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Following the Career Paths of Your Law Role Models

published January 15, 2007

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( 5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)
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<<Concocting the perfect law resume requires you to engage in this same kind of career shadowing. The key to excelling in the law career that you pursue is tracking a professional's path and following in his or her steps. Many professors, counselors, friends, and family members will give you their takes on how your resume should look, but to really get the job you want, you must identify what needs to be done by talking to someone who is already where you want to be.

See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.


A prominent theater professor, author, and CEO once explained this quite simply. He said that the most strategic way to get ahead in any profession is to make connections with professionals who have already reached the types of career success you are aiming for.

As soon as you can, start examining the careers of influential law professionals in a branch of law that attracts you. Watch CNN and read many law articles to find out which names and jobs are hot. Once you find a couple of lawyers who fit the bill, take note of the schools they went to, the places they clerked, and the kinds of firms they worked in. Piece together what they did to succeed.

Now, one could just stop here, but if possible, you should make contact with these people and learn firsthand how they became so noteworthy. Look up their contact information online so that you can reach them. You can find contact information for virtually any attorney who is working in the United States.

Next, contact them and ask to set up brief lunch or coffee meetings (on you, of course!) to discuss their career paths, their mentors, and advice that they can offer to you. Many professionals are flattered when others take interest in their careers. You would be surprised at how many high-powered attorneys will spare a moment for a good cause. Just remember to be humble, gracious, and respectful of their busy schedules.

If the attorney you are meeting with can see you are eager to learn from his or her background, the experience will be very rewarding for both of you. Just make sure to emphasize that the meeting is about him or her sharing knowledge with you. If you go to a meeting and start talking about yourself and eventually ask for a job, you will have shot yourself in the foot. Of course, job offers and professional relationships may develop but only at the established professional's discretion. Never shut the door on an opportunity, but do not try to pry it open yourself.

Even if a meeting does not result in an instant job offer or relationship, at least the person you have spoken with will know your name and face. Making a good impression on a reputable person is like gold—it will last forever. It is a small world, and you never know what may sprout from that brief meeting. Try to plant as many seeds as you can now because doing so will allow you to reap a good reputation and career benefits later on in life.

Besides meeting with accomplished law professionals to pick their brains for advice, taking action to jump into the world of law is important. Interning and clerking as soon as you can will get you in touch with the people who run the businesses before you are even looking for a full-time job as an attorney. It is far better to explore your career options while you are in school; that way, if you decide you want to pursue a career in a different sector of law, you can make the change and start building relationships early on. If you establish working relationships and prove yourself early on, you will eliminate all the hassle of getting someone to hire you after law school. Law students who perform aggressively and eagerly in their internships and clerkships will already have offers waiting for them when they graduate.

Once you are able to get career advice from those who know best, you can begin to shape your own route. A meeting with an exemplary lawyer can teach you what employers will be looking for and what is acceptable. It can really give you the upper hand as you pursue your career, allowing you to plan accordingly as soon as possible.

published January 15, 2007

( 5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.