More and more people are graduating from college with a law degree and seeking legal jobs. As a consequence, it is worth thinking about what legal job you would like after graduation and how well prepared you are. We’ve rounded up the top 10 tips for getting a graduate legal job.
1. Get some work experience – It can be very difficult to get legal work experience, sometimes law firms have more applicants for work experience than apprenticeships. Don’t let the high level of competition put you off. Apply to more law firms or broaden your search to other similar businesses. Your city hall, an entertainment company, or real estate agents are other businesses that would appreciate candidates with high-quality work experience to help you later in your law career.
2. Think about what area you would like to specialize in – as you progress through your course, try to decide which areas you would like to specialize in as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. Having a clear idea of what you would like to do after college will help you on your quest.
3. Join partnerships: Unfortunately, having a good degree is not enough to land the perfect legal job. Get involved in clubs, societies, and other extracurricular activities. Show that you are a well-rounded individual and it will give you the opportunity to hone some of the skills that will make you a stronger candidate.
4. Improve your CV: too many students leave their CV until they graduate; this can put real pressure on you to get the right document. It is better to start working on your CV from college. Then you can quickly update the document whenever you get something new. A few minutes working on your CV each month will mean that when you graduate, you will have a complete, professional file to send to prospective employers.
5. Read the Industry Press – By reading the legal trade press, you will learn about the top firms that may be recruiting in the future. It can also keep you up to date with any industry specific news, this kind of information will help you appear informed and in touch on any work experience or job interviews.
6. Visit Your Career Service – Most colleges have well-rated career services. They can usually help you with interview techniques and can often put you in touch with local companies that would be ideal to contact for work experience.
7. Improve your communication skills: Working for a student newspaper or radio station can help you learn to improve your ability to communicate with people. These skills are highly valued by employers in all industries, not just in law.
8. Visit local courts – You may have to spend time in local courts as part of your course, but try to spend as much time as you can organize. It will help you get comfortable with the environment and could help you network with potential employers.
9. Learn a language – A second language is a great skill and can be really helpful in many legal jobs. It can give you a break from your law studies, but it can also set you apart from other candidates when applying for jobs.
10. Work Hard – With so many people graduating from college with law and other degrees, it is increasingly important to graduate with a good grade. While many other factors can help you land a job in law, your degree is still the most important.