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January 30, 2009
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 you look 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 or otherwise argue with the interviewer. 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 check out, 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, of course, Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams (also available in the CSO) also provides excellent information for interview preparation.
Posted by cld30 at 03:33 PM
January 28, 2009
Fourth Annual "Working in the Public Interest: Advancing Social Justice" Conference
The University of Georgia School of Law cordially invites students to attend the conference February 27-28, 2009 at the University of Georgia School of Law, which is approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The conference is a two day event with panels and roundtable discussions with speakers drawn from all parts of the country. Conference coordinators can help arrange free housing for student attendees who would like to stay with other students in Athens.
This year's panel topics include:
• Plenary - Human Rights in the Southeast
• Juvenile Sentencing - Throwing Away Our Youth: Harsh Sentencing of Juvenile Offenders
• Eyewitness Testimony - The Problem of Eyewitness Testimony in Capital Cases
• Economic Disparity - Combating Economic Disparity with Civic Engagement
• Healthcare - An Examination of the Health Law Partnership: A Community-based Collaborative of Lawyers, Health Care Providers and Law Students
• LGBT Persons - The Fight for the Right to Marry
• Sex Trafficking - The Modern Form of Slavery: The Prevalence of Sex Trafficking and the Sexual Exploitation of Minors Nationally and Locally
To register for the conference and for additional information see: www.law.uga.edu
Conferences like this are not only wonderful ways to increase your knowledge but also are excellent opportunities to network with current and future professionals in the field. Take advantage of receptions and panels at events such as these to mingle and introduce yourself to others. You never know who you might meet or who might be able to steer you toward the next great employment opportunity. For tips on how to use networking to your best advantage, stop by the CSO and speak to a counselor.
Posted by kcc17 at 05:17 PM
January 27, 2009
Professional Development Series: Networking Skills
All students are invited to learn tools and skills that you can implement for successful networking. All first year students participating in Mock Interview Saturday are encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 12PM in room A57.
Posted by kcc17 at 10:06 PM
January 26, 2009
Job Searching in Tough Economic Times
It's no secret that our country is currently in a recession, but what does this mean for you and your job search? Certainly it means you need to be actively engaged and proactive with your search, but the Career Services Office offers the following tips and strategies that are particularly important for a job search during an economic downturn.
1. NETWORK! - According to author Kimm Walton in her book "Guerilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams," statistics show that almost half of all law students get their jobs by either self-initiated contact with the employer or by referral from a friend, relative or family member. The bottom line is that making contact with people, whether directly or through a mutual contact, is statistically the most effective way to land a job. Surely this statistic should be enough to motivate you to get out there and network...
2. ATTEND LAW SCHOOL EVENTS AND CSO WORKSHOPS - Keep your eyes peeled for law school events and lectures (the law school offers a wonderful lecture series) and make it a priority to attend. Take a look at your CSO Programming Guide and mark your calendar to attend upcoming workshops, brown bag lunches and theme week panels. These are invaluable opportunities for you to learn more about different areas of law and create connections with local attorneys.
3. BE OPEN-MINDED AND FLEXIBLE - Consider a variety of geographic locations, practice areas and settings. As noted in the previous blog, think about the practice areas that thrive during an economic downturn. Keep in mind that many practice areas overlap and offer opportunities and bridges to other areas in the future. Remember that your first job will not be your last and you need to treat each opportunity as a stepping stone to your ultimate dream job.
4. BE PERSISTENT AND OPTIMISTIC - We know this is easier said than done, but important nonetheless. Don't operate under the false assumption that you can simply send out a few resumes (or even a hundred) and then sit back and wait for employers to contact you. Following up with employers is even more critical in tough economic times.
5. CONSIDER CLINICAL EXPERIENCES OR PART TIME WORK DURING THE SEMESTER - Participating in a clinic here at school or working part time during the school year are both excellent ways to add practical legal experience to your resume. Not only will you be in the position to continue developing contacts which may later prove to be helpful with your permanent job search, but employers will be impressed by your time-management skills and hands-on experience.
6. DON'T PROCRASTINATE AND DON'T GIVE UP - Looking for a job takes time and rarely produces immediate results. Be patient and proactive, remembering that you must reserve time in your schedule to focus on your job search.
Need advice on how to implement these techniques and strategies? Stop by the CSO and talk to a counselor!
Posted by cld30 at 03:47 PM
January 23, 2009
What’s Hot in the Legal World
Twice a year, legal consultant Robert Denney issues a report titled “What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Legal Profession.” In creating his list, he evaluates national and global economic, litigation, and cultural trends. While it’s important to remember that his reports are speculative forecasts, they do provide interesting insight into the ever-adapting legal market.
In his 2008 year-end report, Mr. Denney listed as “Hot” practice areas such as commercial litigation, foreign corrupt practices law, antitrust, federal regulatory law, energy/alternative energy, health care, estate planning, labor/employment, elder law, and intellectual property.
Mr. Denney also includes in his report discussions of hot geographic legal markets, which this year included Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, and Dubai for international markets, and Reno, Las Vegas, and Charlotte, N.C.
Posted by kcc17 at 10:41 AM
January 22, 2009
Summer Fellowship Funding Reminder
Application forms and updated deadline information for Case Western Reserve University School of Law summer fellowship funding are now available in the CSO. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the CSO.
Klatsky Human Rights Fellowship DEADLINE
Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Bruce J. Klatsky, Chairman of the Phillips Van Heusen Corporation, the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center offers two Case law students summer internships at Human Rights Watch in New York City or Washington, DC. Interns are awarded $4,000 for completion of the 8 to 10 week internship.
Application materials: resume; one-page statement of interest; signed application form with expressed geographical preference (application form available in CSO Hot Files).
Application deadline: Friday, February 6, 2009 at 1:00pm.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:30 PM
Coffee with the CSO!
Starting in January, the CSO will host a monthly “Coffee with the CSO” in the Career Services Office on the last Wednesday of every month.
Stop by in the morning for a cup of coffee and to check in with us about your job search.
JANUARY 28 @ 9AM in the CSO.
Posted by kcc17 at 06:28 PM
January 16, 2009
NALP's 2009 Online Apartment Exchange
Law students seeking summer housing and students with housing available for the summer are invited to participate in NALP's free online 2009 Apartment Exchange.
Just visit www.nalp.org and follow the link to the Apartment Exchange.
The Apartment Exchange will be available from Janaury 15 until May 15, 2009.
Posted by cld30 at 12:35 PM
January 15, 2009
Being Active in your Job Search
A thorough job search requires you to be involved, active, and informed at each step in the process. If you’re still seeking summer and permanent employment, the CSO hopes you spent some time during Winter Break networking with attorneys and setting forth your continuing job search strategy. If you have not been into the CSO recently to discuss and update this strategy, please make an appointment early this semester. And remember that bidding will open next week for the Spring Interview Program.
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 that do not have the time, resources, or need to formally participate in on-campus recruiting. 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), use PSLawnet, and use the Government Honors and Internship Handbook. (There are 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.
6) Apply broadly. At the application stage of your job search process, you should be considering a wide variety of legal employers and applying to a variety of positions that are interesting to you. Do not limit yourself too much early in the job search process.
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 be networking with attorneys and getting your materials out there. 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.
Posted by kcc17 at 02:38 PM
January 14, 2009
Back Into the Swing of Things!
Welcome back to school after a wonderful winter break. The CSO hopes you feel refreshed and ready for the spring semester.
Are you ready to get back into the swing of things? Beyond your course work, it is important to remember that job searching is a job in itself. If you have not been actively searching for employment over winter break, it is time to get serious. The 1Ls will be joining the CSO next week for the next session in our Professional Development Series. This session will provide advice about the interview process and suggest ways to handle the top ten most common interview questions. 2Ls and 3Ls are welcome to brush up on interview skills.
Over winter break the CSO worked diligently to enhance our Spring and Fall Interview Programs. We traveled to New York and have trips planned to Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Denver in the next 6 weeks. We are committed to helping you gain summer and permanent legal employment. So, what will you do next?
Take advantage of the CSO’s resources, experience and knowledge. Make sure to review the postings on Symplicity every week. As the bulletin board outside the CSO illustrates, this week there are 201 active job postings on Symplicity. This does not include employers who have registered for the Spring Interview Program.
Invest time in your job search this semester - stop by the CSO to schedule an appointment with a counselor, attend attorney panels and brown bag lunches, and network with attorneys on Mock Interview Saturday!
Posted by kcc17 at 06:38 PM
January 12, 2009
Announcing the CSO Corner, each week in the Docket!
Welcome back to the spring semester!
The CSO is excited to announce a new weekly column in the Docket, the CSO Corner. Each week the CSO will use this column to answer student questions and to provide information and advice about the job search and professional development. A drop box for student questions has been created and is in the CSO Resource Room – you may anonymously drop your questions there or you may email your questions to the CSO at lawjobs@case.edu.
If you haven’t met with your counselor yet this year, or if it’s been a while since you’ve been into the CSO, the best thing you can do right now is to make an appointment to meet with your CSO counselor. Email lawjobs@case.edu or stop in and talk to Ray to schedule a time. Your counselor can work with you to discuss opportunities, resources, and steps you can take to hit the ground running with your job search this semester.
One of the most important things you can do to help with your job search, especially in this economic climate, is to reach out and talk to practitioners in the field. One of the easiest ways to do this is to take advantage of CSO programming. You all received the January/February CSO Programming Guide in your mail folders – mark your calendars for the alumni brown bags, business law brown bags, and government and policy theme week. These are all great and easy opportunities to meet and network with alumni and other practitioners who are willing to share their experiences and advice with you. If you need to brush up on your networking skills, be sure to mark your calendar for the Networking Skills session on January 28th. This session will give you a simple and easy-to-follow approach to getting out there and talking to people!
Welcome back to the law school and be sure to submit your career questions to the CSO Corner!
Posted by kcc17 at 06:46 PM