You're in law school and you're concerned about landing a job after graduation. There are some things you can do now to facilitate your job search. The next few posts will outline some suggestions.
1) Get involved. Most voluntary bar associations have law student memberships, which are often nominal. Find ones with local chapters, sign up and attend the local cocktail parties (which also are discounted for law students). Go and mingle. Have business cards made with your cell phone and e-mail address (avoid cute e-mail addresses) and hand them out. And this may sound counter-intuitive, but don't be preoccupied with landing a job at these events. Enjoy them, meet people, develop relationships and where appropriate, follow-up with lunch or coffee.
2) Write. Every voluntary bar association I know has a magazine, newsletter, website or mailing for which they are looking for substantive articles. Volunteer to write a caselaw update for one or more of them. (Voluntary bar associations may very well assume you will do a good job because law students write case briefs all the time). Being published distinguishes your resume from the rest.
3) Fill a need. But what if a bar association doesn't have a newsletter? Imagine the hero you will be if you can create a template for an e-newsletter for an organization, and then you help populate it with articles you write? Again, you're looking to separate yourself from the pack, and firms are looking for candidates with initiative - those are the individuals they see making rain for them one day.
4) Get involved with your law school's alumni association. Volunteer at events, help with the newsletter, liaison for seminars. These are folks who went to your law school, have an affinity toward the school and may have an affinity toward you because you're going to the same school they attended.
5) Speak. I don't think I ever have heard a law student give a presentation at a CLE conference I've attended. I would be superbly impressed if I ever did. Try to be that law student who finds her way onto a panel. Maybe, again, it's a caselaw update. Just remember, don't read your power point, keep it moving and keep it entertaining. And yes, that's a lot to ask for, but if you nail it, everyone in the audience will remember you when you send them a follow-up letter asking for a job.
6) Intern. You want to get experience while in law school and you want to meet attorneys and build relationships with them. If you can't get a paying job as a law clerk, intern.
7) Volunteer. Join the board or serve on a committee for a non-profit, where you will likely work with attorneys from different firms. Working on projects with them will provide you a forum to highlight your skills and impress them, and possibly secure an interview one day.
8) Provide project support. Many solo practitioners and small firms need help with a project here or there, but aren't busy enough to hire a full-time clerk or associate. While in law school, consider hiring yourself out on a project-by-project basis to these attorneys. These attorneys may recommend you to their friends who are looking to hire a full-time associate.
9) Seek out mentors. Various bar associations offer mentoring programs for law students. Seek those out, request a mentor and seek out job-seeking advice. The lawyers who get involved with these programs want to help law students and understand how pressing it is to find a job and will provide guidance with your job search.
10) Start a blog. Start a substantive blog in an area of law, where you provide caselaw updates and discuss changes in statutes or regulations. It provides an opportunity to show off your research and writing skills and becomes a defacto online resume. Get business cards and include the blog address on it (along with a QR code for the blog).
Read more on Frank Ramos' blog, Tips for Young Lawyers. Francisco "Frank" Ramos, Jr. is the administrative partner at Clarke Silverglate in Miami, Florida, where he practices in the areas of products liability, employment, commercial litigation, medical malpractice, class actions and general liability.
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