Interviewing in Today’s Legal Market

Through the years, I have had the opportunity to interview both law students and attorneys applying for jobs.  Looking through impressive resumé after resumé, I often wonder if my own comparatively modest experience (of when I first applied for a legal job) would even be considered these days.  These days, both students and current attorneys have learned to accumulate valuable experience and honors to beef up their applications.

Getting the interview with the initial resumé is not even half the battle.  You still have to do well in the interview and succeed in further parts of the process.  These days, of course, it’s an employer’s market, and firms can be very, very picky and selective in deciding who to hire.  It makes it even more important to thoroughly prepare for interviews and come off with a good impression.

There are obvious things someone should do in preparation: research both the firm and practice area of the job for which you’re applying, arrive timely, dress in a suit (even though the people interviewing you will probably be business casual), bring your writing sample.  I have found, however, that there are other, less obvious things that candidates often neglect and could use improvement.  They are, in no particular order, as follows:

• Speaking carefully and properly – The purpose of the interview is for the employer to size you up and find out what you’re like.  It’s difficult to come off with a good impression if, for instance, you are too informal or colloquial in your speech, particularly when the interviewers are relatively formal.  The interviewers often try to picture how you would deal with clients, opposing counsel, experts, witnesses, etc., and they’ll have a hard time doing so if you fail to speak with the “King’s English.”  It’s not to say that it’s a fatal flaw, but the rest of your application better be outstanding.
• Knowing your resumé - If you have something written down on your resumé, you better be prepared to talk about it and why it’s on there.  Folks will ask you about particular experiences or skills you may list down.  Don’t write that you know how to speak two to three languages when you’re really just barely learning them through language tapes.  Don’t claim particular things you’ve done unless you can give concrete examples of them.
• The perfect writing sample – Selecting a writing sample is often simple enough.  For law students, it’s the legal writing memo or brief that they handed in for a grade.  For current attorneys, it’s often a brief for a case on which they’ve worked.  Candidates should remember, however, that these writing samples WILL be read and possibly scrutinized for grammatical and formatting errors, writing style, logical progression, etc.  Make sure you read it through very carefully and even possibly pass it on to someone else to read through for comments.
• References on demand – It’s almost standard practice these days for employers to ask for a list of references to call.  You can say that you’ll provide them later, but it looks even better if you have a printed list ready.  Law students often have limited choices, so a prior legal employer is probably the best person.  For current lawyers, either a prior employer or current co-worker (who would not be offended that you would be interviewing elsewhere) would be best.

Firms will eventually get back to hiring folks, and with the glut of applicants, candidates should look to stand out as much as possible in interviews and afterwards.

Preparing High School Teams for Local/State Mock Trial Competition

Each spring, the Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the Temple University Beasley School of Law, helps coordinate and run the John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition.  Local area public, private and parochial high school teams take part in a mock  trial competition and receive a pretty good exposure to how a trial works.  The students serve as lawyers and witnesses for a particular mock trial problem.  Winners of the local competition go on to represent the Philadelphia area at the state mock trial finals for a chance to compete at nationals.

The program is a terrific way for local high school students to the legal world beyond tv shows like Law and Order (which is a favorite legal show of quite a few local students to whom I’ve spoken).  Local high schools like Overbrook High have done particularly well and advanced to nationals.

The YLD is looking for young lawyers to help out with either the actual mock trial competition (as volunteer coaches) or for the one day Mock Trial Law Camp, which takes place at Temple on Saturday, November 7, 2009.   For the camp, the commitment is only half a day if enough folks volunteer.  You can help advise, critique and provide feedback to students in openings, closings, direct examination, evidence objections, and so forth.   To volunteer, contact Roberta West via e-mail at Roberta.West@Temple.edu or via phone at (215) 204-1887.

Dealing With Difficult Clients

At some point in time, we all run into them: difficult clients.  It may be in the form of clients who may are unrealistic in settlement negotiations.  It may be clients who refuse to agree to certain provisions in a corporate transaction.  It could be clients who aren’t cooperative.

Learning to deal with these clients is certainly part of lawyering.  Part of our roles as attorneys is to learn how to deal with different types of people, be they opposing counsel,witnesses or our own clients.  There are, however, important things you should remember and keep in mind:

• Advise your client by phone or in person - Obviously, you want to reason with your clients regarding what you believe is the proper course of action.  A lot, of course, gets lost in translation when you send e-mails or letters to your client.  Speaking to your clients directly on the phone or in person gets your position across directly.  And if the clients don’t listen, at least you’ve tried.
• CYA by following up in writing - You’ve spoken to your client, and the client isn’t listening to you.  You should make sure, though, that you follow up with an e-mail or letter reiterating your position and potential concerns.  Even if your client decides to keep a different course, at least you’ve stated your advice, and the client has a record of it in writing.
• Follow through on the client’s directions but see if client has an open mind – The client has given you marching orders, and you don’t necessarily agree.  Nevertheless, you do as the client directs, and you do so with the appropriate vigor and zeal.  While going forward with the client’s position, however, don’t hesitate to gently approach the client about modifying it, particularly if things are not going well.  You can use the tact of noting that you tried the client’s way, and there were mixed results, but that perhaps a change of tactics may lead to better results.

Dealing with people is an important skill for lawyers to have.  Learning how to properly handle difficult clients will be something you need to develop through time and experience.

Deferred Lawyers Start Careers in Different Settings

This fall, after the July bar exams, the first wave of deferred first year lawyers started their new careers in, well, different careers than they would have envisioned a year and a half ago.  Due to the economic climate, a whole slew of large firms, both nationally and within the city, made a business decision to pay those who would be first year associates a stipend while working elsewhere for a year.  Instead of a start date of September 2009, these deferred attorneys would now start sometime in 2010.  Some firms have required the attorneys to work in public interest, while others have no such restrictions.

The Inquirer had an article on the plight of several of these deferred first years.   There are those who are working in public interest organizations, providing valuable “free” help.  Others are working in fields outside the law, such as in restaurants. 

All, of course, have in common that they did not expect to be working in these positions after graduating law school.  Still, they are making the most of it.   Who knows, perhaps this one year experience may serve these deferred lawyers well in the future in providing them a different perspective before toiling away for long hours with their firms.

YLD to Co-Host Networking Happy Hour on October 14

The Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with the Labor & Employment and Criminal Justice Sections, is hosting a happy hour/networking event this Wendesday, October 14, 2009 at Alfa (1709 Walnut), from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  This event is sponsored by our friends at Veritext. 

The first 50 folks receive a complimentary drink ticket, and there will be appetizers (including Alfa’s famous tator tots) for everyone as well.  The tater tots are excellent.  It’s like being in grade school again.  In fact, a lot of the specialty drinks there have a retro 80s theme to allow those of us who grew up in the 80s to reminisice.

Determining Who Is in Better Position Right Now: Law Students or Lawyers in Working World?

It is now early October, and the school year for area law schools is over a month old.  Meanwhile, in the working world, it has been a little over a year since there was a significant downturn in the legal market.  The question is where would your average  young lawyer rather be right now: in law school or in the working world.

Not too long ago, the answer was easy for me and many others: law school.  Where else can you relive a college-type environment with everyone being of age and having a greater sense of freedom than college?  Then, life as a summer associate was also great (if not completely realistic of working life).

Now, of course, law school life isn’t as rosy a picture as it was.  In addition to paying between about $17,000 (at Temple for in-state students) to $42,000 (at Penn) per year for tuition, you have an uncertain job market.   Several law firms have ceased their summer programs.  Many more have decreased the number of available slots.  And quite a few are offering full time jobs to only a fraction of their summer classes.   The one saving grace is that there’s hope that things will improve by the time the newer law students look for jobs.

Of course, for those of us in the working world, many of us are now “in transition” (the euphemism for those laid off, terminated or otherwise out of a job).  Those with jobs are constantly worrying about possible changes in job status and even salary.  Very few people are safe.  There’s no definitive signs of improvement in the legal market.

Personally, I think I would prefer being in the legal working world already.  We’ve already seen both good and bad times.  We know that things go in cycles and at some point, things will improve.  Our work experience also provides a leg up over those just coming out of law school for employers to consider.   That said, I think we all hope that improvement comes sooner rather than later for the sake of all current and prospective lawyers.

Andrew Hamilton Event Reduces Prices but Continues Mission

Since 1979, the Andrew Hamilton Gala has been the major social event for the Philadelphia legal community.  Taking place every November, it’s the big event where everyone dresses up to the nines, featuring tuxes and formal attire.  Between 300 to 400 people typically attend the event, which has been held everywhere from the Marriott Crystal Team Room, the Park Hyatt Bellevue to 30th Street Station.

More importantly, the Gala is the primary event fundraiser for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, which is, of course, the charitable arm of the Bar Association.  The Bar Foundation funds the city’s various organizations providing public interest legal aid.   Each year, the Gala raises about $300,000 to directly support the Bar Foundation’s grants.

Historically, whether intentionally or not, the event has been geared towards the senior bar.  Maybe it’s the formal nature.  Maybe it’s the presence of so many distinguished and experienced lawyers.  Quite likely, it also has a lot to do with the event ticket price, which has ranged around $300 for regular tickets and about $200 for young lawyers.  That price has often discouraged young lawyers who are not covered by their firms from attending.

Of course, these times are a little bit different than prior years.  With unprecedented economic issues, having the Gala follow the trend of prior years wouldn’t make much sense.  So, there have been a few changes, reflecting the new realities.  For one, it’s no longer the Gala; the event is now the Andrew Hamilton Benefit, which truly reflects its purpose.   It’ll be at the new location of the Please Touch Museum (at Memorial Hall), on November 21, 2009, at 8 p.m.  Cocktail attire is the new dress code.  You still have food, drinking and dancing, but it’s now a lot more affordable, with young lawyer (and guest) tickets at only $75.   There’s also a raffle, and Mayor Nutter will be in attendance.

I only have been once to the event last year but had fun.   The food is typically good, the drinks are flowing and there’s usually a good dance scene through the end of the night.  The Please Touch Museum also has some pretty cool stuff, including a terrific exhibit downstairs on when the World’s Fair was in Philadelphia in 1876.

Tickets can be purchased through the website (or ask your firms if there are spare tickets available in their tables).

Diversity Summit Discusses Where We’ve Been and Where We Need to Go

Earlier today, the Philadelphia Bar Association held its Diversity Summit, entitled “Our Dialogue on Diversity.”  Over 140 people attended the event, which featured panelists discussing diversity in the past, present and future in the Philadelphia legal community.  Chancellor Sayde Ladov served as the moderator. 

In discussing the “Past,” the Honorable Norma J. Shapiro of the Eastern District, who graduated law school in 1951, recounted how she was only one of four women from her law school class.  When she started working at a law firm, other lawyers and court personnel often mistook her for a secretary.  With regard to the “Present,” Butler Buchanan, who is now the hiring partner at his firm, noted how “success is up to you,” and how he made sure to get to know those in his firm and earned their trust.  Former Chancellor Andrew Chirls, who was the openly gay bar association leader in the country, brought up how a lot of firms used to have a policy where they would not hire openly gay individuals and would prefer that they did not discuss their sexuality (a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy applied to the legal world).  Roberta Liebenberg, the 2008 recipient of the Sandra Day O’Connor Award, related her experience that it was difficult for women to get law jobs because employers assumed they would eventually leave their practices.  She also pointed out that success is meeting your own goals and expectations, with the key being a level playing field. 

Regarding the “Future,” the panelists talked about their current positions, the importance of the business case for diversity, and the need for the folks in the room (“the choir,” if you will) to help spread the word and promote diversity in the legal world. 

As I was leaving, I overhead a couple people in the elevator noting that “preaching to the choir” was not necessarily the case.  One person mentioned how there is still certain discrimination, to varying extents, that takes place between members of diverse groups.  It is certainly unfortunate if and when that is the case, because the battleground to improve and increase diversity requires everyone working together rather than hampering each other’s progress.

The podcast for the event will be eventually available on the Bar Association website.

“Doomsday” Approaches Soon

Don’t know if everyone in town realizes yet, but we are less than three weeks away from a potential landmark day in Philadelphia.  And that’s landmark in not a very good way.

Friday, October 2, 2009 could very well be the cessation of a lot of things in town.  That’s the day that a lot of services in the city will close or be significantly tapered if the budget situation is not resolved.  Mayor Nutter has planned to institute a “doomsday budget.”  About 3,000 city employees would be laid off.  Libraries are requiring borrowed materials to be returned by October 1, 2009.  Automated telephone calls have been made to many city residents, warning that starting next month, garbage pickup will happen only every other week.  Parks, recreation and other services will also get curtailed.  Who knows what will happen to the court system, Arbitration Center and so forth. 

A lot of folks are to blame for the mess we are in.  The state, of course, has to approve the city budget, but both the Mayor and City Council have dragged their feet in coming up with a workable budget and then submitting it to the state relatively late.  Regardless, unless the budget crisis is solved in the very near future, the city will be in big trouble.

Payments Return for Court-Appointed Attorneys and Arbitrators

Good news for those who do work as court-appointed attorneys and arbitrators in the Arbitration Center in Philadelphia.  Because of the city’s budget problems, payment for these services had been suspended for over a month.  With the recent $275 million loan that the city is securing, however, help is on the way.  As confirmed by Chancellor Sayde Ladov in her Open Letter to the Bar Association membership this week, court-appointed attorneys and arbitrators are included on this list of vendors.  So they will be getting paid soon enough.

Serving as an arbitrator is an essential part of the court system.  There are over 20,000 cases handled per year at the compulsory arbitration level in Philadelphia County.  Not only would it be a shame if folks would be discouraged from taking on arbitration appointments due to the lack of money, but due process in our court system itself would be significantly jeopardized.  Getting payments processed is a very positive step.