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7 Things I Learned About Job Hunting by Planning a Conference

March 28, 2013 By 8 Comments

Catapult 2013As you might know, we’re throwing a conference in a few weeks. (If you DON’T know this, obviously my social media/email spam campaign has failed. Get up to speed now: Catapult 2013: Tools for a 21st Century Legal Career.)

If you’ve never planned a conference, let me give you one piece of advice: Don’t do it! It’s one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done (and that includes twice studying for a bar exam in only a few weeks).

Anyway, the point of this isn’t to complain about how terrible my life is (luckily I’m in the resigned acceptance phase now where I just assume everything will somehow work out). The point is to give you some words of wisdom for your own job hunt, based on this experience.

So, without further ado, here you go:

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Subject to Interpretation: Can We Talk About Fashion?

February 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Juliana SiconolfiDoes it really matter what you wear as a lawyer? Shouldn’t you be judged on how brilliant your briefs are, not on whether your nail polish is chipped or your shirt is wrinkled? Maybe, but we all know that’s not how it works in the real world. Guest poster Juliana Siconolfi returns with a simple suggestion: Can we at least talk about these things?

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Subject to Interpretation: What to Wear?

January 23, 2013 By 1 Comment

Juliana SiconolfiToday, we’re excited to welcome Juliana Siconolfi, Professorial Lecturer in Law and LL.M. candidate at The George Washington University Law School for her first Subject to Interpretation post. She’ll be writing about a very important, interesting, and under-discussed topic: appearance standards and professionalism.

Hi, Everyone, and thank you for taking the time to stop by my guest post. Thanks also to Alison for giving me the opportunity to speak with you all. Over the course of the next few posts, I look forward to sharing some of my thoughts and experiences concerning an aspect of professionalism that is often times not taken very seriously — the appearance standards that female attorneys confront. 

I want to discuss what the standards are, how these standards may help/hinder our career goals, and whether we might want to change some/all of them . . . and if so, how?

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Ten Tips to Thrive in Your Legal Career + A Contest

January 20, 2013 By 27 Comments

Thrive: A New Lawyer's Guide to Law Firm PracticeVery exciting post today! The fantastic Desiree Moore, author of the ABA best seller Thrive — A New Lawyer’s Guide to Law Firm Practice returns with ten tips for career success.

But — that’s not all. You’ve also got the chance to win an autographed copy of Thrive AND a coaching session with Desiree, where you can pick her brain about all of your career dilemmas.

Read on for details! Here’s Desiree:

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Tips from a Legal Recruiter on Finding a 1L Summer Job

December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

1L Summer JobIt’s December, which means that 1Ls can look for summer work. Just what you have time for, right?

To set you on the right path, please welcome back Angela Kopolovich a former BigLaw litigator who’s now Managing Director of Alegna International, a boutique attorney recruiting firm.

Without further ado…here’s Angela.

Finding a 1L Summer Job

During your first few months of law school, the National Association for Law Placement (aka NALP, you’ve heard of them already right?) has paternalistically lovingly kept you from worrying about what you will do this coming summer.  

Now, just as everyone is recovering from their tryptophan-induced comas, the clock strikes December, and your cushy cocoon is suddenly shaken by the realization that you’ll have to start looking for your first legal job.

The process can be stressful, but if you properly manage the things that are within your control, you’ll be way ahead of most other 1Ls scrambling in the spring.

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An Introvert’s Guide to Law School Networking

November 16, 2012 By 6 Comments

Michelle Williams law studentWhat’s the second scariest word in law school, after “exams”? Networking! Yep, not most people’s favorite activity.

Today, we’re excited to introduce a new guest poster, Michelle Williams, a 3L and self-described introvert. She’s got some great advice on making networking more productive, and less painful. Take it away!

Introverts, amateur psychologists will tell you that you are shy. Self-involved. Socially awkward. Slow to adapt to change.

But, here you are in law school: forced to speak in front of large groups and adapting to change quickly.

Contrary to the expectations of armchair psychologists, you are making it. You are doing it. Moreover, you can thrive in law school.

As a 1L, I was obviously overwhelmed by the reading, the writing, and the classes. But, I was also overwhelmed by the sheer amount of social interactions required by….NETWORKING. Networking is a buzzword, and I used to groan every time I heard the word.

I now understand that networking is simply building a network of professional support.

Therefore, your goal is to form bonds with people who understand your professional capabilities.

The checklist below offers some thoughts about networking that put an introverted twist on the information you have gotten from your local career services office.

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Kate’s Counsel: Finding Your Way in the Legal Profession

November 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Kate McGuinness - Terminal AmbitionBig news! Kate McGuinness, author of Terminal Ambition and a legal trailblazer in her own right, is going to be a regular writer on The Girl’s Guide, which I couldn’t be more excited about.

Kate has a wealth of valuable experience to share about navigating as a woman in the legal profession, and she’s open to questions. So — if you need advice from someone who’s been-there-done-that — don’t be shy! Leave your questions in the comments.

Now, without further ado, here’s Kate!

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Do I Need a Recruiter? What Do They Do, Anyway?

October 25, 2012 By 5 Comments

Angela Kopolovich - Legal RecruiterToday, we’ve got a special guest here to talk about what’s a rather mysterious topic for many law firm associates: working with a recruiter.

Angela Kopolovich is the Managing Director of Alegna International, a boutique attorney recruiting firm, and she’ll give you the lowdown on working with a recruiter (and what to do if you really, really hate your job).

Without further ado…

Recruiters call me at work all the time. Is it okay to talk to them? I don’t really understand what they do. Will they charge me for the services they provide?

Here’s an inside look at how the recruiting business works. (Stick with me, it can get a little hairy).

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Want to Stand Out from the Pack? Start a Blog!

October 17, 2012 By 1 Comment

The Legal Side of BloggingWant to stand out in a crowded job market? Start a blog!

Today we’re thrilled to have Ruth Carter, author of The Legal Side of Blogging: How Not to get Sued, Fired, Arrested, or Killed, here to talk about the benefits of blogging for law students, along with some tips for getting started.

Take it away, Ruth!

Why Blog as a Law Student?

A recent study showed that over 40,000 law school graduates entered the job market in 2011 but only 55% had a full-time job that requires a law degree at 9 months after graduation.

Needless to say, it’s a tough market out there for people who want to be lawyers so it’s important to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Most people are not that perfect law student who is in the 10% of their class, editor of the law journal, and involved in every extracurricular in school. Another way to differentiate yourself from the crowd is to have a blog.
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5 Easy Steps to a Successful Legal Practice

October 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thrive: A New Lawyer's Guide to Law Firm PracticeToday we’re thrilled to welcome back Desiree Moore, founder of Greenhorn Legal and Greenhorn Bold, for a guest post on starting off right in your legal career. And, of course, to celebrate the launch of her new book on the same topic!

Thrive – A New Lawyer’s Guide To Law Firm Practice

In my new book, Thrive – A New Lawyer’s Guide To Law Firm Practice (American Bar Association, 2012), I take an in-depth look at all of the things you can do as a new lawyer to build a successful legal career from day one. Among other things, your mindset, professionalism, time management and organizational skills, and ability to work well with staff and other attorneys will contribute to your success in the early years of your career.

While each chapter in the book is carefully crafted to support you and your career, there are 5 distinct steps – or themes – that recur throughout the book that are fundamental to success in any legal practice environment. The good news? These are easy to implement and will reflect that you are a diligent, competent, impressive lawyer from day one.
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