Category Archives: career development

7 ideas to jump start your summer job search

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Summer is upon us!  Whether you’re looking for your first job, a lateral move or a position in a new practice area, the summer is the best time to get a jump start.  All of the recent grads will be searching for jobs starting August 1st (give or take), so starting your search in June is a great move!

As you know, simply checking websites and job posting sites isn’t enough to get the job of your dreams.  Think about it – everyone answers those ads.  The competition is fierce.  So, why not start your search in less obvious places and get a leg-up on the competition.  Here are our top eight ideas to get your legal job search off to a great start this summer.

 

  1. Join a bar association in your city.  Joining the local bar association and getting actively involved is a great way to mix and mingle with other attorneys.  The more “face time” you have with other attorneys, the more opportunity to let them know that you’re searching for a new position.
  2. Get social.  Social media is here to stay, and you should be a part of the trend!  Sign up for a LinkedIn account and a Facebook account.  Make sure to update your profile with relevant information and a professional picture. Start posting relevant information about the legal community you’d like to join.  Interested in an entertainment law job in Century City?  Start finding relevant and interesting information about entertainment law in the Los Angeles area.  You’ll find that people interested in the same area of law will start “following” you or inviting you to be connections/friends.  What a great way to meet other people with the same interests!
  3. Clean up the legal resume.  No time like the present to review your resume and make sure that it’s in tip top shape.  Is all of your experience listed in a clear, concise manner?  Is your contact information current?  Be sure that anyone who glances at your resume for 30-45 seconds (the average time someone actually reviews a resume) will be able to accurately sum up your experience and achievements.
  4. Contact your friends and family.  I know, I know.  You don’t have any lawyer friends the only attorney your family knows is you.  Hogwash.  You and your friends and family know many more people than you think you do.  Write a friendly email stating what you’d like to have (I’m looking for a senior associate position in a defense firm in Fresno) and your qualifications.  You’ll be amazed what happens when you get the word out to others.
  5. Take a meeting.  Contact a lawyer who has your dream job and ask for an informational interview.  Even if it’s just on the phone, you will gather useful information for your job search and (more importantly) you will make another connection within your desired legal field/firm/city.  (It goes without saying that you need to be extremely mindful of the interviewee’s time.  Also, please follow up the meeting with a handwritten thank you note.)
  6. Volunteer.  You’d be amazed how connected you can get simply by volunteering your time.   Join a program that makes you feel good, and make sure that you connect with other volunteers.  Let them know that you’re looking for a position in______ city in_______ firm in________ practice area.  Maybe the volunteer position actually has a connection to this dream job, or maybe the person knows someone who knows someone…. Either way, getting out in the community to help someone else and also get to know others is a key to getting the position you’ve always wanted.
  7. Bring your book of business.  If you have a book of business, you’re irresistible to employers.  If you have a book of business – good for you!  You shouldn’t have a problem finding a fabulous position.  If not, work on building a book of business. Even a case or two will help your chances immensely.  Spend your summer trying to get one case.  You’ll be amazed how quickly you will change from the hunter to the hunted.

Good luck this summer!  If you need help, we’re only an email away.

Interview tips for lawyers — part 2

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For our second installment, we give you all a few more tips about how to interview like a pro.  Of course, you’ve probably got some tips, as well.  Please share!  We’re looking forward to hearing how you landed your dream job thanks to a great interview.

5)  Discuss your long term goals. Make it clear that you LIKE what you do and that you are looking for a firm to commit to for the long haul where you can continue to develop your own book of business.  Firms are skittish about associates jumping ship; assuage these fears even though the question will not be asked directly.

6)  When it’s your turn to ask questions, pursue one line of questioning in particular: work distribution. How is the work distributed; how are associates matched up with partners; how much work is generated in that particular office and how much of it comes from sister offices? By asking these questions, you will get an idea if this firm can give you what you want, and, they will get a glimmer what it would be like to have you as someone they can assign work to.

If you are speaking with an associate, ask them what they like best about the firm.  Ask them how long they have been with this firm and if they enjoy their position.  Keep it positive.

Be prepared for different types of interviewers.  Some attorneys you will meet with will be prepared for you and will be great at interviewing.  Let them lead the way.

Others will have glanced at your resume 2 minutes before the receptionist leads you to their door and they will be slightly panicked at the thought of spending the next 30 minutes with a stranger. Make it easy on them.  Lead the interview by addressing  1 – 6, above, and allow them to interrupt if something you have said intrigues them.

7)  Have fun! So much of interviews are about chemistry.  Clearly, you have the right credentials and they are very serious about you or else they would not have invited you in for an interview.  Now they want to see if you are someone that they would want to work with on a daily basis and get to know better.  Are you a good face for their firm?  Are you trustworthy?  Would clients like you?  Be professional but also don’t hesitate to laugh and engage.

8)  A few “don’ts”. Don’t ask about salary, billable hours, or flex-time options at your first interview.  Don’t criticize your current firm, current boss, colleagues, etc.  Don’t check your blackberry or cell before or during (this HAS happened) your interview.  Don’t exaggerate your expertise and/or experience.  Stick to your resume and cover letter.

9)  A few “do’s”. Do dress professionally – this means a dark suit and slacks or skirt for the ladies.  Do have your business card.  Do be warm and friendly with the receptionist and HR coordinator.  Do come prepared:  research recent press about the firm; know their biggest deals/ wins; know what practice groups they have and what cities they have offices in; demonstrate an understanding of their clientele.  The more prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be and the more confident you will appear!

If you have more tips or more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We’re attorneys, too; and we’ve all been through the interview process.  It can be stressful, or it can be the beginning to a wonderful career!

Interview tips for lawyers — part 1

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We’ve recently received some requests for interview tips for attorneys; and we aim to please!  (Check back next week for anther round of interview tips.)  And now, without further ado, several tips that are sure to help you reach your goal — a second interview! 

1)  Let them know why you are interested in their firm. Make it clear that you aren’t looking for any port in the storm and that you are being highly selective about the opportunities you are choosing to interview for.  If you are only meeting one firm for a specific position and where not even actively looking until Swan contacted you, then be sure to convey that.

Firms want to know why you are leaving your current position.  You must be consistent with your answer and you must keep it positive.

Firms may ask you where else you are interviewing.  Keep it vague; you can say something like: “firms similar to yours that have a biotech component to their corporate group.”  Again, you want to enforce the perception that you are being extremely selective and that you will only move for the right fit.

2)  Ask them what they need. Why are they hiring right now?  New client?  New case? How long have they been looking?

3)  Discuss three solid examples of your work. They may or may not ask for specific examples, but you can take charge and lay them out.  What you discuss should dovetail with your resume and cover letter.  Be sure to review both of those documents beforehand.

Knowing what you want to discuss in advance is also a wonderful way to stay relaxed during your interview!

4) Don’t be afraid to discuss a difficult issue that you had and how you resolved it. You want them to see you as a problem solver and someone who remains calm under pressure while getting the job done.

Stay tuned for even more interview tips!  If you need any additional help, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re attorneys, too!

Checklist for the all-important client meeting

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If you have a meeting with a prospective client, you know that the stakes are high and your anxiety level is even higher.  It’s completely normal to be nervous, but you can do some things that help you overcome your fears and (hopefully) land the new client.

1.       Practice, practice, practice. Speak with a trusted friend, a colleague or a mentor and ask him or her to pretend to be the client.  Set up a fake interview and video tape it.  Once you’re done with the interview, ask your friend for his/her opinion and watch the video. You’ll be able to dissect what you did right and what you did wrong.  Those things that didn’t go as planned can be adjusted for the real thing.

2.       Talk to the mirror. You can’t see your facial expressions when you talk, and these are crucial to any face-to-face meeting.  Stand in the mirror and talk about the same things you’ll discuss in the meeting.  Notice how your face moves and adjust as necessary.  Remember, people do business with people they like, so you want to look friendly, confident and approachable.

3.       Do your research. This step cannot be emphasized enough.  Find out everything you can about your prospective client.  Look online and talk to people who may know him/her.   Know as much about the client as possible – not just about work, but about interests, hobbies, family.  One of the most important things about the meeting is to connect and build trust.  Knowing a little bit about the potential client and connecting on common ground is crucial.

4.       Prepare you questions and your topics. Take some time to think about the things you want to ask and say.  You definitely don’t need to stick with a script, but just having an idea of the topics you’ll discuss will make you feel more confident.

5.       Come prepared for a “yes.” This is so important in any client meeting – be prepared for a “yes.”  Therefore, if all new clients must sign a contract, bring the contract.  If your new clients need to approve a proposal, bring the proposal.  When a client says yes, you want to make that a quick, seamless process for them.

Now you’re ready to conquer the world!  Or, at least the prospective client meeting.  Good luck!  Need more tips?  Contact us!  We’re attorneys helping attorneys, and we’d love to help you.

Making sure you’re on the right side of the widening pay gap at big law

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Many of you know exactly what we’re talking about – the noticeable pay gap widening among partners at large firms.  Since the economic downturn, the trend has become even more apparent.  Firms are trimming everywhere they can and paying the “star” lawyers even more.  Why?  They need the business.  Law firms don’t run solely on reputation and law school pedigrees.  They need clients to be successful.  It’s clear that they are making sure that lawyers who bring in clients make as much money as necessary to make them stay.

So, the key is to be one of the attorneys who can bring the clients.  It’s absolutely critical that, as a partner, you are bringing cases and as an associate you are building the foundation to generate revenue.  Do you have a book of business?  If not, it’s time you get to work.  We recommend reading our earlier blog series about how to bring business.

We want to hear from you, in the trenches.  Do you see this trend at your own firm?  What are you doing to bring more business to the firm?