How do you get a job in a law firm immediately after school with no experience? If you are already asking yourself this question, you are not alone. Many law graduates tend to struggle to land their first job in a competitive legal industry. The good news is that having gone through law school and completed the course is your primary gateway to a legal profession. You can now start approaching the law firms, but it is easier said than done. Well, we have compiled a few tips to help you land your first legal job after law school.Â
Get your application ready
For starters, your legal job application is what will speak on your behalf and determine if the hiring manager will be interested in inviting you to the interview. Hence, having a great cover letter as a prospective attorney will encourage the hiring manager to read your resume. It is for this reason that you should exude professionalism in all your job applications. You should include your skills and achievements that will sell your potential.
For example, you can state something like, “I won two legal writing competitions, and I have published over 50 legal articles.” This will show the hiring manager that you are a talented and skilled writer. You will earn yourself more points that will help win the interest of your prospective employer. That will also increase the chances of being invited to the job interview, where you will have a more significant opportunity to express yourself and win the confidence of your prospective employer.Â
Approach legal recruiter firmsÂ
Legal recruiters bridge the gap between the pool of talents and the job market. Quite often, firms and corporate employers approach legal recruiters for their hiring needs. To increase your chances of landing a law job, you can look up for legal recruiters online that can help you kick-start your job search. Usually, the legal recruiters assess your skills to determine if you are qualified and where you are best suited.Â
They are the bridge between law firms looking for top talent and attorneys in the market. They will schedule interviews with you and even help point you in the right direction in your career.Â
Use legal networks
Networking in the legal industry is vital to your career success. It involves speaking and interacting with people to develop professional contacts and relationships. You can start the process of networking in the legal industry in or after law school. All you need is the confidence to approach legal practitioners through things like events and create a good rapport with them. This will make it easy for them to share information on law job opportunities with you whenever they come up. You can also follow them on social media platforms such as LinkedIn for more job insights.Â
Find out more about hiring managers.
Knowing about your interviewers ahead of the interview is a fundamental step in successfully preparing for an interview. You should make efforts to learn about their professional careers and legal practice, including the cases they have handled before. Understanding your interviewers will help melt the ice in between and assist you in achieving psychological readiness.Â
Besides, you can seek to find out more about them during the interview. This creates an impression of an intellectually curious lawyer. It also boosts you a lot in terms of gaining experience.Â
Wrap up
The thought of securing a lucrative job in the legal industry might seem far-fetched after law school. Frankly, there is high competition for employment and qualifications around the world. However, with the right skills, following the proper application process, and looking in the right places, you will land your first job!