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How Law Students Must Prepare for Powerful Legal Job Interviews

Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!

published February 25, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

You gained considerable interviewing experience when you went in search of your internship. Now is the time to review that experience and build on it. Think back to your internship interviews with these questions in mind:
 
  • What was your most successful internship interview? What made it a success?
  • What was your most difficult internship interview? What made it difficult?
  • What did you learn from those experiences about interviewing?

Put your previous experience to work for you. In upcoming interviews, try to imitate the attitude, behavior, and pre-interview preparation that brought you good results during your internship search and avoid the mistakes that may have caused you difficulty.

There is, of course, a big difference between what you brought to interviews prior to your internship and what you bring to legal job interviews now. In the past, you had little or no paralegal experience to relate. This time, you have a great deal of relevant experience to report. And report it you must- confidently and in detail.

To recount your experience effectively, go into each interview thoroughly familiar with the work you have done. Be ready to report, sometimes in minute detail, the specifics of the work you performed. Most importantly, be prepared to show how your internship experience applies to the jobs you are seeking.

Refresh your memory prior to each job interview. Review your Job Skills file with these goals in mind:
 
  • Identify internship tasks that are relevant to the position for which you are applying. For example, drafting pleadings would be relevant to a litigation support position; preparing for real estate closing would be relevant experience to a residential real estate practice.
  • Identify internship skills that will be useful in the new job, even if you acquired those skills through seemingly unrelated tasks. Writing, fact gathering, investigation, client communications, computer database creation, and file management are just a few examples of skills that have wide application.
  • Practice describing the details in an interesting, lively manner. Practice reporting some of the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
  • Practice explaining how your internship skills relate to the new job.
  • Prepare questions about each job, focusing on opportunities to develop additional skills.

Most job candidates do not list the names of professional references on a resume1 unless a prospective employer specifically requests this information. Instead, applicants usually include the phrase "References available upon request" at the bottom of their resumes. This strategy ensures that reference providers will not be contacted unless you are being seriously considered for a position.

Whatever your vision, try to choose your initial employment with that dream in mind. The following strategies may help:
United States
 
  • Try for a law job that allows you to pursue your long-term interests in some way. For example, if you choose a general practice employer, let it be one that gives you occasional exposure to your favorite specialty area.
  • Ask prospective employers about their willingness to help with the expenses of continuing legal education seminars, workshops, or the completion of a degree.
  • Volunteer work is a great way to acquire additional experience doing work you love if your regular job does not give you that chance. Challenging volunteer work also impresses future employers.
  • Consider taking temporary jobs until a job you like comes along. Personnel agencies can help or you can pursue temporary assignments on your own, using your list of professional contacts as a starting point.
  • If continuing full-time studies (such as for an additional degree) would enhance your career, consider settling for a part-time position for a while.

Career planning never ends. These days, most jobs change quickly. New technologies, changes in the economy, shifts in government policy, the rise of unforeseen specialty areas, and the decline of traditional ones- all these factors require legal professionals to be more flexible than ever before.

Nobody can insulate himself or herself completely against unforeseen changes. But you can do a lot to help ensure continued survival and growth in the face of unpredictable change. The key is to do three things. Continually enhance your professional reputation throughout your career. Maintain a broad network of relationships in as many different work areas as possible. And try to keep abreast of new legal and technological developments in your field.

Try implementing these survival strategies in some of the following ways:
 
  • Socialize often with colleagues from other offices; find out what their work is like and what new developments they are seeing.
  • Be someone who helps out when help is needed. The favor is almost always returned, sometimes in wonderful ways.
  • Become active in your local paralegal or legal assistant association.
  • Consider taking on responsibilities in your regional or national association as well.
  • Consider pursuing voluntary, professional certification either as a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or as a Registered Paralegal (RP).
  • Sign up for continuing legal education seminars regularly-at least two or three a year.
  • Look for opportunities to learn more about emerging technologies, both inside and outside of your office.
  • Take advantage of opportunities for paralegal involvement in your state or local bar association-in a paralegal section or through associate bar membership (if available in your state), working on a bar association committee (if permitted locally), or volunteering to work in the bar association's pro bono program.
  • Welcome the chance to experiment with something new from time to time- a new practice area, a new technology, or new responsibilities. You never know when this might lead to an exciting new career path.

Paralegals, who are known and respected among a large number of professionals, can usually survive any upheaval and often manage to create positive changes on their own. Alert paralegals with an eye on the horizon for upcoming developments are probably in the best position of all. They are the ones who-like you-will seize opportunities as they arise and, in time, make their career dreams come true.

See the following articles for more information:
 

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

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