Getting a Legal Job Interview as a 1L or 2L

If First- And Second-Year law students ("Fs" And "Ss") have a more trying fight than third-year students in the job hunt, it is because Fs and Ss usually have less work-related, journal, or moot court experience to draw on. The resume and the confidence that grows from a "full" legal resume, are weaker.

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Fs must simply scramble, unless relatives or family friends provide entries. Most organizations, because they do not believe it necessary to engage Fs in anticipation of permanent hiring, do not often bother. Some law firms, however, deliberately seek Fs, for public relations purposes and because the F can be "trained" and indoctrinated in a particular philosophy and method early, which theoretically can make the F a more valuable commodity to the firm upon graduation from law school. Thus some organizations expressly advertise in resumes and notices to placement offices that Fs are welcome.

Fs must emphasize whatever facets, law-related or not, of their backgrounds that might pertain to law practice. Many law schools train Fs in moot court argument and computer research; these skills can be emphasized in discussion and on the resume.

Although many firms are reluctant to hire Fs for the summer, government agencies and public interest organizations, which rely less than firms on summer programs for permanent hiring, do not discriminate against Fs for summer hiring. The quality of work performed by Fs usually approximates that of Ss. Corporations have initiated summer programs not wholly based on the traditional law firm role model, and Fs should cultivate that field.

If you, as an F, can get in a door, Appearance is everything. Even though perhaps illogical and untrue, you are often perceived as less qualified than an S. You must prepare better, choose clothing, and assert confidence as professionally as possible. You must know the firm inside out, learn the names of lawyers who have a social or academic background similar to yours, and exude professional Appearance. This Appearance challenge will not ever be greater. You must overcome for the firm any doubts about the wisdom of hiring an F. You must be the aggressor, convincing about your worth and potential as a lawyer.

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Ss are traditionally accorded greater respect than Fs, because they have experienced more academic law and perhaps more practiced law. More organizations than not have developed summer programs for Ss, to preview and groom Ss for permanent associations. The established pattern favors Ss. Firms also are more secure in examining a full-year transcript of grades than flying blindly on Fs' verbal assurances.

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.

Ss may list on their resumes candidacies for certain journals or other law school associations, a process often necessary because resumes are disseminated too early in the second year to assimilate results of certain competitions and applications. In interviews, your involvement in a writing competition for a journal position may be discussed, as may the subject written about. Additionally, that writing may be submitted as a sample for the firm's perusal.

Fundamentally, job hunting is similar for all law students. Cover letters, resumes, writing samples, clothing, interviewing, and telephoning comprise the job hunt — appearance is the groundwork and main focus of the hunt, in each year you hunt. You must look and sound the part, in each year. The "part" changes somewhat as you progress through law school, but the part always necessitates a professional manner and the ability to "look good".