<strong>Q: Dear Legal Eagle,</strong>

I am a third-year law student at a second-tier law school. Most of my fellow students who are not in the top 10% of their class did not find jobs through the on-campus interview process and now plan to start looking for a job only after they pass the Bar. What is the deal? Signed . . .Worried 3L

A: Dear Worried 3L,
On campus interviewing allows the largest firms to troll for what they define as the best candidates, (i.e. those with the best grades, law review membership, and class rank). However, most law school graduates have the skills and knowledge to succeed in most firms. Very often, law firms consider potential additions to their firm when they receive a resume in their "off-season", namely, before or after the on-campus interviewing program. Also, many firms do not want to go through law schools' frustrating on-campus schedule or bear the expense and lost time of traveling to schools, and they simply fill their ranks with students who demonstrate the initiative to send them a resume.

U.S. News and World Report statistics show that at many law schools 60% of graduates are employed at graduation and, then, 95%+ are employed within six months of graduation. Because we speak with numerous attorneys each day, the reason for this seems self-evident: Many attorneys who are not employed at the time of graduation get positions later. Unfortunately, these other attorneys not employed at graduation are often getting positions that are a last result more than a conscious career choice - poor paying jobs, or those with little chance of advancement.

Legal Authority ensures that law students and practicing attorneys realize their true market value because we assist them in contacting the segment of the market they are interested in, without relying on only the firms who choose to interview on-campus, or the firms recommended by their school.

It is not surprising that few law students get positions through on-campus interviewing. Only a small cross-section of firms even interview on-campus at second tier schools and these are most likely "local" firms. Out of the firms that interview on-campus, an even smaller percentage is likely to do the type of work you want to do. And, even if a given firm does the type of work you want, they are generally only seeking attorneys at the very top of most second tier law school classes. As a result, the range of potential opportunities cannot help but be quite limited.

In contrast, Legal Authority assists law students with contacting every single employer that does what they want to do. You will actually be contacting hundreds, and even thousands of opportunities, available in the markets you choose. By following this route, you ensure that you have access to each and every opportunity possible and realize the greatest "return" possible from both a financial and psychological standpoint. By making every possible contact, you know that you have left no stone unturned.

Each day across the United States law students get positions through Legal Authority. We simply do not believe there is a more effective means for law students to get positions. We have seen so many law students succeed using our service that we often wonder what would have happened to the careers of these law students if they had not used our service and followed the "traditional" route. Compared to on-campus interviewing, our service is profoundly effective in ensuring that law students locate positions that best match their interests.

You too can have your job search questions answered by the Legal Eagle. Please send any questions to asktheeagle@legalauthority.com. If your question is chosen and published in our next issue, you will receive a free SOMETHING!

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Q: Dear Legal Eagle,