By: Katie Nagy
For current college
students, finding a job after graduation is a daunting task. It is often said
by many people that there are just not enough jobs out there for everyone that
is looking. Law is a competitive field, so I am investigating what skills and traits
law firms are looking for in potential job candidates. While researching
desired characteristics of job candidates, motivation came up a lot. Recruiters
want to see someone who is dedicated to a career in law, and they want to see
that reflected in you history, for example, internships at law firms and pro
bono law assistance.
Another characteristic important in lawyers looking for a job is the ability to communicate well. Lawyers need to communicate well and be able to get your point across in the courtroom, but most importantly with their client. Lawyers need to understand their clients and know how to interact with them in a way their client would appreciate. A skill that is necessary for all lawyers to possess is the ability to work in a team and the ability to lead a team. Potential lawyers have to play nicely with others in order to get a position at a firm (“What Skills Do Law Firms Look For” para. 4).
Another characteristic important in lawyers looking for a job is the ability to communicate well. Lawyers need to communicate well and be able to get your point across in the courtroom, but most importantly with their client. Lawyers need to understand their clients and know how to interact with them in a way their client would appreciate. A skill that is necessary for all lawyers to possess is the ability to work in a team and the ability to lead a team. Potential lawyers have to play nicely with others in order to get a position at a firm (“What Skills Do Law Firms Look For” para. 4).
One trait I was surprised to see that a former lawyer recruiter looked for in his interviews was a sense of humor. The recruiter said it was important for a potential hire to have a sense of humor that helped them relate to people, whether they are clients or co-workers in the office. In my opinion, one of the most important traits I read about while investigating this topic is the trait of being different. Someone interviewing hundreds of candidates has no way of remembering every person they interviewed, so someone needs to stand out in order to get the job (Shepherd para. 2).
Admittedly, grades are still important when looking at whom to hire into a firm. Grades show if potential job candidates are willing to work hard, and being in the top 20% of your class is a great indicator of your ability in law. While grades do have some impact on how someone views your resume, another quality has recently become very favorable to law firms. Hirers like to see business experience in candidates’ resumes; it shows their dedication and work ethic to the firm. The people that are conducting interviews also like to meet with people that have overcame obstacles and ended up favorably due to their perseverance, for example, a single mother that put herself through law school (Mondics para. 5). Different firms are looking for different traits in their employees, so what I mostly learned from this investigation is the importance of being a well-rounded student, and also a well-rounded person.
Sources:
Digital image.
Cornellcurrent. N.p., 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.
Mondics,
Chris. "Law Firms Are Looking for More than Good Grades
from New Hires." Philly-archives. N.p., 08 Nov.
2010. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
Shepherd, Jay.
"Small Firms, Big Lawyers: 10 Traits That Will Get You Hired."
Above the Law. N.p., 25 May 2011. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
"What
Skills Do Law Firms Look for When Recruiting Graduates for
Trainee Solicitor Jobs?" TARGETjobs. N.p., n.d. Web.
22 Sept. 2015.
I also was surprised to see that the lawyer recruiter looked for a sense of humor in his interviews. My step dad was a lawyer for many years and was a very serious lawyer. I think that we see most lawyers with a serious personality and I wonder why. Do you think that could be a stereotype or is that just how they are portrayed from the media?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question! I think lawyers are often seen as serious professionals because of the way they are portrayed in media and because of the way real lawyers portray themselves. I think lawyers want to seem tough and serious in their jobs and that seriousness is a part of the professional persona they have. I also think television shows like Law & Order exaggerate the serious personalities of lawyers.
DeleteI was always curious about what law firms looked for in people applying. My sister is currently a law student at New York University and I always hear her saying how it's hard to get a job at law firms. She always compared it to how it's easy for someone studying medicine or engineering cause they're guaranteed some type of job after graduation, but for law students it's basically a job or not. I like how you shed some light on the different traits, like having humor or overcoming obstacles, because it's important to show that not everyone studying law is completely serious or has had no sense of a journey toward their accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I cannot imagine how difficult it is for your sister to find a job in law right now. Law jobs are declining and it is scary for people to spend a lot of money and spend years at law school without knowing if there will even be a job for them when they get out.
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