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.

How to (Maybe) Get a Job

I came across the following post on Constant Struggle and thought I would share it because it is good advice.  Yes, I know it probably would have been more helpful in March, but I just found it today.  The post is geared toward those applying for public interest jobs, but most of it applies across the board.

 

“So you’re a do-gooder 1 or 2L and you’re looking for a summer job that doesn’t suck. Here’s some free advice from a public interest attorney:

Applying:

• Do not send a “Dear Recruiting Coordinator” or “To Whom It May Concern” letter. If you don’t care enough to spend two minutes on the website to find out my name, I’m not going to care enough to spend two minutes reading your resume.
• Have relevant experience. If you don’t, explain why I should hire you anyway.
• Don’t send generic cover letters. I know you want a job. Everyone wants a job. I want to hire someone who wants this job. Tell me why that person is you.
• Spell-check is your friend.
• It helps if the phone number listed on your resume isn’t disconnected.
• Nobody reads writing samples.
• If the job announcement says to send a writing sample, send a writing sample. Show me you can understand and follow simple instructions.
• I don’t care that you’re into animal husbandry and deep-sea diving. I do care about training you’ve had, community service you’ve done, and so on. Tell me about those instead of your ‘Interests’.
• Don’t claim to have skills you don’t. Fluency is a term of art. If you can’t carry on a conversation without hesitation at normal speed you are not fluent.
• I am going to call your references. Make sure they exist and have something relevant to say about you. “Yes, Jane was in my torts class” is not going to get you hired.

Interviewing:

• If I ask you if you can make it to an interview at X time on day Y, unless you or a member of your immediate family is scheduled for major surgery, say “yes.” I know you’re busy. Everyone is busy. Be there.
• Know something about the organization before you come in.
• It helps to know something about the relevant law, as well.
• Smile.
• Be sincere. Poor people can smell bullshit a mile away. So can I.
• Don’t be late.
• If you’re going to be late, call.
• Bring extra copies of your resume.
• It’s OK to ask what specifically you’ll be expected to do. Frame this question in a way that makes me think you want to do more, not less. Yes, you’ll be doing some shit work. Some jobs are shit work 5 hours a week. Some jobs are shit work 60 hours a week. Know what you’re getting into.
• If the interviewer asks if you have any questions, have a question. It helps to show that you have some interest and aren’t a complete idiot.”

Successful Interviewing and Beyond

A compelling CLE entitled “SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWING AND BEYOND: Learning to Effectively Navigate Your Way as a Woman Lawyer to Ensure Success” was held on September 18, 2006. (Click here for a description of the program.)

The CLE was the meeting of a powerhouse of women attorneys and legal professionals – and I was both honored and humbled to be speaking among them. As was addressed at the CLE, women are leaving the profession at increasing rates. This program was one step towards both seeking a solution and providing support in the decision making process as new women lawyers enter the field and as women lawyers progress in their careers. Though I was a panelist, the program was educational for me as well. It reinforced pieces of advice I’ve received over the years and turned on a some light bulbs with new ideas. If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend here’s a brief overview of the tips that came from the various speakers:

• Don’t wait for someone to recognize your talents – demonstrate what you can do and advocate for yourself.

• Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy what you’re doing – if you’re not enjoying it, maybe you need to be doing
  something else.

• Amongst all of the advice and different opinions, don’t forget to be yourself.

• An interview is like a first date, don’t overwhelm the interviewer with questions and commentary about yourself, take a more balanced approach to highlight your skills and at the same time show that you’ve prepared.

• Know your audience – whether it be in an interview or when requesting a raise.

• Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. For interviews, for reviews, for everything.

• To prepare for an interview, research the firm or organization, etc. where you are interviewing, the person conducting
  the interview (if possible) and be prepared to discuss why you are a fit based on the information you’ve obtained.

• Mentors are important, but may come in different forms, male or female, and for different purposes, work
  and personal.

• You are the only one responsible for your own career, its beginning and its future – no school, firm, mentor, or
  even the most well-wishing individual can do for you what you can do for yourself.

• When at an event, gather business cards and follow up with people – don’t forget that meeting people is only the first
  step.

• Don’t underestimate the power of your law school acquaintances and friendships – the people you are with every dayin class will be the same people you see in your office, across the courtroom and in every day practice.

• Have outside interests, in law school and after (although I won’t insist that everyone take up my hobby that I
  shared with everyone at the CLE, which is trapeze).

• For lateral moves, don’t assume that in-house means less work and on the job training – in-house positions generally
  mean the same or more work, and upon being hired it is often assumed that you are already familiar with that area of
  law.

• For laterals or law students looking to relocate, contacting alums from your law school is a good way to start the search.

• If you are looking for a non-traditional work schedule, present your employer with the reasons that it is financially
  beneficial for them to work with you.

• Don’t underestimate yourself – reach for what you know you can achieve and then reach higher.

• And don’t forget to breathe – as important and life-altering as every event seems, an interview is just an interview, being passed over for a raise or promotion might lead to another opportunity and ultimately, you will make it to the next day.

Ultimately, the heart of the program was the participation from the audience, women law students and lawyers alike, who asked very open and honest questions and received open and honest answers. We also had the opportunity to continue our discussions at the reception following the program. Having spoken to a number of the law students and new lawyers, I am certain that our field will be enriched by their addition.

The distinguished group of contributors included, Deborah Epstein Henry, Esq. (Moderator) – Founder & President, Flex-Time Lawyers LLC; Of Counsel, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, Linda Dale Hoffa, Esq. – Assistant United States Attorney; Assistant Chief, Criminal Division, Eastern District of PA, Roberta D. Liebenberg, Esq. – Co-Chair, Women in the Profession Committee; Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., Elaine Petrossian, Esq. – Assistant Dean for Career Strategy & Advancement, Villanova University School of Law, Sarah E. Davies, Esq. – Hiring Partner, Cozen O’Connor, Katherine Hatton, Esq. – Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sunah Park, Esq. – Partner, Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP, Molly Peckman, Esq. – Special Counsel & Director of Professional Development, Dechert , Peggy Simoncini Pasquay – Manager of Attorney Recruitment & Relations, Duane Morris LLP.

Submitted by Heather Herrington

Jobby Job (or Strict Scrutiny)

Looking for a new job is one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever had.   I find the whole process distasteful.  How does one capture a potential employer’s attention in a one page cover letter?  Does my transcript represent my abilities as a lawyer?  Can I please make my resume two pages long?  Am I good enough, am I smart enough…… Do people like me?? 

I had always hoped my potential employer would seek me out instead of the other way around. 

Rejection letters are the worst.  I just got a rejection letter from a job I didn’t even apply for.  I felt like writing back to them to let them know that I didn’t want their stinkin’ job in the first place.