Featured Articles

The following resources may prove very helpful in providing you with some much-needed insight into your job search.

Choosing a Law Specialty: Who Are You and What Do You Want?
Corporate, litigation, intellectual property, real estate, tax... the list of specialties in the legal area is long and includes things you have likely never considered. While some areas are more difficult to break into than others, with all the options your degree affords you, finding something you enjoy is not out of reach.

The Dos and Don'ts of Cover Letter Writing
Cover letters are a necessary evil in all job searches—a necessary and critical evil. While many job searchers think a solid resume should speak for itself, the reality is it often does not. In fact, a poorly written or sloppy cover letter can detract from even the most impeccable of resumes. The first step in writing a cover letter is to appreciate the potential effect it can have on the decision maker and know that it may be the only tool you have to separate yourself from all the other applicants. While there is no standard formula to follow, there are some things you should be sure to do, and there are some things you should never do when crafting your cover letter.

Doing the 'Right' Thing: How to Get into Public Interest Law
This is comprehensive guide for those who aspire to do some good.

In-House Counsel: Life in the Corporate Wing
More and more lawyers are discovering that company counsel gigs come with surprisingly interesting challenges—and some very attractive perks.

Job No. 1 for Supervisors: Hiring the Right Person
There is no question in Jim Plotkin's mind that hiring is the most important job for a supervisor.

Rules of Engagement: Tips for Working with a Legal Recruiter
Congratulations on passing the bar. One of the "rights, privileges, and immunities" that you derive from being a well-credentialed attorney is that you will soon be receiving calls from legal recruiters (a.k.a. "headhunters"). A legal recruiter can be very helpful in assisting you with a lateral move. On the other hand, you will probably hear horror stories about how members of this group made the process more difficult by sending a candidate's resume to firms that he/she didn't authorize.

Look to a Mentor to Help You Avoid Falling into a Career Rut
If you're like most people, you probably happened into your first job. Very few of us actually wisely choose that first job.

Finding the Right Firm for You: How Legal Authority Can Help
Caroline Lee is an employment advocate with Legal Authority, which helps attorneys choose the exact firms that meet their criteria—among many other services. We are pleased to offer her advice this week. There's more to it than just "wanting to work at a law firm." Caroline helps you determine which firm you want to work for. And the time to start is while you're in law school.

Identifying and Handling BAS (Battered Associate Syndrome) During Your Job Transition
Practicing law as an associate in a law firm is typically highly stressful. But when the stress gets you to the point where it becomes all-consuming, you may be a victim of what I refer to as BAS, a tongue-in-cheek acronym for Battered Associate Syndrome. Read on to find out about this increasingly common syndrome and how to keep it in check while you make a job change.

Working in Chambers: Judicial Clerkships Provide a Unique Career Experience
For law students and new attorneys, judicial clerkships are exciting and highly coveted positions with plenty of responsibilities and rewards alike. "A judicial clerk is someone who acts as the judge's assistant at every stage of the proceeding," explained Debra Strauss, attorney and former federal clerk for the Southern District of New York. She is also the author of Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships and the mind behind www.judicialclerkships.com. "The experience is very close and personal and also varied."

New Faces, New Ideas: Diversity in Law Firms Makes Business Sense
This is the first of a two-part article on diversity in law firms. This first section examines why more law firms are recognizing the value of having a diverse workplace. The second part will provide ideas for recruiting and retaining an inclusive workforce and offer some advice for smaller firms.

Taking It to the Top: Finding a Job at a Top Law Firm
Have you wanted to work as a paralegal or legal assistant for one of the top law firms in the country? Landing that dream job is not as tough as you may think.

35 Absurd Ways to Create an Awkward Moment in an Interview
This is a comical piece written by three recruiters from BCG Attorney Search. Enjoy!

A J.D. in the World of Legal Publishing
A law degree and legal expertise can be applied to any number of careers. Many law students opt out of the traditional lawyer route by pursuing alternative careers post-graduation. One of these careers involves the world of legal publishing.

Law Enforcement as a Career
Career opportunities are wide open for those armed with a law degree. One of the many alternatives to working in a law firm is a career in law enforcement.

Trial Tips from America's Top Prosecutors
The prosecutors whose tips are included here have all spent plenty of time inside a courtroom. Many of the cases they've tried have involved the kinds of events that can occupy the media for days.

Trial Tips from America's Top Litigators
The trial lawyers whose tips are offered here have all won multi-million-dollar lawsuits in the kinds of cases whose judgments (or lack thereof) are splashed across the national news. Identifying them was easy. Interviewing them proved more challenging.

Young Lawyers, New Challenges
Just because you have graduated from law school does not mean you have nothing left to learn.

Does Law School Rank Determine Success?
Each year, hopeful college students send thousands of applications nationwide, trying to gain acceptance at top-tier law school. The assumption is that by going to a top law school and doing well, one's career in law is more or less set for success. But does graduating from a top law school really guarantee more success in one's career, or can one attend a lower-ranked school and do just as well, if not better?

Law School Grades and Your Career
The importance of your grades during law school is the focus here. As we will explore, many factors go into the significance of your grades, including the prestige of your law school, the hiring practices of the firms you apply to, and the type of position you seek.

Judging the Judiciary: Is a Position with the Courts Right for You?
The American judiciary is one of the largest legal employers in the world. It has offices in most cities, every county, and at the highest levels of state and federal government. Among its ranks are some of the most powerful figures in law. It has more employment opportunities than most corporations on the Fortune 500 list. And it offers some of the profession's best health, retirement, and related benefits. But it's not for everyone. Is it right for you?