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Following the Career Paths of Your Law Role Models [By Mary Waldron] Remember when your professors told you that average grades would not carry you to a successful law career? Well, this can be true, but they left out one thing. There is a popular phrase that you should jot down on a sticky note and live by: “It’s not about what you know; it’s about who you know.” Sure, in the law world, the schools you attended and the grades you earned are important-even more so than in many other professions. However, when it comes down to it, you need to make valuable connections with and learn from those who have accomplished the kinds of career success that you aspire to. There is really no other way to get it right, unless you plan on experimenting with your career for the next decade.
Concocting the perfect law resume requires
virtually any attorney who is working in the
last forever. It is a small world, and you
you to engage in this same kind of career
United States.
never know what may sprout from that brief meeting. Try to plant as many seeds as you
shadowing. The key to excelling in the law career that you pursue is tracking a
Next, contact them and ask to set up brief
can now because doing so will allow you to
professional’s path and following in his or her
lunch or coffee meetings (on you, of course!)
reap a good reputation and career benefits
steps. Many professors, counselors, friends,
to discuss their career paths, their mentors,
later on in life.
and family members will give you their takes
and advice that they can offer to you. Many
on how your resume should look, but to really
professionals are flattered when others
Besides meeting with accomplished law
get the job you want, you must identify what
take interest in their careers. You would
professionals to pick their brains for advice,
needs to be done by talking to someone who is
be surprised at how many high-powered
taking action to jump into the world of law is
already where you want to be.
attorneys will spare a moment for a good
important. Interning and clerking as soon as
cause. Just remember to be humble,
you can will get you in touch with the people
A prominent theater professor, author, and
gracious, and respectful of their busy
who run the businesses before you are even
CEO once explained this quite simply. He
schedules.
looking for a full-time job as an attorney. It is far better to explore your career options
said that the most strategic way to get ahead in any profession is to make connections with
If the attorney you are meeting with can
while you are in school; that way, if you decide
professionals who have already reached the
see you are eager to learn from his or her
you want to pursue a career in a different
types of career success you are aiming for.
background, the experience will be very
sector of law, you can make the change and
rewarding for both of you. Just make sure
start building relationships early on. If you
As soon as you can, start examining the
to emphasize that the meeting is about
establish working relationships and prove
careers of influential law professionals in a
him or her sharing knowledge with you. If
yourself early on, you will eliminate all the
branch of law that attracts you. Watch CNN
you go to a meeting and start talking about
hassle of getting someone to hire you after
and read many law articles to find out which
yourself and eventually ask for a job, you will
law school. Law students who perform
names and jobs are hot. Once you find a
have shot yourself in the foot. Of course,
aggressively and eagerly in their internships
couple of lawyers who fit the bill, take note
job offers and professional relationships
and clerkships will already have offers waiting
of the schools they went to, the places they
may develop but only at the established
for them when they graduate.
clerked, and the kinds of firms they worked
professional’s discretion. Never shut the
in. Piece together what they did to succeed.
door on an opportunity, but do not try to pry it
Once you are able to get career advice
open yourself.
from those who know best, you can begin to shape your own route. A meeting with
Now, one could just stop here, but if possible, you should make contact with these
Even if a meeting does not result in an
an exemplary lawyer can teach you what
people and learn firsthand how they became
instant job offer or relationship, at least the
employers will be looking for and what is
so noteworthy. Look up their contact
person you have spoken with will know your
acceptable. It can really give you the upper
information online so that you can reach
name and face. Making a good impression
hand as you pursue your career, allowing you
them. You can find contact information for
on a reputable person is like gold-it will
to plan accordingly as soon as possible.
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