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May 05, 2009
Using the Summer to Build Your Resume
With finals almost over, many of you will be starting a summer legal job very soon. Maybe you secured a position doing exactly what you set out to do... or maybe you accepted a position that is a bit different than what you were originally targeting. Either way, the CSO wants to remind you that regardless of where you will be working this summer there are various activities you can be involved with over the summer that will help to build your resume and gain experience in whatever areas of law you are most interested in.
First, you should definitely plan to attend CLEs over the summer. CLEs are offered in every specialty area you can imagine, and often take place in the evenings and on the weekends. This is a great way to get "experience" in the area of law you are interested in, particularly if your summer job has nothing to do with that area of law. A bonus to attending CLEs is the fact that they provide great networking opportunities! Be sure to add these CLEs to your resume to show prospective employers where your interests lie. You can find CLE offerings through local bar associations.
Getting involved in the community is also an important activity to consider over the summer. Maybe you volunteer to work the registration desk at one of those CLEs, or you join the local chapter of a charity you are most passionate about. Employers like to see employees who are active, involved and connected with the community. If you are working for a private firm over the summer, consider volunteering a Saturday at your local legal aid society.
Another great summer resume builder is to write an article about an issue that interests you. Outside of law school there are hundreds of legal publications that are constantly looking for new material, and writing skills are coveted by all legal employers. You could write an article about a cutting-edge area of law for a law-related website, or you could profile a prominent practitioner for a bar association publication.
These are just a few examples of ways to build your resume over the summer. Stop by the CSO to speak with a counselor for more creative ideas!
Posted by cld30 at May 5, 2009 12:35 PM