6 Job Search Tips that Do Not Apply to Lawyers
- On September 17, 2023
Working in-house is a specialized space, so general advice for job seekers may not work for lawyers. Here are 6 pieces of advice I’ve seen that do NOT work for getting a legal job:
- Always message the hiring manager and CEO when applying for a job? No. This is not a good use of your time. If you feel very strongly about the job/company/your fit and you have time, sure. But a better way to spend your time is to find a connection to make a warm intro to the hiring manager.
- Don’t put up the Open to Work banner on LinkedIn? No, I would go ahead and show that you are open to work. Recruiters and employers are not put off by it in this market. See here for deeper analysis.
- Pay for a professional headshot? No, you don’t have to pay big bucks for a professional headshot. You can use your smart phone, or get a headshot taken free at legal networking events. The legal industry does not expect you to look like a model. What you should look like is professional and approachable, key traits for in-house lawyers since they need clients to come to them with problems and not be scared away. See here for more.
- End interviews by asking if the interviewer sees an obstacle to hiring you? No, this is way too aggressive for in-house jobs on the West Coast. You should use every second of the interview to make a great impression, build rapport, and give examples of relevant experience, not to fight with the interviewer.
- Always include your interests on your resume? No, only if you have room. You get one to two pages (max) to lay out your experience cleanly and succinctly. If your resume has space at the bottom after the admissions/certifications section, then you can include a line or two. It is good to show you are a human outside of work but more important to have a tight, on-point resume. (Great if you can do both!)
- Omit grad date? No, go ahead and include what date you graduated from law school. This information is generally expected and is completely available online by your state bar, e.g., see here for California’s attorney search function.
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