If you have decided that you want to enter the legal profession, you have to have a lot of ambition to make it happen. It is going to take years of hard work and perseverance to become a lawyer. But it is something that is possible for everyone to achieve if they are dedicated.
If you want to become a lawyer, we have some tips on how you can get started in a competitive legal industry.
Shadow a Lawyer
There is no better way to gain experience and see what the legal profession will be like than shadowing a lawyer. This can be a great way to make sure that you want to follow in their footsteps and go down this career path too. Normally, shadowing a lawyer will involve following them around and seeing what they do on a day-to-day basis. You can observe how they deal with clients, as well as what it is like to appear in court. You can ask questions, as well as make connections along the way.
Shadowing a legal professional can help further down the line when you are applying for jobs. For example, this fantastic experience that an employer wants to see. It shows commitment to the legal profession and that you want to learn. In addition, some law firms use shadowing as an opportunity to scout for new employees to bring on board. So, if you impress, you might be able to land yourself a job sooner than you think!
Learn Tech Skills
Would you describe yourself a tech-savvy? While you may not think that you need to have technology skills to work in law, they are actually very useful to have. The legal industry is like every other business sector; technology is making a lot of advancements and jobs are relying on it a lot more than ever before. From legal secretaries and paralegals using online systems to lawyers having to do a lot of their research online, it is going to be useful to have tech skills. This will be an asset for law firms revolutionizing their offices.
Therefore, work on improving your tech skills when you are at university. You could take a course so that you have a qualification and this is going to be advantageous on your resume. Even just doing your own research online in your spare time and getting used to using online legal databases and sources will be useful. This is something that you can discuss in an interview.
Volunteer and Gain Experience
When they are looking for new employees, all law firms are going to be looking for someone with experience. If you are straight out of law school, you may be worried that you do not have the experience they are wanting. However, you can easily volunteer when you are a student and this will be seen favorably. For example, there are some student law clinics that offer pro bono advice. You can join and this is going to be great experience before you become a lawyer. In addition, future employers will see this as commitment.
In addition, you can always write to local law firms to see if you can gain some experience. Some legal firms will be happy to show you around for the day or let you do some minor tasks in the office. Again, this is going to look good on your resume. You do not have to be paid for the positions. In fact, saying that you will volunteer is a good way to get local law firms on board. They could do with some extra help for small tasks and will be more willing to welcome you through the doors if you are not being paid.
Spend a lot of Time Networking
Finding your first legal job is going to be difficult. There is so much competition in the legal industry, which means that you will have to work hard to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Often, candidates will have the same level of education and even similar amounts of experience. So, you need to be creative in order to get your first legal job.
How can you do this? Make sure that you spend a lot of free time networking. Word of mouth and recommendation can be ways to get your first legal position. This means that you will have to attend local seminars and conferences in your area and do your best to speak with other legal professionals. Be confident and get to know everybody, as well as let them get to know you and your skills. You can also contact law firms and legal companies to see if they have vacancies. Think outside of the box.
Find a Legal Mentor
A legal mentor can really help you understand more about the profession and what you can expect from your first legal job. They can share their experience with you and the wisdom they have gained over the years. From learning about what you can expect on a daily basis to even knowing what pitfalls to expect when you become a lawyer, a mentor can inform you about everything you want to know. If you have any questions, you can reach out to them for guidance.
If you would like to find a mentor, the best place to start is your local bar association. In addition, some firms in your area may have a mentoring program that you can get involved in. This is a good way to connect with that law firm in the future too. Take a look online and see if you can find any other options. There might be organizations in your local area that will allow you to connect with a legal mentor. There may be lawyers from other states that you are interested in moving too. You could connect with them over Zoom or Skype and learn from their experience.
Read the News
When you are interviewing for legal jobs, the interviewers may ask you about recent legal developments or want to know if you have commercial awareness. Therefore, it is going to be important that you keep up with the news.
In your spare time, and especially before legal interviews, make sure that you brush up on your world knowledge. Learn more about legal developments that are popular or any that seem important to the position you are applying for. Take notes of any important facts so that you can remember them in your interview. Armed with the right knowledge and some interesting facts, you can really make a good impression on your potential employers. It will also prevent you from not knowing the answer to any questions regarding current legal topics. You can feel confident and that you are ready for any questions that are given to you.
Take Part in Extracurricular Activities
When you are at university, there are lots of opportunities to take part in extracurricular activities. These are going to be good ways to improve your legal and communication skills, as well as add to your resume. For example, your law school probably has a law society that you can join. You can socialize with those that have similar interests and even gain tips on how you can start your legal career. Law societies often organize events too, which can be added to your resume.
Another extracurricular activity you can enjoy is the debating and mooting society. If you want to be an attorney, these clubs are going to be very helpful and allow you to enhance your debating skills and learn how to construct an argument. These societies are all going to be directly beneficial when you are applying for your first legal job. You can take part in competitions and if you are the winner, make sure that you add this to your resume. This will make you stand out from the crowd, particularly if you want to work in the courts.
But the extracurricular activities you take part in university do not all have to be directly related to law. Other clubs and societies can help you with your legal career too. They can show dedication and that you are goal orientated, as well as hard working and having multiple skillsets. For example, if there is a sport you enjoy, this can be a good activity to take part in. It shows that you are a team player and that you are committed. Even joining a chess club can be advantageous, as it shows that you can have logical thinking and be strategic. Law firms are going to consider all of your extracurricular activities when they are looking at your application.
