|
|
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq. It can be frustrating when you're looking for a job and no one responds to your networking emails. I recently spoke to a young attorney who was having a hard time finding a job. To her credit, she wasn't just sending out resumes and waiting for people to call her back, she was going to networking events and sending out emails requesting informational interviews. The problem was that no one was responding to her emails and she was feeling stuck. I asked her to show me one of her networking emails and I quickly saw what the problem was. Her email was three paragraphs long with her resume attached and sounded more like a generic cover letter than a sincere request to connect. Her email started with who she was, where she went to school, where she had worked, what she had done, and ended with the fact that she was looking for a job and would like to set up an informational interview. The problem with her email and overall approach was that she was entirely focused on herself and not on the person she was reaching out to. If you want people to respond to your emails follow these guidelines.
You Are Asking For Advice, Not A Job
The guiding principle behind networking conversations during your job search is that you are asking for advice, not a job. While it is clear that you are looking for a job, the general wisdom is that people are more likely to say yes to a conversation if all you want is to ask them for advice. On the other hand, if you are asking for a job and they don't have one to give you then they have no reason to talk to you and you lose out on creating a relationship with someone who could potentially help you in the future.
For example, if you are a lawyer and you are networking with lawyers who do what you want to do one of the best ways to engage them is by asking them about their career story. Questions like, how they got started in this area of law, what do they like about their jobs, what do they find challenging, and what job search advice do they have for a new attorney will allow you to have a meaningful conversation where you get to know them and they see you as a thoughtful and sincere professional that they would feel comfortable referring to a job opportunity.
Keep It Short And Make It Easy For Them To Say Yes
In the sales industry there is saying, "If you confuse people, you lose people", meaning keep it simple. The same is true when asking for help in the job search. When you send a long, boring, generic email to someone you don't know you are more likely to turn them off rather than entice them to want to help you.
Instead, you want to send a short 4-5 sentence email, personalized to your contact by highlighting why you specifically want to talk to them, and requesting an opportunity to speak with them. Here is an example:
"Dear Attorney Smith,
I am a recent graduate of New England Law | Boston and I have a background in finance. I came across your LinkedIn profile while researching attorneys in the Boston area who practice corporate law. I see that you have practiced for several years and would love to ask you a few questions about your career path and how you got to where you are today. Would you have time for a quick 20-minute informational interview via phone in the next few weeks? Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your name"
In this example, you can see that I summarized who I was and why I wanted to connect with this specific lawyer. I did not mention anything about looking for a job but focused on what I wanted to learn about this lawyer. And finally, all I asked for was a 20-minute phone call which most people should be able to fit into their schedule.
If you use this strategy, I'd love to hear how it works for you. Good luck on your job search and happy networking!
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
"I'm so excited to write my LinkedIn summary", said no one ever. That's because most people find it hard to write about themselves. It's an awkward thing to do, especially if you don't know what to say or you don't want to sound like your bragging about yourself.
But the summary section is an important part of your profile that should not be ignored. When recruiters, employers, clients, and colleagues are using LinkedIn to learn more about you, the summary is your opportunity to tell them who you are and why you are someone they should want to get to know better. But with a blank or poorly written summary you run the risk of making a bad first impression and losing an opportunity to your competition.
Last week, I gave a talk at the Boston Bar Association about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile. To prepare, I reviewed the summaries of popular LinkedIn Influencers to see what they were doing right. I was surprised to learn that they were using a simple two-step structure to write their summaries in a way that was clear and impressive without sounding boring or obnoxious. My favorite example was from Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn.
Step 1. Current Snapshot
He begins his summary with a description of what he is doing now. He starts with his years of experience, his current role, and company.
"Internet executive with over 20 years of experience, including general management of mid to large size organizations, corporate development, product development, business operations, and strategy. Currently CEO at LinkedIn, the web's largest and most powerful network of professionals."
What does your current snapshot look like?
Are you a law student? Where do you go to school? What type of law do you want to practice? What do you hope to do after you graduate?
Are you an associate, in-house counsel, or solo practitioner? How long have you been practicing? Where do you work? What area of law do you focus on? What types of clients do you help?
Step 2. Past Experience and Highlights
Then he shares his past experiences at other companies, mainly focusing on the high-level roles and highlights.
"Prior to LinkedIn, was an Executive in Residence at Accel Partners and Greylock Partners. Primarily focused on advising the leadership teams of the firm's existing consumer technology portfolio companies while also working closely with the firm’s partners to evaluate new investment opportunities.
Previously served in key leadership roles at Yahoo! for over seven years, most recently as the Executive Vice President of Yahoo!'s Network Division managing Yahoo's consumer web product portfolio, including Yahoo's Front Page, Mail, Search, and Media products."
What does your past look like?
What did you do prior to law school? What other firms or companies have you worked for? What awards or honors have you received? What are some major professional accomplishments you have achieved?
BONUS: Add some personality to the mix
If you want to really impress the reader and stand out from the crowd, give them a sense of who you are beyond your resume by adding some personal information to your summary. Let them know why you do what you do or what you really care about when it comes to your work.
Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of GE tells us that he "has always been defined by his zealous love of teaching and commitment to building leaders."
Deepak Chopra MD is "committed to helping to create a more peaceful, just, sustainable, happier and healthy world."
Tony Robbins, speaker and author shares that his "passion has been helping people to BREAKTHROUGH and take their lives to another level - no matter how successful they already are - in the areas that matter most."
By following this simple structure you will have a well-written summary section that will leave any visitor with a great impression of who you are as a professional.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
The interview follow-up scenario can feel like a delicate dance between you and the employer. Especially when you know you had a great interview and they told you that you could expect to hear back from them within a few days. But after a few days have passed and you haven’t heard anything from the employer, you can’t help but start to get a little anxious. Is this a bad sign? Should you follow up? What do you say? While you don’t want to come off as annoying or pushy, you do want to find out whether you got the job or not.
In this article, you will learn how to follow up in a professional and appropriate manner so that you don’t turn off the employer.
Ask Them What The Next Steps Are
Generally, at the end of the interview, you will have an opportunity to ask any final questions. This is when you can ask one of the following questions below to find out what the next steps are:
1. What are the next steps in the interview process?
2. What is your timeline for making a hiring decision?
3. Who is the appropriate person I should follow up with regarding next steps?
The answers to these questions will give you a sense of clarity and control about how to follow-up after the interview.
Get Their Business Card
As the interview comes to a close, make sure to ask your interviewer for their business card. You’ll use this information to send them a thank you note. Hand-written thank you notes are always a nice touch but emailed thank you notes are also acceptable.
The secret to writing a good thank you note is to not make it sound like a generic thank you but to personalize it by referencing something from the interview and to use it as an opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm for the job and why you’re a good fit. Ideally, you should plan to send your thank you note the day after your interview.
Sending A Follow-Up Email
If the deadline to hear back from the employer has come and gone and you’re anxious to find out if you got the job or not, here is what you can do. It’s best not to follow up the day you were supposed to hear from them. Instead give the employer at least a 24 hour grace period. For example, if you were told you would hear back by end of day Monday and you didn’t, then the soonest you should follow up is on Wednesday. While hearing back from the employer might be your top priority, keep in mind that the employer has a lot of other things going on at the office and giving them this grace period shows that you are being respectful and courteous while also expressing your interest in the job.
According to career expert Alison Green, since the timeline you were given has passed you have a good reason to follow-up. Here is a sample email you can use in your outreach:
“ Dear _____, Thank you again for the opportunity to interview with your firm for the associate position. I enjoyed meeting you and the other associates and wanted to reiterate my sincere desire to be a part of your organization. I just wanted to follow up to see if you have a timeline you can share for the next steps in the hiring process. I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.
Best,
Your Name”
This example allows you to follow up without being too direct or pushy. Since you’re inquiring about the process and not the hiring decision you are more likely to get a response with an updated timeline if they have not made a decision yet. Ultimately this approach allows you to stay in communication with the employer without pressuring them for an answer.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
Recent law school grads face a difficult challenge when it comes to their job search. Most of the open jobs that they find online are asking for 3-5 years of legal experience that they don’t have. It can be frustrating to spend hours searching for jobs online, sending out carefully tailored cover letters and resumes, and never hear back from a single employer. While online job hunting is the most common job search strategy it certainly is not the only one. In addition to the online job search strategy, grads should dedicate more time to their networking strategy.
1. NETWORKING CAN SPEED UP YOUR JOB SEARCH
I spoke to a recent law school graduate who shared with me how she used her network to get her first job after law school. She wanted to work in family law and she was moving to another state where she didn’t know anyone. She knew networking would help her find a job but she felt intimidated by the process. To get over her fear she worked with her career counselor to learn exactly what she needed to do to build her network. She started by using resources like martindale.com and LinkedIn to find attorneys who practiced family law in her state. Once she had her list she sent them all introductory emails to and asked if they would be open to having an informational interview. To her delight, most of the attorneys said yes to her request as they remembered what it was like when they were looking for their first job after graduation. In fact, one of those attorneys invited her into their offices for their meeting which ended up lasting almost 3 hours. By the end they offered her a job on the spot which she happily accepted.
The big takeaway here is that networking served as a short cut to getting her first job. By networking, she put herself in front of attorneys who were looking to hire an associate and she was offered a job without having to go through the online application process where her resume would have been one of several other resumes. What she learned was that the job search consists of more than just sending out resumes and hoping someone calls you back. To increase your chances of finding a job it is important to proactively meet with attorneys who do the work that you want to do so that when they are ready to make a hire you stand out from the rest of the crowd.
2. TAP INTO THE SECRET JOB MARKET
There are job openings out there right now that you don’t know about because they most likely are being filled by a referral rather than being advertised online. And even if they are advertised online, job seekers that come with a referral are two-thirds more likely to get hired than a non-referred job seekers. From the employer’s perspective this makes their hiring process faster and easier. Rather than having to sift through a stack of resumes and go through rounds of interviews with people they don’t know, they can instead consider a few candidates who come recommended by people that the employer knows and trusts. Being referred to a job gives you instant credibility in the hiring process.
I was working with a young lawyer who wanted to change careers and was considering going back to work in the non-profit sector. I showed her how to use LinkedIn to see if she knew anyone in that field. It turned out that one of her contacts was a consultant in the non-profit industry. She reached out to her contact who was able to refer her to a job at another non-profit agency for a grant writing position. She was ultimately hired for the position that she only learned about through her network.
3. ONLINE JOB POSTINGS CAN BE LIMITING
In my role as a law school career counselor, I talk to employers who are interested in hiring our graduates. Recently I had a conversation with an employer, who had posted a job with our school for a litigation associate with at least 3-5 of experience. This employer was having a hard time finding the right candidate. I asked him what was the most important qualification he was looking for and he said he needed someone who was a fast learner, easy to train, and dependable. He didn’t mention years of experience at all. Coincidentally I had just spoken with a recent grad that was looking for a new job and I knew she had the qualities this employer was looking for. I asked him if he would consider looking at someone with less years of experience and he said yes. I put the recent grad in touch with that employer and he ended up hiring her a week later.
The lesson here is that online job postings are too restrictive for job seekers and employers. There is no flexibility in the online job posting process. Either your resume meets the requirements or they don’t. And if they don’t, the employer has no reason to bring you in for an interview. However when you network you build flexibility into your job search. By talking to people and creating relationships, you have the ability to present yourself in a way that your resume can’t do on its own.
The value of networking when you are looking for a job is undeniable. It can be the difference between finding a job in a month or in a year. Networking can introduce you to opportunities you would have otherwise never known about. And finally, networking allows you to show your value better than your resume could ever do.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq. You know how important it is to shine in a job interview, you make sure to wear your best interview suit, you research the organization and the interviewer, and you practice answering potential interview questions, perhaps doing a mock interview with a counselor in Career Services. Now imagine that you get to the interview and because of your preparation the interview is going great. You are charming, interesting, and articulate and the interview feels more like a conversation then an interrogation. Then the interviewer asks their final question, “Do you have any questions for me?” All of a sudden your mind goes blank, you can’t think of a question to ask. You say, “No” and the interview comes to a screeching halt. What felt like the makings of a great interview now feels like you are living one of those cautionary tales about what not to do on an interview. To avoid this unfortunate scenario, it is important to have a collection of go-to questions that you can always ask at the end of the interview. Good questions show the interviewer that you are prepared, thoughtful, and really want the job. You want to do everything you can to make sure that you are the one person they remember. To that end, here are 5 thought provoking and forward thinking questions you should ask to show an employer that you are the right candidate for the job. 1. What do you enjoy most about working here? This question not only allows the interviewer to think about what they like about their job and puts a positive spin on the interview; it allows you to get an insider’s perspective as to some of the perks and benefits of the organization as well as its culture. Remember that you are interviewing the employer just as much as they are interviewing you. 2. What have past employees done to succeed in this position? This question tells the interviewer that you really want to succeed in this new position and you are already thinking about what needs to be done. Based on the interviewer’s response you can highlight parts of your past experience that show you have the skills to succeed in this position. 3. What are some of the challenges the person who fills this role will face? This question will show the interviewer that you are a true professional, someone who is mature and understands that challenges are to be expected as part of any job. You will also be able to describe how you could overcome these challenges based on your past experience. 4. What does success in this role look like 6 months from now and how will it be measured? This question tells the interviewer that you are accustomed to performing and meeting demands. Their answer will help you understand what activities they prioritize in this position so that you can know what to focus on. 5. What are the next steps in this interview process? This is a great question to wrap up the interview with because it helps you understand the employer’s timeline and allows you to discuss how best to follow up after the interview. Remember that these questions are designed to highlight your qualifications and interest in the position as well as help you understand the employer’s challenges. What are some other questions that you could ask to show the employer you are the right person for the job?
By Mo Chanmugham. Esq.
What defines success in law school? Is it all about getting good grades? Being in the top 10% of the class? Becoming a member of law review? Or is it passing your finals and graduating? These are all indicators of a successful law school experience. But, as a career advisor I find myself focusing on one thing; how to help my students find the jobs they want after graduation.
How does one go about getting that all important first job out of law school? What do students have to do in law school to make sure they are the most attractive candidate to an employer who has plenty of law grads to choose from? To help me answer this question, I interviewed a group of students from the class of 2015 who were all in the enviable position of having a job before graduation. High- performance coach and motivational speaker, Tony Robbins says, success leaves clues, and these successful students were no different. Through their stories, I was able to recognize a pattern that led them to stand out from the crowd and land their ideal jobs.
1. Use law school to figure out what you want
Some students come to law school knowing exactly what they want to do. Suzanne Donnelly ‘15 had worked in healthcare prior to law school and knew she wanted to explore health law as a career. She took relevant courses in health law and interned with the Massachusetts Health Appeals Board. While she is currently a judicial law clerk for the New York State Appellate Division, she plans to practice health care law when her one-year term is up.
Other students used a trial and error approach and once they found what they liked they stuck with it. Justin Banks ’15 thought he wanted to practice corporate law but on a recommendation from his mentor he did his first internship with the Massachusetts Probate & Family Court and loved it. This experience changed his focus and he decided to take more classes and internships in family law. Ultimately, Justin was recommended for his post-grad job as an associate because of the work he did at a summer internship with another family law firm.
Rachel Tillison ‘15 thought she wanted to pursue a career in public interest but to her surprise she really enjoyed her 1L property and contract law classes. This led her to a summer internship in the in-house legal department of a railroad company where she worked on a variety of contract and labor law matters. This experience solidified her decision to stick with contract law and taught her that she preferred working in a corporate environment rather than in the public sector. "It ended up being the best choice I made because in the fall of my 3L year they offered me a full-time staff attorney position once I graduated and completed the Bar exam."
All three students recommend using classes and speaking with practicing lawyers to figure out what area of law you want to practice or don’t want to practice as the case may be sometimes. By 2L year, you should have a pretty good idea of what type of law you want to practice so that you can build your resume in that area of law.
2. Talk to a lot of people
Networking was a strong theme throughout these students' stories. Joyell Johnson '15 knew she wanted to practice public interest law. She used her time in law school to attend public interest conferences and networking events where she met other lawyers. Her connections led her to her current position as a Fellow with the Family League of Baltimore.
Samantha Rosen '15, who landed an in-house counsel position at Popmania, a small entertainment company in LA, credits networking as well. While in law school she attended as many events as possible such as speaker panels and bar association events. She also attended the Toronto Film Festival where she met attorneys who offered her an internship at their firm which later led to a job.
Through internships and clinics, Teniola Adeyemi '15 figured out that she liked criminal prosecution. Her next step was to reach out to anyone that she knew who could help her get more experience. After a summer internship with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Texas, she spent her 3L year interning with the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office in Massachusetts. Her internship experience with the Suffolk County District Attorney's office landed her a post-grad position there as an Assistant District Attorney.
All things being equal, people like to work with people they know. At the end of three years, most law student resumes look pretty much the same to an employer. To overcome this challenge, these students did not solely rely on their resumes to get them their jobs. They took the time to build relationships with lawyers who got to see their personality and work ethic first hand. It is no wonder then that in a competitive job market these were the students who found themselves employed before many others.
3. Your job search starts in law school
From talking to these students, what I noticed most was that they all started their job search in law school. They didn’t neglect it or tell themselves they will get to it once they were done with law school. They didn’t only focus on classes and grades, but rather they incorporated it into their law school experience. They understood that class work, internships, and networking combined would lead them to their ideal job. They knew that focusing only one of these things would leave them at a huge disadvantage come graduation time.
While you are in law school think of it as an incubator for your budding legal career. It is a safe place where you can try new things and explore your options. Through your experience of learning what you like and don’t like you begin to build a portfolio that shows you have the right knowledge and experience for a particular area of law. And by the time you graduate you will hopefully have a host of job offers to choose from or at least a large network of lawyers that could help you land a job sooner rather than later.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
Summer can fly by when you are a busy legal intern. Before you know it, it will be the end of August and you will be back in class. Here are seven ways that you can make the most of your summer internship and leave on a high note.
1. Don’t Hide
It is easy to hide behind all that legal research and writing that you have to do, but it is also important to get out from behind your desk and spend time with your co-workers. An easy way to get to know someone can start with a simple good morning greeting or invite someone out for an afternoon walk to grab an iced coffee. These seemingly small gestures and interactions are the ones that can lead to better relationships in the office. As the old saying goes, “people do business with people they like.” Try getting to know your co-workers and give them a chance to like you!
2. Keep Track of your Assignments
Throughout the summer, you will work on multiple assignments which may come from different supervisors and have different due dates. To help you keep track of everything that you are working on create an Excel sheet that lists the name of the person who assigned you the project, the name of the project or a description of what it is, when it is due, and any other relevant information. At the end of the summer this assignment tracker will be a great tool for you to review with your supervisor to update them on the status of your assignments, and to tie up any loose ends before you leave. In addition, it demonstrates how organized and detail-oriented you are which will impress any employer. Lastly, you can use it to update your resume at the end of the summer.
3. Get a Good Writing Sample
As a lawyer your writing skills are always on display whether it is a client letter, a research memo, a court pleading or an article. Employers routinely ask for writing samples to evaluate your qualifications in the hiring process. This summer think about which of your writing assignments would be writing sample worthy, and get permission from your employer to be able to use it in the future. You might have to redact any confidential or identifying information in the document in order to get the approval from your employer.
4. Ask for Feedback
When you are having a great summer internship you know it. When things aren’t going so great you usually know it too. Your internship is an important learning experience as a student and as a professional. You only have a few chances in law school to intern. A bad internship can be detrimental to your learning and progress. A simple way to avoid having a bad experience is to be proactive. Ask for feedback on your work and your overall performance. If you sense things aren’t going well, you should adopt a proactive strategy, and schedule a time to speak with your boss. Address your concerns and ask how you can improve your performance. By opening up a dialogue before things get worse, you can save your summer internship and come out feeling good about your experience.
5. Go to Lunch with Your Boss
This builds on tip #1 above and reinforces the point that “people do business with people they like” and takes it a step further. Going to lunch with your boss and getting to interact with them outside the office gives you both the chance to get to know each other on a personal level. You are no longer limited to talking about legal research findings and client cases but can learn about each other’s career paths and personal background. As you build your legal career it is important to have mentors and close connections with senior attorneys who can not only provide great career advice, but also serve as recommendations.
6. Have an Exit Interview
In case your internship doesn’t have a formal exit interview process, you should set up your own informal version with your boss. Get on your boss’ calendar for a 30-minute meeting during the last week of your internship to discuss your overall experience and performance and to get their feedback. This way you will end on a strong note. It also sends a message to your boss that you are a professional, who is eager to learn and grow.
7. Send a Thank You Card
Once the internship is over and you are back at school a great way to close out your summer experience is to send your boss and anyone else that you had a meaningful, professional connection with a thank you card to show your appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity to work there and learn from them. Sending a thank you card in the mail is a rare thing these days and by sending one you will show your boss that you are someone who is thoughtful and goes the extra mile to show your appreciation.
Your summer internship experience is an incredibly important stepping stone in your legal career. You want to make sure that you make the most of this experience in order to keep your career moving in the right direction. By following these seven tips you can be sure that you took control of the experience and gave it your best effort.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
Wouldn’t it be great to know exactly what law firms are looking for when they make their summer associate hiring decisions? Earlier this month the CSO held its annual Summer Associate Hiring Information Program and invited recruiters and hiring partners from the Boston offices of three medium to large size firms to discuss everything from what they look for in a strong application, to how to pass the interview process, to how to eventually land an offer at the end of the summer.
Application Process
The application due date varies slightly from year to year; most recently in 2014, applications were due in August. While we know the Summer Associate position is highly sought after and therefore is highly competitive, we learned that these firms receive approximately 750-1000 applications for only 2-10 spots in their programs. In order to cull the large number of applications down to a more manageable group, law firms set an objective cut off point based on a student’s GPA and Class Rank to serve as their first level filter, only selecting students in the top 10% to 30% of the class. From there they take into account participation in law journal, moot court, as well as previous work experience.
Interview Process
Students who are selected for an On Campus Interview (OCI) will be notified within 2-3 weeks of submitting their application. Students should not make any travel plans for the months of August and September so that they can be in Boston for the interviews. In this first round interview a representative from the firm, usually the recruiting manager from the HR department or an associate; will come to the law school to interview the selected students. These interviews are approximately 20 minutes in length and the interviewer will have several scheduled for that day in order to interview all the students. Students should arrive dressed in professional business attire with a copy of their resume and application materials and notepad to take down notes during the interview. As this is an opportunity for the firm to learn more about the student, students should be prepared to do most of the talking and come with a list of questions they have about the firm, the interviewer, and the Summer Associate Program. Common questions students should be prepared to answer are, “Why do you want to work for this firm?”, “What area of law are you interested in?” and “Tell me about yourself.” At the end of the interview the student should thank the interviewer, make it clear they would like to join the firm, and make sure to ask for the interviewer’s business card so that the student can send a thank you note and follow-up email regarding next steps in the process.
Call-back interviews are scheduled within 2 weeks of the On-Campus Interview. In the call-back interview, students are invited to visit the firm where they will meet and interview with several associates and partners. These interviews can range from a one on one meeting to meeting with 2-4 attorneys at a time, and sometimes will include a lunch interview where the student will be taken out to lunch by two recently hired associates.
Prior to the call-back interview students will be given a list of the attorneys that they will be meeting with so that they can prepare questions and do their interview research. At this stage of the process, students have passed the first hurdle of meeting the firm’s academic criteria and the firm is now looking for how well students fit in with the firm culture. Students should prepare for a long day of answering the same questions from the different attorneys that they meet and should be prepared with their own set of questions to ask each attorney as well. Students may find themselves asking the same questions over and over again which is acceptable because the student is learning about each attorney’s experience at the firm. Firms wrap up their interviewing of all students by the end of September and hiring decisions are sent out by the end of November at the latest.
Summer Program
The Summer Associate programs run from 9-11 weeks during which time the Summer Associate will experience a modified schedule of what it is like to work at that particular firm. Summer Associates are given a reasonable workload and are expected to take part in the scheduled social events outside of the office as a way to connect with associates and partners on a more collegial level. Firms pay just as much attention to the Summer Associate’s work product as they do to their social, communication, and relationship building skills as these skills have become even more relevant in this competitive economic climate.
Summer Associates are paired up with an associate mentor and have access to the human resources department to help navigate their time at the firm. Successful Summer Associates are able to manage both the work and social obligations and should not hesitate to ask for help or guidance if they feel overwhelmed or unclear about their assignments.
The Summer Associate Program is essentially one long interview process where should the student perform well the student can expect to receive an offer from the firm. The firm selects their Summer Associate class size with the expectation that they will give each Summer Associate an offer. Offers may be given as soon as the last day of the program or at most a few weeks after the end of the program.
For more questions about the Summer Associate Program please set up a time to meet with one of the CSO advisors.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
During the job search, the salary question can come up in many forms, it can be part of an online application process, or the employer can ask that you include it in your cover letter or resume, or it can be asked during the interview process. In any case, it is good for you to know what your number is before going into any salary negotiation.
Know Your Market
So how do you determine what your starting salary should be? You need to know your market and take into account the following input factors:
- Your level of experience (0-3 years)
- Your industry (Public or Private Sector)
- Work setting (Small firm, Medium firm, In-house, Government Agency, Public Interest, etc.)
- Geographic area (rural area, big city)
- Competition (i.e. How saturated is the market?)
These factors all contribute to what your salary should be in a given market, for example an entry level attorney in a small private practice law firm in a town in western Massachusetts will not be paid the same amount as an entry level attorney in a small private practice law firm in downtown Boston. A small town lawyer can expect to get paid less than an attorney in a major city.
Online Salary Research
Now that you know what factors go into determining a salary you can go online to research estimated salaries in your area. Here is a list of some of the best websites for salary research:
- www.salary.com
- www.indeed.com/salary
- www.nalp.org/salariescompensation
- www.roberthalf.com/legal/lawyer-salary-center
A search for “entry level attorney” in “Boston, MA” on salary.com or indeed.com reveals that the median salary is in the range of $68K-$89K. However, this does not take into account the industry or office setting, meaning we don’t know if they are talking about private sector law firms or public sector government agencies. According to NALP’s starting salary research for the class of 2011, small firm salaries ranged from $50K-$70K nationwide. Robert Half Legal’s 2015 Salary guide shows that First Year Associates in a small firm in Boston made between $71K-$100K. As you can see the range goes from as low as $50K to as high as $100K. While these searches provide a general range it is necessary to do further research based on your industry or specific office setting in order to get a more accurate number. For example, in Boston, the starting salary for a public defender is $40K and for an Assistant District Attorneys it is $37,500.
Know Your Floor
Once you get an idea of the range of salaries that you can expect for the position that you are applying to, you should determine your floor, which is the least amount you could be paid and still be happy with. This requires you to do a budget and calculate your expenses so that you have an idea of what would be acceptable for you. When an employer asks for your salary range, you will make sure not to go below your floor when giving a range. When answering the salary question give a range of about $10K; for example, $50K-$60K or $70K-$80K.
Answer Without A Number
Ideally it is best to observe the golden rule of salary negotiations and get the employer to give you their number first. Common ways to respond to the "What is your salary requirement?" question without giving a number are:
- In a cover letter, "My salary requirements are compatible with the market rate for someone with my level of education and experience."
- In an interview, "I'm sure what you have budgeted is consistent with the market rate and I would be happy with any reasonable offer that you provide. What did you have in mind?"
The goal here is to get them to give you their number first so that you can evaluate where it falls in the range of your predetermined floor and ceiling. For example, you may be prepared to go as low as $50K and their bottom is $60K. You don't want to leave money on the table if you can help it!
Consider All The Benefits
Salary is only one part of the employer's whole compensation package. Other parts to consider are benefits such as health insurance, vacation days, 401K matching programs, flexible hours, working from home, and a transportation stipend. If your employer can't give you a higher salary you can negotiate for some of these other benefits to be added to your compensation package.
Employers Expect You To Negotiate
While you may feel vulnerable about the fact that you are looking for a job, the reality is if the employer wants to hire you they expect that you will want to negotiate your salary. In a survey by Careerbuilder.com employers said that they expect a salary negotiation and build that into their initial offer.
BONUS: How To Calculate Your Hourly Rate
Certain employers, like small law firms, may not be able to offer full-time employment but can hire an associate on an hourly basis. If you are asked to suggest an hourly rate, you can calculate your rate by using this simple formula: Salary / Hours in a year = Hourly Rate
The average employee works 40 hours a week in a 52 week year, resulting in 2,080 hours/year. Take your expected annual salary and divide it by 2,080. For example, if the expected annual salary for this position would be $55,000, your hourly rate would be $55,000/2,080, or $26.44/hr.
Whether you are seeking your summer internship or
looking for post-graduate employment, the winter break is a good time to
organize your job search campaign.
1. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Be sure to add any clinic experience or leadership
activities you participated in this past semester. For help on updating your
resume and LinkedIn profile, you can download the Resume Tips handout and the LinkedIn
for Law Students Guide by visiting Symplicity > Job Search
Handouts > Document
Library section and doing a keyword search using the name of the
document. The Career Services Office will be available
to review resumes and cover letters starting January 6.
2. Set up an informational interview. Use this time to research alums or
other attorneys in your practice area and city of choice and set up an informational
interview. Use the Contact Alumni tab in Symplicity or the LinkedIn Alumni search to
find attorneys to contact in order to set up an interview either in person or
on the phone. Also download the CSO
Informational Interview Guide which is a helpful resource that will walk you through the process.
3. Reconnect with old contacts and establish new
ones. The
holidays are a perfect time to connect with former employers and colleagues in order to wish them well
and update them on your academic and career progress. This article provides great networking tips for the holidays. Use holiday parties to update old
friends, relatives, and neighbors with your interests and where you would like
to practice. You never know who has valuable contacts that could lead to
opportunities.
4. Apply to jobs and research potential
employers to contact directly. Use
Symplicity to search for jobs by going to the “Job Postings” tab and selecting
“CSO JobNet”. Search through other websites
listed on our Job
Search Resources handout and utilize our handout Targeting
Small to Medium-Sized Law Firms using Martindale to do a targeted search for firms and organizations in your
geographic area and field of interest.
5. Relax. Focus on a little rest and relaxation so that you will
feel rejuvenated upon your return next semester: sleep in, catch up on your
favorite TV shows, do some non-law school related reading, and spend quality
time with your family and friends.
Have a happy and productive winter break, from
your friends in the Career Services Office!
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
One of the best ways to figure out what type of law you want to practice is to speak to a professional in the field to find out what a day in the life of a lawyer is really like. This week we are grateful for 2005 alum Mike Winters, Corporate Counsel, Labor and Employment/Compliance Analyst at Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. for taking the time to answer 7 Career Questions.
- What interested you in this area of law?
Shortly after graduation, a friend asked me to be a volunteer juror for
him at an MCLE course on trial practice. At the end of the day, the
Superior Court judge teaching the course offered some career advice to
us. He suggested that we incorporate employment law into our careers as
it was a growing, changing, and unfailingly interesting field of law.
Over time, many factors have guided me to this practice, but his advice
has rung true.
- In your role, what are your duties and responsibilities?
There are many, including advising the company on applicable legal updates, ensuring that our practices comply with new and existing laws alike, managing litigation/outside counsel, lending assistance to all departments in the company. One of the great things about working in-house is that each day is unique.
- What do you enjoy about your line of work?
There are many things I enjoy, but some that jump out would be the variety and my team. There are new challenges each week, which means I am always growing and developing my knowledge and skills. I find it very rewarding that my work, with Human Resources and others, allows the company to avoid potential litigation and other legal matters that would be costly distractions from the company’s real objectives.
- What do you find challenging about your line of work?
The transition from working in a law firm to being an in-house counsel can be a challenge. As an associate in a law firm, there is a road map to follow, at least to some degree. You have a certain number of cases at a given time, and each case has a procedural trajectory from complaint, charge or demand letter through trial or settlement. Moving in-house, you are managing outside counsel and perhaps handling administrative claims, but your time is also divided among many other responsibilities. You are wearing many “hats” and “success” can have different meanings. It is a challenge, but one that I enjoy.
- What skills and experience are most valued in this area of law?
Knowledge of the laws and procedures are always of great value. But beyond that, particularly for employment law, I would say the ability to listen and understand another person’s perspective. When I was in private practice, the mediation of an employment claim often revealed new characteristics of the claim. I was always interested to learn the root cause of the conflict. Often times, I would hear that the real “problem” was not directly related to the specific cause(s) of action.
- How did you get your first job after law school?
By keeping positive. Landing an entry-level legal job was a challenge in 2005, and I know that today it is no different. Due to some unique circumstances, I was still job hunting even after being sworn in. But through contacts and perseverance, I found myself working for a small law firm in Boston. I worked hard and represented our clients well. We had a diverse case load, so I was always learning. With only three lawyers in the firm, I was fortunate enough to regularly appear in court and even win a jury trial in my first year.
- What advice would you give your 1L self about how to create a successful legal career?
Be your best wherever you are at any stage in your career. You will face both personal and professional challenges. But if you work hard and find a way to succeed where you are, you will find there is no one path to where you want to be.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq.
Congratulations, you made it to law school! You are on your way to creating a great career for yourself. You know you want to do something meaningful with your life, you know you want to help people, and you know you want an interesting and challenging job. Then out of nowhere someone asks you that dreaded question, “What type of law do you want to practice?” and you freeze up like a statue. Why is it so hard to answer this question?
Lack of Clarity Leads to Indecision
Most first year law students enter law school with a desire to “be a lawyer” but very few actually know what kind of law they want to practice after they graduate. The reason is because while the idea of a lawyer is familiar to most of society, what lawyers actually do on a daily basis is not. Add to that mystery, the myriad of practice areas, types of employers, and legal issues one could get involved with and the average law student is left feeling overwhelmed with having to make a choice.
Turn Your Big Decision into a Small One
If you’re interested in everything from criminal law to corporate law and you are not sure what you want to do, one way to help make your decision is to break it down into smaller chunks. By focusing on the smaller decisions you will be able to piece together an answer that addresses the big question.
Build a Decision Tree
Within each practice area there is a decision tree of options that can take you down several different career paths based on the types of issues that you care about, the industry that interests you, the types of employers you want work for, and the types of clients who you want to help.
For example, someone interested in the area of Intellectual Property may want to work in the entertainment industry, at a law firm, helping a music publishing company license the copyright to their collection of songs or they may want to work in-house at a life sciences company, as a patent associate, filing patent applications.
- Intellectual Property ---> Practice Area
- Entertainment Industry ---> Industry
- Law Firm ---> Type of Employer
- Music Publisher ---> Type of Client
- Licensing of Music ---> Type of Legal Issue (Copyright)
- Intellectual Property ---> Practice Area
- Life Sciences ---> Industry
- Corporation ---> Type of Employer
- Corporation ---> Type of Client
- Filing Patent Applications ---> Type of Legal Issue (Patents)
As you can see, to say that you are interested in Intellectual Property is just scratching the surface of what you need to know in order to find the right job for you. A student interested in the entertainment issues within IP is probably not going to also be interested in the science aspects of IP and vice versa.
Connect the Dots
Your goal with a decision tree is to go from your academic understating of a particular area of law and connect it to what it looks like in the real world. By creating a decision tree using these five categories (Practice Area, Industry, Type of Employer, Type of Client, and Type of Legal Issue) you can quickly connect the dots between school and work life. This clarity will allow you to have more effective conversations with alumni and lawyers that you meet during your job search.
By Mo Chanmugham, Esq. The majority of law students come to law school without any prior legal experience. While many have worked, their experiences range from positions in retail and restaurants to the military or general administrative work. This leaves their resume looking rather light on the type of experience legal employers are looking for when they want to make a summer hire. If only your desire to be a lawyer since you were a kid could be a worthy bullet point in times like this. Don’t fret, there is still a way for you to impress employers with that summer job as a camp counselor. 7 Professional Skills Employers Are Looking ForAccording to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) survey, asking hiring managers what skills they are looking for in the class of 2015, there are a handful of professional skills that are in demand across all majors and degrees. 1. Ability to work in a team structure
2. Ability to make decisions
3. Ability to solve problems
4. Ability to communicate with people inside and outside an organization
5. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work
6. Ability to obtain and process information
7. Ability to influence others So while you must gain core legal skills, such as, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, reviewing contracts, preparing trial materials, and so on, you can now highlight your non-legal work experience by framing it in the context of these seven professional skills. Frame Your Work Experience Using These Professional SkillsUse the following format to write your work experience on your resume: Action verb + responsibility or duty + explanation of how, why, or resultYou never want to just say what you did and leave it at that because that is not enough information to make your resume stand out. You want to tell people what you did and why. You could start by looking at the official job description from your last job to help you get started. Job descriptions are written in a way that makes it easy to translate the responsibilities and duties on to your resume in a style and language that employers are used to reading. From there you will have to add your own details about how you completed your responsibilities or why you did them or what result was achieved. Example: If you worked as an administrative assistant for a real estate company and you helped manage their apartment listings, rather than say:
- Helped manage apartment listings
You could say:
- Managed apartment listings by collecting and organizing new listings from agents and posting them to company website to increase website traffic.
Example: If you were the lead counselor at a summer camp, rather than say:
- Responsible for 30 campers and organized daily activities.
You could break it up into several lines providing a more detailed and impressive picture of your experience:
- Managed a team of 6 counselors who oversaw the well-being and safety of 30 daily campers.
- Organized educational and athletic activities on camp grounds as well as day trips to museums and farms.
- Communicated effectively with parents regarding sensitive issues such as disruptive behavior.
The possibilities are endless based on how you frame your work experience. You can now effectively communicate your valuable work experience to employers by highlighting the right skills in the right way.
Do you ever wish you could walk into an interview feeling totally prepared and confident, knowing exactly what you want to say? How great would it be to know what questions the interviewer is going to ask you ahead of time? Well luckily you can ace your next interview by preparing your answer to this one important question every employer will ask in some form or another. How well you answer this question may make the difference between having a short job search or a long one. Create Your Professional StorySince you made it to the interview, it is safe to assume that you have already impressed them with your cover letter and resume. They already think you have the right skills and experience for the job and now they want get to know you a little better. The problem is this question tends to throw most people off because it is so vague and open ended. Where do you start? Do they really want to hear your whole life story? No. In the context of a job interview, the employer wants you to fill in the background details that your resume can’t tell them. Your professional story should not only include “who” you are and “what” you have done, but more importantly why you chose to do those things and what you learned along the way that ultimately led you to this employer. Your story should leave the employer feeling positive about you, the skills and experience you bring, and your ability to fit in with their organization. Use the “Present, Past, Future” FormulaAccording to career expert Lily Zang, the formula looks like this; first start with the present, meaning a snapshot of where you are right now. Then move into your past explaining what you have done and what you learned from those experiences. Finally end with the future by summarizing why you are really excited and clearly a good fit for this new opportunity with the employer. The right answer, shows how well you know what the employer is looking for and how well you know what your strengths are. For example, if you are a third year law student and you are interviewing for a post graduate position with a criminal defense firm, you could say: Present: “Currently I am a 3L in my final semester at New England Law | Boston.” Past: “I came to law school to become, a criminal defense attorney because I believe it is important to protect the rights of people who can’t otherwise protect themselves. Last summer I interned with the Public Defender’s office in their Youth Advocacy Division where I was 3.03 certified and was able to have my own case files, meet with clients, and represent them in court. The experience showed me how vulnerable people are against the prosecution if they do not know their rights as a citizen and reinforced my desire to be a criminal defense attorney.” Future: “It is because of this experience that I am looking forward to continue my work in criminal defense and am excited about this opportunity with your firm.” Use this formula as a guide and include what is relevant to our story. Part of your story may include personal stories about where you grew up, what you studied in undergrad, and/or any work experience you had prior to law school. Why this Formula WorksBy using this formula you give the employer the exact information they are looking for in a clear and concise statement that shows them that you are confident, enthusiastic, and well prepared. It also helps you avoid giving a long, unfocused answer that would reveal your lack of understanding about what they are looking for and why you are a good fit. How to PrepareStep 1. Take out a piece of paper and make three columns. Step 2. In column 1, titled “Job Description”, review the job description and write down all the skills, duties, responsibilities, and requirements that are included in the description. Step 3. In column 2, titled “Work Experience”, look at all the work experience on your resume and write down the skills and duties that are an exact match for what the employer is looking for or can be seen as a transferable skill. For example, all criminal defense attorneys must be able to “present arguments in front of the court”. Step 4. In column 3, write out your "Past, Present, and Future" statement using the details in column 1 and 2 and practice saying it out loud to a friend. Ask your friend for feedback and continue to practice it until it makes sense and you feel comfortable and confident saying it.
This year 153 New England Law students completed our 2014 Summer Employment Survey giving us valuable information about where students worked and how they found their jobs. Of the students who completed the survey, 44% were from the class of 2016 and 56% were from the class of 2015.
Types of Employment
The majority of students who responded worked in a legal job.
- 83% worked in a summer or permanent legal job
- 10% worked in a non-legal summer or permanent job
- 4% participated in a study abroad program
- 3% did not work
Of those who worked, 57% were in paid positions, and 43% were unpaid.
How Students Found Employment
It is important to remember to use a variety of methods when searching for employment. While many respondents found their summer employment through a job posting on the CSO's JobNet many others found their job through someone they knew, a networking connection, or by contacting the employer directly.
- 24% found their job through a referral from someone they knew
- 25% found employment by responding to a job posted on the CSO JobNet on Symplicity
- 10% found their job through networking or contacting the employer directly
- 23% found employment through a law school program (such as a clinic or the Honors Judicial Internship Program), an outside organization, or other means not specified
- 5% returned to or continued with a pre-law school employer
- 8% found their job through an on-campus interview or job fair
- 5% responded to a job posting on a commercial job website
Where Students Worked
- 80% remained in Massachusetts
- 16% worked out of state
- 4% worked internationally or participated in a study abroad program
While the majority of New England Law students worked locally, a number of students gained experience in New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, DC. Students also participated in study abroad programs in Galway and Prague.
Below are just a few of the law firms and organizations who hired New England Law Students this summer:
Albany County District Attorney's Office
Beacon Hill Research
Board of Bar Overseers
Boston Housing Authority
Boston Municipal Court Department
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Braude, Margulies, Sachs and Rephan
City of Boston Law Department
City of Waltham - Law Department
Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc.
Committee for Public Counsel Services
Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Civil Service Commission
Cooley Manion Jones LLP
D'Ambrosio Brown,LLP
Deloitte Tax LLP
Falbo, Solari & Goldberg
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Lowey LLP
Greater Boston Legal Services
Harvard Criminal Justice Institute
Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project
J. Jill Acquisition
Johnson & Borenstein, LLC
Law Office of Attorney John Himmelstein
Law Office of Robert L. Allen, Jr., LLP
Law Offices of Jeffrey B. Rubin
Law Offices of Mary Wynne Gianturco, LLC
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
Massachusetts Land Court
Massachusetts Superior Court
Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee
MetLife
Middlesex District Attorney's Office
Moura & Moura, LLC
Office of the New York State Attorney General
Partners Healthcare System
Patriot Energy Group
PUMA North America, Inc.
RainDance Technologies
Richard C. Bardi & Associates, LLC
Rosencranz & Associates
Shelter Legal Services
Solman & Hunter, P.A.
State Street Corporation
State Street Global Advisors
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
Suffolk, Norfolk, and Middlesex County Probate and Family Courts
Swartz & Swartz, P.C.
Tenant Advocacy Project (Harvard Law School)
Texas 34th Judicial District, District Attorney's Office
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
The Law Office of Ann Pinheiro
The Law Office of Susan T. Aguiar, LLC
The Rutherford Institute
U.S. Army JAG Corps
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
US Department of Labor
William E. Gens Law Offices, P.C.
Where did you work last summer? If you have not already completed your 2014 Summer Employment Survey, log on to Symplicity to tell us about your experience!
Looking for a job for next summer? The Career Services Office is here to help you. Call 617-422-7229 to schedule an appointment today.
On July 1, the Recruitment Instructional Packet was e-mailed to all rising 2LD/3LE and 3LD/4LE students. The first Recruitment application deadline is July 9. Each year our office receives many questions from students about this program. Please find our answers to the most frequently asked questions below.
Q: What is the Recruitment Program?
A: The Recruitment Program (RP) includes a variety of public interest, government, law firm, and judicial employers seeking 2015 summer and post-graduate associates and clerks. RP begins in July and will continue throughout the Fall semester.
Q: How do I apply for the Recruitment Programs?
A: If you are applying for an on-campus interview, resume collection, or off-campus interview, apply through the CSO’s Symplicity site. If you are applying for the National Recruitment Program, or the Government and Public Interest Interview program, apply through the Massachusetts Law School Consortium’s (MLSC) site. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, please refer to the Recruitment Instructional Packet, which was e-mailed to your New England Law account, and can also be found in the Document Library on the CSO’s Symplicity site.
Q: When I’m in Symplicity, and I click on the “OCI” tab, it says something about a summer survey and I can’t find the participating employers. Where do I go from here?
A: Every Fall, all 2LD/3LEs and 3LD/4LEs are required to complete their profiles, including summer surveys before they are able to view the OCI section. When prompted to complete the summer survey, click “Add New” and fill in the required survey fields. After you submit your survey, you should automatically be taken to the OCI section.
Q: My grades aren't great. Should I even bother applying to big firms?
A: You should be realistic when applying to large firms. They typically are very strict about their grade requirements and most likely will not interview students who do not meet the standards which they have set. That said, occasionally there are exceptions to that general rule when a student exhibits better than average grades with special skills or highly relevant experience.
Q: I will be taking a clinic in the Fall. Can I include it on my resume, even though I haven't started it yet?
A: YES. Include all future clinics, journals, and law review. When listing something that is going to happen in the future, use "Fall 2014" as your date, and "Responsibilities will include..." or "Anticipated job duties will be...". Use the employer's job posting and your knowledge of what you might do as a basis for your description. After you start your clinic, update your job description with elaborated duties and change to the present tense. Bring the updated resume to your interview.
Q: To whom should I address my cover letter?
A: Always make sure to include the recipient's name and address on your cover letter. You can find this information on Symplicity by searching under "OCI" and clicking "Review" to the left of the employer.
Q: If the employer doesn’t specifically ask for a cover letter, can I send one anyway?
A: No. When applying to employers participating in RP, only include what has been requested. The employers who have elected not to collect cover letters have done so for a reason. Sending a cover letter will merely show an inability to follow directions.
Have more questions about preparing your application? Read our blog entries on resumes, cover letters, and writing samples or e-mail us at CSO@nesl.edu.
|
|
Posts
