Job Search Tips of the Week

All of the following job search tips have been collected from attorneys I met at networking events this week.  Some of them have been attorneys for many years and others have recently been promoted to positions which require them to make hiring decisions.  Remember these are their opinions only so still use your own common sense when applying these tips to your search. 

#1. Your address matters. It is the first thing hiring attorneys see when reviewing your resume and they will disregard your application entirely if they feel that you live too far.  "Too far" also may be a relative term.  Even if you live in a large metropolitan area where commuting is customary you may want to consider using the address of a friend who lives near the firm.  Additionally, if you are targeting a particular city that is far from where you live consider getting a PO Box and put that address on your resume instead.  PO Boxes can have addresses that are identical to a residential address.

#2.  Don't wait for an opening to become available.  If you are interested in a particular firm contact an attorney who works there directly!  The attorney you contact should be someone with adequate seniority to have influence over hiring decisions.  It also may be wise to target attorneys who attended the same law school or undergraduate school as you.  Nepotism is still rife within the profession so if at possible exploit it!  Your email to the attorney should include a letter of interest as well as a resume.  If they don't have any openings ask them to keep you in mind in the future.  Keep a spreadsheet of every firm you have contacted to prevent duplicate emails.  You may send a second letter of interest if you do not hear from then within a month. 

#3. Make sure your resume is no more than ONE PAGE.  It may seem like it is impossible to fit everything you think is relevant about your work life on to one page.  That is the case because not everything is relevant.  Cut extraneous information out!  If you find that your resume keeps spilling over no matter how finely tuned it has become try one of the following tricks.  Use a space efficient font such as: Cochin, Hoefler Text, or Bell MT.  Reduce your margins to 3/4 of an inch.  For job descriptions use paragraphs NOT bullet points.  Stop putting two spaces after every period.  Also consider being flexible about using word processing programs other than Word.  Try Open Office (free at www.openoffice.com) or Pages (an application for macs and iphones).  Each of these programs may use space more efficiently depending on the format of your resume.

#4. Volunteer at a local legal clinic.  Although it may seem like a raw deal having to work for free  do not discount the value of volunteer opportunities.  Many of the lawyers who give their time to these organizations are working at private firms themselves.  Give them a chance to see your work first hand.  They may see find that you are of value and offer you employment. You'll also have the advantage of continuing to get more experience and having something current to put on your resume.  Once the staff attorneys at the clinic gets to know you they may be flexible about allowing you to come up with your own title.  You will also be able to rely on them for a stellar recommendation!