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New On-line Resources

The American Bar Association has added a new section to their website called Economic Recovery Resources to deal with the current economic downturn. The section provides advice and resources on a variety of topics including networking, professional development, stress management, and career transitioning. The ABA site also contains a useful guide on how to gain experience through pro bono opportunities. Locally, the Boston Bar Association's Health Law Section will hold a program on pro bono opportunities in the Boston area on Thursday, May 21st. For more information on the program, click here.

Another new resource now on-line is PSLawNet's Government Careers section. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), one-third of the entire federal government workforce will leave in the next 5 years. The PSLawNet guide provides details on where the jobs are, the variety of practice areas available, and how to apply. The Government Careers section also includes information on the Federal Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), security clearances, and citizenship requirements. Navigating federal job opportunities can seem overwhelming at first, however PSLawNet provides job seekers with a clear guide on where to begin.

While the economic times may be challenging some great opportunities still exist. Pro bono work and unique government positions are two experiences job seekers should consider when seeking employment.

Alumni in the News: Paul Finn '76

1976 New England Law graduate, Paul Finn, was featured in a recent issue of the Boston Globe Magazine as one of the most prominent mediators in Massachusetts. Mr. Finn is well known for his work brokering deals in a variety of high-profile civil lawsuits including the Station nightclub fire and the Big Dig ceiling collapse. Read the full story here!

Networking Follow Up

I emailed an alum and they answered all my questions and provided me with some good advice. Now what?

Many students are unsure on how to best follow up with a networking contact either because they don't have any other questions to ask or fear that they will be bothering the person if they email again. Don't let the relationship end with just one email exchange! Maintaining regular contact (every 2-3 months) is the most important aspect of networking. Below are a few simple ways to keep in touch:

Did you follow the advice the contact gave you? If so, then let them know! Whether they suggested a class to take, a lecture to attend, or a person to contact, let them know that you followed their suggestion, report on the outcome, and thank them.

Did you read an interesting article relating to their area of practice? Pass it along to your contact! This is a thoughtful way of proving your interest while also continuing the conversation with your contact about a particular practice area. Also let them know if you recently read an article written by them. And if you read or heard something positive about them (a promotion or award received) send along a note of congratulations.

Keep them in the loop! One of the best ways to maintain and build a relationship with a professional contact is to use quarterly markers to update them on your progress in school and/or the job search. At the end of a semester, send them a note letting them know how it went and which courses you plan on taking next. Let them know where you will be working for the summer and follow up with them again at the end of the summer to let your contact know how it went. Holidays are also good opportunities to get back in touch with people.

Remember: It's not just what a contact can do for you now, but what they may do for you in the future. By maintaining your relationship with your contacts, you are keeping the lines of communication open for future job opportunities and recommendations!

Getting the Most Out of the Alumni Career Forum

There are two purposes to the Alumni Career Forum taking place this Thursday,March 26th:

Network: You’ve heard this before - - people often find a job through people they know! The Alumni Career Forum is designed to help you get to know practicing attorneys. While the Alumni Career Forum is not a job fair (resume exchanges are not allowed), students often gain employment through meeting alumni and following-up with them on their own. The alumni participating will be ready and waiting to meet you.

Exploration: This is an excellent time for you to explore many different practice areas of the law and learn about different career paths. You will find out what areas are growing and which are declining and changing. You will gain practical information and realistic insights as to what you can do NOW to prepare for gaining legal experience/employment in the future. You will also learn how New England Law alumni found their first job(s) and how they came to work in their practice area.

The Do’s and Don’ts:

1. Do: Dress in appropriate business attire. This event is taking place after work hours, and the alumni volunteers are coming straight from work in their business attire. You want to impress these individuals. Dress professionally.

2. Do: Be on time. Give yourself the full two hours to attend the event if possible. There will be lots of people for you to meet. Give yourself enough time to make the most of this opportunity.

3. Do: Be aware of how much time you are spending with one person. At this event, 5-10 minutes is enough time to talk with someone. Be mindful of other students who may be waiting behind you to talk with the alum you are talking with.

4. Do: Be open minded in choosing who you speak to. You may receive excellent advice on how to get a job from someone who is practicing in an area that you have no interest. You may also become interested in areas that you haven’t yet explored!

5. Do: Collect business cards from participants. After you have talked with an alum, ask for his/her business card. Try following up with an email, letter or phone call.

6. Do: Be prepared. Review the Participant Biographies booklet before the event and know something about the alumni you would like to meet before you attend the event. Try to think of questions that you would like to ask that person about their career so that you will be well prepared to make the most of this opportunity.


1. Don’t: Bring a resume to this career forum. Collect business cards to follow-up with the alumni in the future.

2. Don’t: Ask for a job! This is not a job fair. Focus on building new professional relationships, gathering information for your career plans and making valuable contacts, rather than focusing on the job you hope to gain.

3. Don’t: Limit your questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. For example, there are many aspects of practicing business/corporate law. The simplest question of: “What does a corporate attorney do?” is a great way to start a conversation.

4. Don’t: Limit who you are willing to meet. Look around and see who is by themselves at their table. Go to them and strike up a conversation. Even if you are positively sure you have no interest in their practice area, they may be full of great job search information, or you may learn of a new area of interest or they may know someone to connect you with.

5. Don’t: Feel like you are “schmoozing” people. Attorneys love to share their story. You are allowing them a chance to do so. Also, alums remember what it was like to be a student and they want to help you!

Networking Etiquette and Sample Questions

Introductions and Closings
1. First, introduce yourself and give the alum relevant information such as your class year, your interests, work
experience, student associations/memberships and organizations.

2. Shake hands firmly.

3. Use the list of questions below to help get the conversation started.

4. Be aware of the time. Try not to spend more than 5 minutes with someone if there are students waiting.

5. Towards the end of your conversation, ask for a business card from the participant.

6. Thank the alum for his/her time and coming to meet you.

Suggestions of Questions to Ask
What is a typical work day for you?

What types of cases/projects are you currently working on?

How is what I am learning in school different from what it will be like practicing [insert practice area]?

What does an [insert practice area] lawyer do?

How did you become a [insert practice area] attorney?

If I am interested in [insert practice area], what can I do to make myself an attractive candidate for employment by the time I graduate?

Can you recommend any professional organizations that might be useful for someone interested in [insert practice area] law?

Breaking into Certain Fields
How did you get your first job in [insert practice area] after law school?

Did you work while you were a student? Where? Did it help you get into [insert practice area]?

I have had two experiences within [insert practice area]. Should I continue to work in this practice area, or is it better for me to try a different practice area?

How did you get into a “solo/small/medium/large sized” firm? What do they look for in attorneys?

How important are grades to get my first position in a “solo/small/medium/large sized law firm or government agency/clerkship” opportunity?

The Alumni Career Forum is open to all New England Law | Boston students. To attend, please RSVP with the CSO!

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Samples

What are employers looking for when they ask for a writing sample?
When legal employers ask for a writing sample, they want to see an example of the applicant's strong legal research and analytical skills. Students may use one of the following: a memorandum or brief, a Moot Court brief, or a Law Review or Journal article. If the application is for a judicial clerkship, then an unedited memorandum or brief should be used rather than a journal article.

How long should it be?
Generally, the writing sample should be no more than 10 pages long. If the writing sample is much longer, use an excerpt and include a cover page explaining what the excerpt is taken from.

Can I use something I wrote for a former employer?
Yes, however, always gain permission from the former employer first. All names of clients and other identifying information should be redacted by using fictitious names or crossing out the original names. Applicants should also include a brief cover page noted that the sample is being used with permission.

What if I don't have any good writing samples?
If you are not pleased with your memorandum from your first year writing course and do not have any other samples of your legal writing, you can always revise your original until you think it is a better representation of your current writing ability. Also consider writing an article for an outside publication or entering a writing contest. Getting published or winning a writing contest is not only a great way to prove to an employer your strong writing skills, it also demonstrates initiative and your genuine interest in a particular field.

Do employers really read writing samples?
While some employers confess they only read the first page to an applicant's writing sample, just as many say they read the entire piece. With this in mind, take care that your writing sample is free of typos and is a good representation of your writing abilities. Excellent writing is an essential skill to becoming a lawyer and writing samples will always be an important piece of the legal job search process!

For further reading on this topic:

Strauss, Debra M. "Building a Successful Application."Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships. The BarBri Group, Inc. 2002 (Available in the CSO.)

Walton, Kimm Alayne. "Handling Writing Samples."Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams.Harcourt Brace. 1995 (Available in the CSO.)

Wojcik, Mark E. "Get Published." Student Lawyer. October 2008 (Vol. 37, No. 2)

The Power of Networking

The Jobs section of Boston.com has an article featuring 10 tips for finding a job.Many of the tips highlight one piece of advice you probably hear a lot from the career counselors here in the Career Services Office: network!

"Asking for assistance and advice is the heart of networking, and the single most important thing a person looking for a new job should do. Your next opportunity could come via a tip or chance encounter with a former boss, colleague, neighbor, recruiter, barber, or golf buddy, but you will never hear about it if they don't know you are looking (even passively). You need to be courageous enough to talk to people you meet about what you ultimately want, instead of regretting that you didn't mention it sooner."

The article also encourages job seekers to join professional associations:

"Whether you are currently employed or not, opportunities flow from being around like-minded people and professional associations and communities are where you need to be. They are a great way for uncovering hidden jobs, to further your knowledge and to make new relationships. Investigate which ones are appropriate for you, and join in."

There are a number of bar associations out there that encourage student membership and hold events specifically for law students. Whether you are seeking a summer internship or post-graduate employment, networking is an essential part of job search process and is especially important during these economic times.

For tips and more information on how to network, read the networking section of our handbook!