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.

Writing the perfect legal cover letter

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We know that you hate it, but it has to be done. Writing a cover letter is one of the most challenging parts of finding a new legal position.  Luckily, we’re here to help with a few tips that will make the process much simpler – we promise.  Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have an enviable cover letter in no time.

1.       Make it short and sweet.  A cover letter should be no more than ¾ of a page.  Understand that no one reads every word.  Most people will simply skim.  Anything more than five or six paragraphs will be overwhelming and may likely end up in the trash can.

2.       Keep the interesting information visible.  As mentioned, no one really reads a cover letter word for word.  Instead, they skim the information and pick out the most interesting parts.  As a result, you should make the key points very visible.  In most cases, you’ll want the key points to be in the first sentence of the paragraph.  Don’t bury your strengths in the middle.

3.       Cover things that aren’t covered in the resume.  The cover letter shouldn’t simply be a repeat of all of the information in your resume. The cover letter should either further explain information you listed on the resume or it should contain additional information that may be useful for this position.

4.       Tailor every letter.  No one wants a form letter, and people can see through that in a second.  Make sure that each cover letter is personalized to the person or the firm (if you aren’t sure who will be reading).  Explain why you’re interested in the firm and how you can help the firm.  Make connections between yourself and the firm.  You have the exact experience they’re looking for, or you can bring a book of business or you’re a graduate of the law school where the hiring partner went to school.

5.       Explain how you can help them.  It’s important to sell yourself in the cover letter.  Don’t tell the hiring partner what you want, tell the hiring partner how you can fill a need that the firm has.  The hiring partner wants to see that you can solve her problems or help where the firm needs help.  She won’t care what you want – she is much more interested in what she wants.  Point out all the reasons how you can help her and the firm.

Need more help?  Contact us!  We’re attorneys helping attorneys, and we’re here for you!

SLS introduces our latest recruiter

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We are extremely proud to introduce Rachel Ghatan, our newest recruiter. Like all recruiters as Swan Legal Search, Rachel practiced law for several years before she decided to become a recruiter. In fact, becoming a recruiter was presented to her – it wasn’t originally her idea.

“My best friend is a recruiter for the financial sector. She thought I had a great personality for recruiting, but I thought she was wrong. Then, one of my bosses thought it would be a good fit for me. I decided to give it a try. It seemed that fate was telling me something.”

Now, Rachel is loving every minute of working with attorneys as a recruiter. “I’m loving what I do. It is the right fit for me and I’m putting my talent to good use.”

Rachel is helping to place attorneys in Los Angeles and throughout California. In addition to connecting with the lawyers, Rachel most enjoys helping them to find their ideal fit within the legal realm. “It’s a nice thing to see lawyers find a fit. There is a shift in their lives. Helping them find that is a wonderful experience. It’s so important that people are happy, and I’m thrilled that I get to help lawyers find happiness within their careers.”

Rachel received her undergraduate degree from UCLA in Anthropology and Women’s Studies, and her J.D. from Southwestern Law School in 1999. She and her husband have two sons. In her spare time she likes to spend time with her children, read books, hike, and do pilates; and she has introduced three couples who eventually got married.

You can reach Rachel at Rachel@SwanLegal.com

Law school (almost) grads, rejoice!

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It looks as though those of you who are graduating in the next couple of months have something to celebrate – a greater likelihood for a legal job!  According to The National Law Journal, a recent study indicates that associate hiring is almost back to pre-financial-crisis levels.

In 2009, offer rates for associates who worked in the firm’s summer programs were at the lowest rates in years. Fortunately, 2010 rates bounced back considerably, and 2011 offers seem to be heading in the same direction.

It seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel:  at least for new law school grads.  For the rest of us, the recruiting rate still looks a bit sluggish.

“Things are turning around in the legal market, but they’re still a bit slow,” said Delia Swan, president of Swan Legal Search.  “All attorneys need to make sure that they are really getting themselves out there actively networking and keeping optimistic.  In the current legal hiring climate, that’s what it takes.”

So, what does that mean?  “That means that attorneys need to brush up on their interviewing skills, have several people review their resumes, research like crazy and, if possible, start generating revenue.  Nothing is more attractive to a firm than an attorney who can bring business when they join the firm.”

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!