practice-area specific resources available in the CSO.
2) Research specific organizations. Use the Martindale-Hubbell Directory, use the NALP Directory, use the Vault Guides (available in paper form here in the CSO), and use PSLawnet. (There are also a variety of other website links available on the CSO Course on Blackboard.) Consult the employer files here in the CSO and our lists of places where past students have worked. Talk with professors who are experts in the areas of law that interest you to find out what they know about organizations that work in that area of the law.
3) Make sure your research is organized, deliberate, and useful to you. Keep a written list of the organizations that interest you, along with contact information, names of alumni who currently work there, website links, and a brief description of why you are interested in the organization.
4) Consult the organization’s website to see if there is application information available. If so, follow the application instructions. If not, contact the organization directly. You can call and ask whether the organization takes law students as interns for the summer (or whether the organization is currently doing permanent hiring) and, if so, how you should apply. You may also choose to compose a formal cover letter to send directly to the employer with your resume inquiring whether any summer or permanent positions are available. (If you choose to mail or email a letter and resume, be sure to follow-up about two weeks after sending the materials!)
5) If you are conducting an out-of-state job search, consider joining the local bar association to begin obtaining networking contacts. Think about planning trip to your destination city, perhaps during Spring Break, and let networking contacts and potential employers know now that you will be in town and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with them.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that, whether you are a 1L or 2L seeking summer employment or a 3L seeking permanent employment, now is the time to get your materials out there both within the Spring Interview Program and beyond. If you’re unsure about your career search timeline or what next steps to take, come visit a counselor in the CSO to talk about the unique elements of your job search.
Interview Wardrobe
Everyone knows that first impressions are extremely important, especially when it comes to interviewing. So besides smiling, making eye contact and greeting your potential employer with a firm handshake, you want to make sure you are dressed for the occasion. It goes without saying that law is a conservative profession. Keep this in mind when choosing your interview outfit.
Men - be sure to wear a conservative, good quality black, navy, gray or brown suit. You'll want to invest in a white/muted color button-down shirt to wear under your jacket, and of course, a nice conservative tie. Your dress shoes should be shined as well.
Women - much of the same applies. A nice conservative-colored suit, conservative heels (you don't want to be tripping down the hallway), pantyhose and professional makeup. Stay away from flashy jewelry and perfume. If you tend to fiddle with your hair, pull it back into a ponytail or bun.
Be sure to check your breath before you walk into an interview, and NEVER smoke right before an interview. Most interviews will be conducted in a relatively small room, and you certainly don't want to smell offensive to a potential employer.
The bottom line is that if you feel good about the way you look, you will be much more confident during the interview. If you are unsure of a particular wardrobe choice, feel free to stop by the CSO and ask a counselor!
What Will You Ask in Your Interview?
One of the biggest interview faux pas a candidate can make is not to have any questions to ask at the end of an interview when the interviewer inevitably asks, “Do you have any questions for me?” Not having any questions to ask can lead an interviewer to believe that you do not truly have enthusiasm for the position or the organization or that you did not properly prepare for the interview.
What questions should you ask? Feel free to ask what the procedure going forward will be: what are the next steps and when should you expect to hear from the employer again? But you should also have one or two more interesting and insightful questions prepared to ask. Remember that the more thoughtful your questions, the better impression you’ll leave with the interviewer. Here are some suggestions for things you might ask:
- You can ask questions that follow up on matters discussed previously in the interview, such as seeking additional information about how work assignments are made.
- What is the culture like at this organization? For instance, is there strong collaboration among different departments?
- What is the company’s policy on attending seminars, workshops, and other training opportunities?
- What are the most important traits the employer looks for in a new hire/new clerk/new attorney?
Of course, there are some questions you never want to ask. Never ask any sort of “what’s in it for me” question. Don’t ask about salary or other compensation. Don’t ask argumentative questions. Don’t ask any question that can be answered by basic research on the employer’s website or in the employer’s literature.
The CSO has an excellent book, available for students to review, called 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview. Feel free to come in and take a look at the additional advice and suggestions that this book offers.
And, don’t forget, the Spring Interview Program is fully underway! The deadline for Phase I employers is Tuesday, January 29th!
Legal Careers with the Office of Chief Counsel, ATF
The CSO Resource Room offers brochures and career information from the Office of Chief Counsel, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF offers many exciting and challenging career opportunities, both for summer and permanent employment. The brochures are available for you to take in the Government section of the Resource Room.
ATF is a component of the Department of Justice and is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Federal firearms and explosives laws. ATF Headquarters attorneys practice in the areas of employment law, litigation, criminal law, disclosure and forfeiture, and administrative law. They are also involved in reviewing and drafting legislation that is relevant to the agency and the DOJ. Field attorneys are located in 25 field offices throughout the country and provide legal advice on criminal investigations, assist United States Attorneys’ Offices in prosecuting firearms and explosives cases, and conduct administrative hearings to revoke Federal firearms and explosives licenses and permits.
More detailed information can be found on the National Association for Law Placement website, www.nalp.org.
ATF hires recent law graduates through the DOJ Honors Program and hires law student interns during the summer. Interested students can apply for paid internships through the Department’s Summer Law Internship Program and can apply directly to ATF for volunteer internship opportunities. Application requirements for internship programs are outlines in the brochures available in the CSO.
1L Interview Skills Workshops
As part of the Career Services Office’s on-going Professional Development Series, the CSO will present 1L Interview Skills workshops starting next week. While these sessions are optional, the CSO strongly encourages every first year student to attend. Whether you have interviewed for numerous jobs or have never been on an interview, the Interview Skills workshops will help you prepare for legal interviews.
Please feel free to attend the session that is most convenient for you. To attend a session, please RSVP through Symplicity. Simply log on to Symplicity (https://law-case-csm.symplicity.com//students/), click on Events, click on the session you would like to attend, and click RSVP.
The workshops will be offered on the following days and times:
Wednesday, Jan. 23
12:00 – 1:00 pm, Room A57
Wednesday, Jan. 23
2:30 – 3:30 pm, Room A65
Thursday, Jan. 24
12:00 – 1:00 pm, Room A57
Thursday, Jan. 24
4:00 – 5:00 pm, Room 158
Monday, Jan. 28
9:20 – 10:20 pm, Room A57
Monday, Jan. 28
12:00 -1:00 pm, Room A65
Please feel free to bring your lunch to the noon sessions. Please contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO with any questions.
Leadership and Professionalism: Establishing Your Professional Reputation Now
You may have heard it said before that your reputation is the best asset you have. Whether you are a 1L, 2L, or 3L, whether you’ve worked a minute of time for a legal employer or not, whether you even realize it or not, your career in the law began the day that you made the decision to enroll in law school. So did your professional reputation.
Now that you are in law school, you are beginning to build a professional reputation that can and will follow you wherever you go. The students you attend class with on a daily basis, the professors and staff that you interact with at the law school, the employers to which you submit cover letters and resumes, and the people with whom you interview all form part of the legal community that you have decided to join. And, although you’re still a student, you must begin now to think about what kind of reputation you want as you begin your legal career.
There are some basic things good leaders and professionals all do well and there are habits you can create for yourself now that will help you for the rest of your career. As a new semester begins here at the law school, consider the following:
Deadlines and Meetings
Attorneys often juggle multiple projects of varying priority every single day. Whether you’re in a law firm producing work under the direction of multiple partners or working for your own set of clients with varying needs, you will one day have to make decisions about how to manage competing obligations and commitments. So start organizing yourself now.
In your day-to-day work as a student, set realistic deadlines for yourself and hold yourself accountable to those deadlines. Acknowledge shared deadlines for group work and meet those deadlines. Take advantage of the flexibility you sometimes have as a student to learn how to make decisions about what work needs to get now right now and what work you can achieve on a more extended timeframe.
Do not, however, let scheduling flexibility make you lazy. When you schedule meetings with your peers, your professors, or staff at the law school, show up on time. Even more importantly, show up early for EVERY employment interview you go on. You can be certain that, in the professional world, a client or a colleague will not be pleased with waiting fifteen minutes for you to show up and will be even less pleased if you forget a meeting altogether.
If you find it difficult to manage your schedule or remember deadlines and meetings, start keeping a calendar now – on paper or electronically. Get yourself into the habit of checking your schedule at the start of each day so that you know what commitments you’ve made and where you’ve planned to be at what times. Adhere to your schedule and when you find you cannot keep your commitments, do your best to give people plenty of advance notice.
Respect for Colleagues
As an attorney, you will work with all types of people. In a law firm, you may be directing paralegals and more junior attorneys on a case while also working under the direction of more senior attorneys or partners. You’ll have clients with varying interests, different levels of legal knowledge, and diverse personalities. And you’ll have colleagues with different practice area specialties and perspectives on the law. Learn now how to treat every one of those people with the same level of professional respect.
Basic things, such as thanking people for putting forth effort on your behalf, are simple, but important things to remember. Learning how to calmly, but intelligently, disagree with people will help you have productive conversations throughout your legal career. Recognizing that everyone communicates a little bit differently and working to communicate with them in a way that is comfortable to them can also help you earn confidence and respect. (For example, some people love email while others hardly check it and some people want written memoranda while others want to sit down and talk things out. Practice learning to figure out how people want to receive information from you and provide information to them in that way.)
Overall, remember that, by coming to Case Western Reserve University School of Law, you’ve given yourself a unique and excellent opportunity to surround yourself with students of varying backgrounds. Take advantage of the law school’s diverse community to learn how to communicate and work with many different types of people – a skill that you will certainly call upon throughout your career.
Online Presence
We’ve said it before and we will say it again – employers are checking up on you online! Do you blog or maintain a page on MySpace, Facebook, Friendster or your own website? You need to be certain that the Internet profile you are maintaining is the right profile for employers – now and in the future. Search of your name on the internet to find out what is out there. Search for information about yourself in every way possible (Google, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Facebook, MySpace, and some of the other online communities that you may participate in). Take a look at what is posted and ask yourself, "Would I want an employer to see this?" Remember - every nugget of information that you post or that someone posts about you on the internet can last for many years to come!
The best way to prepare to be an attorney who is a leader and a professional is to start acting like a leader and a professional now. The items above are just a few of the things to think about as you establish a professional reputation. Remember, the CSO is here to help with questions related to professionalism and etiquette – so stop by to talk with us if you have any concerns. We look forward to working with you all this semester!
1L Spring Interview Program Overview Sessions
In order to introduce first year students to the Spring Interview Program, the CSO will hold mandatory 1L workshops starting on Wednesday, January 16. Please review the schedule below as each section is assigned to a specific day and time.
Information covered will include:
* Spring On-Campus Interview Program
* Resume Collect
* Resume Direct
* Important Dates including Bid Deadlines
* Participation Agreement
Here is the schedule:
Wednesday, January 16
Counselors - 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Room A57
Thursday, January 17
Barristers - 12:00- 1:00 pm, Room A57
Friday, January 18
Advocates - 12:00- 1:00 pm, Room A57
Please feel free to bring your lunch to the session. Have questions? Feel free to contact Kelli Curtis in the CSO!
Second Semester Job Searching
If you have not yet secured summer or permanent employment, now is a perfect time to beginning planning your job search strategy for the Spring Semester. With Fall Semester finals over and Winter Break drawing to close, take time now to think a little bit about how to approach the job search in the upcoming months.
• Make a list of employers you’d like to reach out to and spend some time drafting cover letters to those employers.
• Continue to check Simplicity on a regular basis – the CSO regularly posts new job postings for 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls.
• Get your resume in shape for the Spring Interview Program, which begins with bidding on January 22, 2008, and on-campus interviews starting February 11, 2008. If you have not had a recent copy of your resume reviewed by the CSO, email it to lawjobs@case.edu for review.
• Brush up on your interview skills by reviewing common interview questions and thinking about you’d like to present yourself in any interview.
Above all, remember that now is not the time to panic! Instead, it is the time to be pro-active and seek out employers of interest to you. Remember that many students do not secure summer or permanent employment until well into the Spring Semester. And the CSO is here to help you. If you have not been in to see us recently, please schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor to discuss your Spring Semester job search. And keep us updated on your progress – we want to know how your search is going.
Mock Interview Program - Save the Date!
Need to practice your interviewing skills? If you have never been on an interview with a legal employer, or if you just need to polish your interviewing skills, consider participating in our Mock Interview Program.
The annual Mock Interview Program will take place on Saturday, February 2nd here at the law school. To help you prepare for the legal job market, Case School of Law alumni and their colleagues in the practice of law are volunteering to conduct mock interviews with current law students. The Mock Interview Program is an excellent way to get invaluable advice and interview feedback from practicing attorneys. Mock interviews will take place from 10:00am until 12:00pm.
Mark your calendars now! Additional information, including instructions for signing up for interviews, will be sent out next week.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Heather DiFranco or Kelli Curtis.
Public Interest Funding
Are you thinking about public interest work this summer? Be sure to check out the various summer funding options for students pursuing public interest work. Here are a few resources to get you started:
1) The PSLawNet Summer Funding Resource Page
This page has been updated for 2008! The list is organized by national funding sources and regional funding sources. New summer funding resources are added as they become available. The page is available at www.pslawnet.org/content/index.php?pid=50.
2) The Biskind Fellowship
Each year, up to five Case law students will be eligible for the Biskind Public Interest Summer Fellowships. To qualify, students must do unpaid public interest legal work for 10 weeks during the summer at a nonprofit organization (excluding government agencies). The application deadline is Monday, March 17, 2008 at 1:00pm. Applications are available in the CSO.
3) Public Interest Summer Grants & Fellowships Packet
This packet is available in the CSO and contains detailed information regarding summer grants and stipends. A must read for anyone pursuing public interest work this summer!
4) SPLIF
SPILF raises money to support summer fellowships. The number and amount of fellowships vary each year and the application process and deadline for these fellowships is determined by SPILF. Contact a SPLIF officer for additional information on how to get involved in SPLIF.
Please stop by the CSO pick up application materials and funding packets and to talk with a counselor about positions available in public interest and the various funding resources mentioned above.