Overcoming a Lack of Experience as a Recent Law School Graduate

Dear Lawcrossing,

I am very frustrated. I'm in my last year of law school, and it seems as though all of the ads I see are looking for somebody with one to three years of experience. Is there any way I can get one of these jobs anyway?


VS, AAassachiu&tts

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DEAR VS,

There may well be, VS, and LawCrossing con- 9wi gratulates you for contacting her instead of just throwing in the career towel.

From the outset you have to appreciate that what employers advertise for and what they will accept are often two very different things. Many employers have pointed out to LawCrossing that when they write job ads, they are describing their "ideal" candidate. It is often the case, VS, that that ideal candidate may not apply for the job, and so it will go to someone who-like you- does not have the exact credentials stated in the ad.

With that in mind, how do you improve your odds of being the lucky candidate? Lisa Lesage, Career Services Director at Lewis & Clark Law School (and herself an attorney for several years), gives you two steps to follow: one is researching what you've got, and the other is finding out all you can about the employer.

When you look at what you bring to the table, Lisa Lesage says that, "When attorneys say they want one to three years of experience, what they really want is someone who knows the ropes. Jobs you have during law school can easily give you that." She advises you to "Look at all the law-related work you've done, no matter what it is, and disgorge a line or two on every single thing. Don't simply say that you 'researched issues' or 'drafted memoranda and motions.' Instead, be very specific. Say that you drafted a motion for summary judgment in a 1983 case concerning privilege. Or that you prepared a deposition for a Title 7 case involving sexual harassment." For non- legal jobs you've had, be similarly specific so that you can pull out the skills that you can transfer to the legal job you want. Lisa Lesage advises that "If you managed a restaurant before law school, don't just leave it at that. How many people did you manage? Did you handle budgets, or scheduling, or any other activities that would be similar in any setting?" The important thing here is that you "shouldn't ever self-select out!"
What will this self-research do for you, VS? As Lisa Lesage says, "It will help give you fodder for a cover letter, and it will also help you overcome any interview objections. You will be able to say, 'I may have just graduated, but I've got the experience you're looking for.'"

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The other task at hand for you, VS, is to research the employer. Most ads state whom the employer is; if you find ads that don't-in other words, it's a "blind ad"- you are not out of luck. Lisa Lesage says that, "If the return address is a P.O. Box, and the employer is incor-porated, the post office must tell you the name of the box holder. Once you know who the employer is, go to your career services office at school and see if they've compiled data on the employer or if there are alums from your school who have worked there." Such an alum can be an enormous help, since they will not only be able to tell you about the employer and how you can position yourself to get a job there-but they may also be willing to walk your application over to the person who's doing the hiring, and perhaps even put in a good word for you. Needless to say, this is a great way to distinguish yourself from other people applying for the same job.

Of course, VS, you know that LawCrossing prefers that you find your dream job by getting to know people, through school and law-related activities, than through job ads. But the fact remains that many people do find jobs they like through ads, and if you follow the advice here-why, VS, there's no reason why you can't as well.

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