TheCorporateCounsel.net

May 3, 2013

Words of Wisdom from a Law School Student

After reading so many articles about the uphill climb that today’s law students have in finding a job, I thought I would ask one how bad it really is. Here are some thoughts from Kyle Flann (flan0160@umn.edu) a 3L at the U. of Minnesota:

For the last 21 years of my life I have been in school. From graduating high school, to getting my undergraduate degree, to attending law school – which I will graduate from in less than a month. For the last 21 years I have been a student. Yet even after all the sleepless nights working tirelessly on term papers and preparing for final exams, little did I know what would be my next biggest challenge. The last 21 years have been attempting to prepare for this one moment… trying to land a job.

Finding My Passion

Going into college I hadn’t been completely sure what I intended to do with my life. I bounced around classes and majors until finally taking a course in business law, which changed everything. I discovered how much I love business and declared my major soon after. The ability of businesses to be innovative and analytical in trying to become the most efficient and successful business it can be appealed greatly to a mind like mine. My decision to go to law school and to pursue my JD with a concentration in business law sprang from this love of business, and I have found the variety of legal issues that business attorneys are exposed to extremely exciting.

From Day One of law school I have intended to pursue my career in corporate law – and that has been my job focus every step of the way. However, even with a clear vision of what I want – and using a variety of search techniques – I’ve struggled in this search as have a majority of my classmates.

Morale is Low

The job market for lawyers is tough right now. For law students it is even more difficult. The wavering morale of my classmates is reflected by the whisperings that permeate the lecture halls. Searching for jobs right now can be extremely frustrating. Not only do you need to distinguish yourself from your classmates, but also from previous years’ still unemployed graduates, as well as experienced attorneys many of whom have been forced back into the job market.

Just getting an initial interview is a big deal for most law students. And a student actually having a job lined up before graduation is increasingly rare. Not having the security of a job offer is very intimidating, especially with enormous student debt looming, some with payments starting just weeks after bar exam results are released.

Today’s Job Search Tools: Online

In trying to find a job, I believe I’ve been doing as much – or more – than most of my classmates. Most of my job search has included utilizing a variety of online resources. I’ve found many extremely useful job boards including my career services job board; the Association of Corporate Counsel job board; and the job board on FindLaw.com. In addition, I have utilized some of the more general job boards such as Indeed, Monster, The Ladders, Career Builder and Simply Hired – although these boards typically have less relevant positions than what I am looking for.

I’ve also identified a variety of law firms and companies around the Midwest that I am interested in working for – and have signed up for the mailing lists associated with their individual career boards. These actions have allowed me to identify hundreds of potential job opportunities – and I’ve applied to nearly every one.
In addition to this I have attempted everyone’s first piece of advice in conducting a job search: “networking.” This honestly has been one of the most useful steps I have taken. It has led to me meeting many kind folks, receiving useful advice, and on occasion has even led to some interviews.

Networking at events has been great, but again using online tools has also been successful for me. Utilizing my career services networking webpage has allowed me to meet many who have been in the same position as me and who can give me terrific advice. In addition, using social networking – primarily LinkedIn – to get introduced to others in my industry has been very effective. It seems like there is a way to reach just about anyone through these tools – and I’ve yet to find someone who isn’t at least willing to talk to me about how their career has progressed and to give me any advice they may have.

Know Yourself

While my job search has been terrifying – and at times slightly depressing – in the end, I am confident that I will find a job that I will love and that will jumpstart my career. I know this because I know my own work ethic and I know my own desire to find the right job. I will continue to work in every way I know how until I find an employer willing to let me grow with them. I know it may take a while but I am willing to do what it takes (and I know my classmates are too). So while we will continue to grumble about this job market, be ensured that we will continue to apply – and that there are many terrific young lawyers coming out for hire.

Give Me the Bad News Please

If there is one thing that I could say to potential employers, it would be this: the worst thing about this job search for me personally is not hearing anything at all from a position I have applied for.

I would much rather get a rejection letter than to never hear anything. At least getting some correspondence reinforces the belief that at least someone took the time to look at my application and resume – and have taken me and my job search seriously. It is much appreciated by me and many others to at least have this closure in these situations, even if it means not getting an opportunity at a job we believe we are qualified for.

– Broc Romanek