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CAREER CORNER
Susan Robinson Mentoring law students at a prestigious school [by Teresa Talerico] When she worked as a general commercial litigator, Susan Robinson realized she loved helping novice associates blossom as they embarked on their careers. In 1997, she parlayed that love into a job as Assistant Director of the career services office at Stanford University School of Law, ranked as the No. 3 law school in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Today she is the law school’s Associate Dean for Career Services.
“When I was practicing law, one of the things
part. If they already had a strong interest in
what they do in those different practice areas.
I really enjoyed was mentoring the newer
a particular area before they came into law
They can use their summer experiences or
associates,” she said. “I was looking for
school, that’s fairly easy. For instance, if
externships to explore different areas as well.
a career that would allow me to do more
someone was working for an environmental
counseling, more focus on helping people on
organization before they came to school and
Q: How has your own experience helped you
their own personal journeys. I really wanted
really loved it, it could be an easy choice to
guide students in their career planning?
to have a job where I felt like I was helping
stick with environmental law. But if a student
people move forward.”
has no idea what kind of practice area they’re
A: For most of my students who are looking
interested in, first of all I’d suggest reading
for fairly traditional legal jobs, whether that’s
A 1992 graduate of Columbia Law School, Ms.
“The Official Guide to Legal Specialties” (Lisa
in government, law firms or public interest,
Robinson worked as a litigator for two San
L. Abrams and The National Association for
having gone through the process myself,
Francisco law firms, where she also recruited
Law Placement, Harcourt Brace Legal and
having been on the other side when I was at
law students, mentored associates and
Professional Publications, 2000). It’s got a
the firms - I interviewed for my employers
served on the hiring committee, before going
great overview of some of the different prac-
and served on the hiring committees there - I
into career services.
tice areas and what people do within those.
was able to better inform students as to what
Q: What do the most successful job hunters
Students can get an idea through the classes
to see on a resume or hear in an interview.
do in their searches?
they take, what things they find interesting.
Having practiced and been involved in recruit-
They can talk to professors who are focusing
ing has been very helpful for that.
employers are looking for, what they expect
A: Networking is key. So is preparing a very
on a particular area. I suggest they talk to
strong resume and a specific and directed
their career services office and see if there
For those people looking for alternatives,
cover letter. Doing research on the employer,
are alumni practicing in that area to whom
having gone through the process of trying to
really understanding who the employer is,
they might be able to speak and do an infor-
decide what I wanted to do and gone through
who they typically represent, so they can re-
mational interview to find out more.
the process of shifting gears, I’m able to better empathize with those students and
ally discuss in an intelligent way why they’re I would suggest before they do informational
alums who are trying to make that choice
interviews, that they have a pretty good idea
and provide helpful information about how to
Q: What’s the biggest mistake law school
of what it is they’re looking for, what sort of
make that transition.
grads make in their job searches?
characteristics they want to find in the type
interested in that employer.
of practice they want to do, so they know if A: That’s a little bit of a hard one. Most of our
they’re getting the right kinds of answers.
students graduate with jobs, which is fairly unusual. At most law schools, that’s not the
Q: And they should start that as early as the
case.
first year?
Q: How can law students find the right spe-
A: Yes. Most law schools put on panels and
cialty for them?
presentations. At Stanford, we do a Day in the Life series where we focus on different prac-
A: It requires some real research on their
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tice areas and bring in attorneys to talk about