Three Steps to Secure a Job After Law School is Over
From Barely Legal:
1) Distinguish yourself! If you’re not at the top of your class or on a journal find something else about you that will separate you from the pack. I first chaired two jury trials in law school which distinguishes me from the vast majority of law students (and even most lawyers). My current boss seemed impressed with that.
2) Get a job to get a job! Before law school, in law school, and out of law school get any kind of legal employment you can. Even if you’re working in a mail room, you’ll get exposure and connections. I worked as a paralegal for a few months for a law firm. This made interviews far less embarrassing when I could announce that I was “currently temping at a law firm”.
3) Do anything you can to get some applicable experience! Join your law school’s clinic, volunteer at legal aid, call up any and all government offices seeing if they need a free legal intern. If you’ve seen a divorce, bankruptcy, or lawsuit through from start to finish you’ll be much more employable (and you’ll sound like you know what you’re talking about) than any other candidates.
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You need to get in tune with the rules of your jurisdiction. Most first years are relegated at some point to figuring out the deadlines in cases. Come in with a good grasp of that and you will impress (application of the rules is rarely stressed in law school). Great site rules research. Get to know you jurisdictions ASAP.