Recruiter

How to evaluate a recruiter.

  • On September 22, 2013
The field is pretty crowded. How do you evaluate? Presentation. Does the recruiter present him or herself well? This person will be representing you to prospective employers, and you want this to be done with polish and knowledge. A recruiter who has practiced law at both a top firm and in-house will understand the key requirements for […]
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Resume

How To Get A Positive Response To Your Resume!

  • On September 8, 2013
Proper length. Junior lawyers should be on one page (the only exception: if there’s relevant business or technical experience). Senior lawyers should be on two pages, and can have an addendum for representative matters or publications/talks. Resumes that are too long will not be read. Zero errors. You can be dinged if you have even […]
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Job Search

How Do I Jumpstart My Job Search?

  • On August 18, 2013
Following the end of summer, the legal market traditionally heats up. What should you be doing to jumpstart your job search? Get on LinkedIn. Post a professional picture (you can get a nice head shot taken for less than $100). Your LinkedIn profile should contain a crisp description of what you do and use keywords for the job […]
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Job Search, Thank You

Are Thank You Notes Necessary?

  • On August 11, 2013
I have never seen thank you notes following an interview through a recruiter help anyone get the job. In fact, these notes can hurt you if they contain typos, grammatical errors, or insincere/boring platitudes. One big exception is if the interviewer is a stickler for etiquette and expects that thank you note. In that case, […]
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Attire, Interview

What do I wear for a Bay Area legal interview?

  • On August 4, 2013
Consider the type of employer, the location, and the industry. Your cheat sheet below: Firm vs. company. Law firms are generally expecting you in a suit. In-house employers, in contrast, expect to see you in business casual except maybe if they are a in conservative industry. Location. Public San Francisco companies in bricks and mortar industries may […]
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Offer, Process

Why Does A Potential Employer Go Radio Silent? 

  • On July 28, 2013
I am often asked why a firm or company who seemed interested would suddenly cease communications in the recruiting process. There could be a few things going on: The potential employer has higher priorities at the moment than hiring. Management could be caught up with demanding work, and HR could be tasked with more urgent matters. […]
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Interview

Top 5 interviewing mistakes.

  • On July 21, 2013
Avoid these top 5 interviewing mistakes! Insufficient preparation. To do well, you need to know about the role, company, and interviewer. Demonstrate this knowledge throughout the interview. Clearly articulate how you can do the job and make their lives easier. Low energy. You must project energy and enthusiasm. Have eye contact and smile often. Yes, […]
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Inhouse, Title

What Is The Pecking Order Of In-House Titles?

  • On July 14, 2013
Some companies are flat — even partners come in as “Counsel.” At other companies, it seems like every other person is an AGC. Despite the variation across companies on titles, the standard pecking order is, from junior to senior: Assistant (or Associate) Corporate Counsel. Companies usually don’t have such a junior position. Corporate Counsel. Senior Counsel (or […]
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Interview

How To Ace Phone Interviews For Legal Positions

  • On July 7, 2013
Interviews by themselves are hard. Phone interviews are even harder — you can’t see your interviewer’s responses, and the medium is artificial. Below are 5 concrete steps you must take to ace this kind of interview: Keep your answers short. How short? Think 60 to 90 seconds. Anticipate likely questions, and practice answers with a […]
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