Transcript How to Market Your JD

3L Strategies
How to Get a Job with Your JD
Confront The Brutal Facts
• Facing “Global War on Jobs”
- Law Firm Model Change
- Gov’t/PI Budget Issues
- Hiring Freeze/Downsizing in
Business & Higher Education
- Increased Job Competition
• Accept What You Cannot Change
• Control What You Can - Your
Attitude & Effort
Career Planning is A Process
1. Re-Assess
Your VIPS
2. Rethink Your Job Search
3. Redefine Your Immediate Goals
4. Reload Your Professional Tool Kit
5. Build and Utilize Your Network
Step 1 – Re-Assessment
What do you want to do?
 Where do you want to go?
 What are your VIPS?
 The more clarity you have, the better able
you will be to conduct your job search, set
realistic goals and empower your network
to assist you
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Strengths = Transferable Skills
Legal – research, writing, analysis,
strategic thinking, oral advocacy,
negotiation, mediation, contracts
 Adaptive – listening, problem-solving,
work ethic, professionalism, initiative,
time management, resilience, judgment
 Technical – computer proficiency, foreign
language, web development, undergrad
degree or work experience
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Step 2 - Job Research
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What are all of my options?
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How can I best utilize my legal education, skills
and experience right now?
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What is the best fit for me?
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Where can I get the best training, mentoring
and experience?
Major Job Categories
Law Firms
 Government/Military
 Public Interest
 Business/Corporation
 Academia
 Judicial Clerkships
 Other (Non-Legal)
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Law Firms
OCI never was the only game in town
 Check Symplicity regularly
 Small-medium firms still hiring, but many
opportunities not advertised
 Identify target firms
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– Martindale, Westlaw, Indiana Legal Directory,
Bar Associations, Google, etc.
– Check web sites and contact directly – phone
calls v. emails
Government/Military
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273,000 Federal jobs to be filled by 2012
– #3 Enforcement and Compliance – 31,000
– #4 Legal – 23,500
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www.usajobs.gov
Presidential Management Fellows
Government Honors Handbook
Final Semester in DC
States > OCPD Online Resources
Volunteering leads to Full-Time Jobs!
Have you considered…
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Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center
– http://www.crane.navy.mil/defaulthome.asp
– Contract Specialists
– Environmental
– Logistics
– Other
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Gov’t contracts not boring and lucrative!
Public Interest
OCPD Online Resources
 PSLawNet.org – Orgs vs. Opportunities
 Volunteer with Public Defender, Legal Aid
or Non-Profits to build upon existing skills
and/or learn new ones
 Volunteer to clerk for a judge, ideally
where you want to practice, after
graduation
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Business/Corporation
Finance/Tax
 Human Resources
 Supply Chain/Procurement
 Logistics
 Regulatory Compliance
 Public Relations
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Academia
Higher education - IU, Ivy Tech, local
community colleges
 www.higheredjobs.com
 Institutions w/o law schools
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Chronicle of Higher Education
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Private high schools and college prep
schools
Other Post-Graduate Options
Fellowships – EJW, IU Grad Grant Center
 Research Assistants
 Contract/Temp Legal Work
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– Check OCPD Online Resources for a list of
temp firms (register for multiple firms)
Individual Project Work
 Other Contract/Temp Work
 Chamber of Commerce in desired location
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Step 3 – Goal Setting
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Set realistic, attainable goals – viable options
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Get organized - give yourself action steps and
deadlines
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Be persistent and patient
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“Finding a job is a full-time job!”
Step 4 – Re-Tool
Revise cover letter – tell your “story”
 Update resume = marketing brochure
 Practice interviewing – convey genuine
interest and enthusiasm
 Solicit letters of recommendation and
references (esp. former employers)
 Business cards are essential – see OCPD
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STEP 5 - Networking
You are in the
“relationship business”!
Communication is Key
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Periodically update contacts with new,
relevant information about you:
– Articles/notes written
– High grades & related coursework
– Involvement with CLE’s & symposiums
– Summer work and clinical experience
– Other volunteering, leadership roles or
personal accomplishments
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Check-in with former/prospective
employers to remind them of your
interest, availability and enthusiasm
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Develop/manage productive professional
and personal relationships with a diverse
audience
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Out of Sight = Out of Mind !!
Expand Your Network
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Network with alumni
– Indiana Law and IUAA
– Are you a member of the alumni association
at your undergrad (Masters, PhD) school?
– Job shadow
– Informational interview
– Volunteer
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Join local and/or state bar associations
Advice
Let OCPD help you develop/implement
your personal strategy
 Don’t be a well-kept secret - get out there
and meet people
 Persistence and patience trumps talent
 Do what Lawyers do – and make the best
of the situation!
 GOOD LUCK!
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