Don’t. Make. Me. Network.

November 3rd, 2009 by smund


Newsflash:  Almost EVERYONE hates networking in the traditional sense— put me at a reception where I don’t know anyone and I can usually be found wandering around aimlessly around the perimeter of the room until someone engages me in conversation or it’s time to leave.  Talk about counter-productive (although it usually involves free food and drink.)  When CAAS talks (and talks and talks and talks) about networking, that’s not what we are suggesting

 

The majority of people get their jobs (in and outside the legal world) by having a personal connection with someone.  Some popular ways to network include:  attending panel discussions, lectures, and CLE programs; joining a local or practice-specific bar association; reaching out to a full-time or adjunct professor for advice or just to discuss his or her career; and conducting informational interviews with alumni.  These are great steps to take, but in this market, you may need to do more.   

 

Think outside the box and outside of the four walls of this law school.  Do you have a particular political affiliation?  If there’s a local chapter of the “Young Whatevers”, sign up and volunteer to hand out signs or knock on doors.  Do you attend religious services?  What about the local animal shelter?  There are tons of opportunities in the DC area to volunteer – and given the high concentration of lawyers in DC, you are bound to be meet someone who can help you.  Or someone who knows someone.  Check out the Washington Post local extra section every Thursday:  http://tinyurl.com/ykh7a85 or this site http://volunteerarlington.org/avco for ideas.  This past week there were 458 opportunities listed on the Washington Post website.

 

You should also pay attention to the Upcoming Off-Site Networking Opportunities sent out by CAAS on the list serve – most recently, there was a posting about volunteering for a charity event with the Federal Communications Bar. 

 

Additionally, CAAS has a number of books about networking that students can check out, including titles such as:  
 
 

 

- It’s Who You Know: The Magic of Networking in Person and on the Internet

- Building Career Connections

- The Opportunity Maker: Stategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career

- Guide to Schmoozing

 

If you are dedicated and reliable, people will want to return the favor. And if you build your network before you need it, you will be much more successful in networking your way to an internship, summer job, or permanent job.

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Gain Practical Legal Experience While Earning Academic Credit

October 30th, 2009 by smund


The Mason Law Externship Program and Clinics offer excellent opportunities for you to practice your legal skills, increase your marketability with certain employers and earn academic credit.  Apply now to take advantage of these opportunities for the spring semester.

There are many internship postings in the job bank on Symplicity with all kinds of employers including government agencies, judges, and public interest organizations.  You can also find an internship position through your own connections, and as long as you are doing substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney, you can generally enroll in the externship course.  To get your externship approved, send an email to Judge Wooldridge and Professor Costello who are in charge of the spring program. 

Clinics being offered this spring include:

·         Clinic for Legal Assistance to Servicemembers;
·         Domestic Relations Clinic;
·         Legal Clinic;
·         Law and Mental Illness Clinic;
·         Regulatory Clinic;
·         Immigration Legal Clinic; and
·         Practical Preparation of GMU Patent Applications Clinic.

Applications for the Immigration Legal Clinic are due in CAAS on November 3.  Students can also apply now through Symplicity for the Legal Clinic and Domestic Relations Clinic.  For all other clinics, students simply register as they would for any course. 

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Small Firm Week at Mason Law

October 16th, 2009 by smund


Are you looking for permanent or summer employment in a law firm? CAAS is hosting three events specifically focused on smaller firms next week. 

 

Tuesday October 20:  Donna Gerson, author of “Choosing Small, Choosing Smart” will present tips and strategies for seeking out small firms from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in room 332.  Ms. Gerson, a nationally known speaker, will also be available to meet with a small number of students afterwards for individual consultations.  Students should RSVP for her presentation through Symplicity.  Pizza will be served.


Wednesday, October 21:  Small Firms Panel, 5:00-6:00 pm, room 225:  Mason Law alums will participate in a panel discussion about the small firm experience in our area.  You will hear from both younger associates and partners in small firms.  Students should RSVP for the session through Symplicity.  More pizza.

Thursday, October 22:  Student/Alumni Speednetworking with Small and Mid-size Firms, 7:00-9:00 pm, Levy Atrium. This event enables Mason students to conduct informational interviews, discover different practice areas, expand their professional network, and learn more about job hunting and the local market in a relaxed atmosphere.  The networking event will be followed by an ice cream social.  Students interested in participating in this event should contact CAAS as soon as possible. 

 

Students should monitor the Symplicity job bank as summer associate and attorney positions regularly are posted there.


Students should also contact CAAS for individual appointments to discuss additional strategies and resources, including small firm directories, contacts, and for students working in other parts of the country, reciprocity at law schools outside of the DC area and alumni contacts.  We strongly encourage students to join local bar associations (see the Select List of Legal Professional Associations handout available in the Symplicity Document Library) in the region in which they would like to work.

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“Day in the Life” Series

September 10th, 2009 by smund


Ever wonder exactly what a transactional attorney does?  What is the difference between representing companies for immigration matters versus representing individuals?  Do litigators really go to court and if not, what do they do all day?  What are some unique issues presented in bankruptcy cases?   Is there a middle ground between representing the Sierra Club or Exxon in environmental/energy cases?

This year, CAAS will host a series of programs designed to present a look into the day-to-day practice of particular areas of law.  At these informal sessions, guest attorney speakers will describe their work and take questions from the audience.   Practice areas scheduled for this fall include:

 Bankruptcy Lawyers:   Sept.23, 5- 6 pm, Room 120

 Transactional Lawyers:   Sept. 30, 5- 6 pm, Room 225

 Litigators:     Oct. 7, 5- 6 pm, Room 225

 Immigration Lawyers:   Oct. 28, 5- 6 pm, Room 225 -  NOTE NEW DATE

 Energy & Environment Lawyers:    Nov.18, 5- 6 pm, Rpom 225

 Practice areas scheduled for the spring include:

            Public Policy Professionals
            Alternative Career Professionals
            Criminal Law Lawyers
            Antitrust Lawyers
            Corporate Litigators and In-House Lawyers
            Health Care Lawyers

 If you have areas you would like to explore, send suggestions for future Day in the Life Series to lawcareer@gmu.edu.

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The Grand Daddy of all Government and Public Interest Career Fairs

September 4th, 2009 by smund


Interested in working for employers like these?

 

U.S. Department of Justice

The Children’s Law Center

U.S. EEOC Office of General Counsel

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Defenders of Wildlife

U.S. Senate Legislative Counsel

Various County Attorneys and Public Defenders across the country

Alliance for Justice

National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

ACLU

 

If so, register now for the 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair being held in DC October 24-25!   You must register for this conference and bid for interviews by Monday, September 14th at 11:59 p.m using the Equal Justice Works Symplicity site: https://ejw-csm.symplicity.com/students/  Please also let CAAS know that you have registered by emailing lawcareer@gmu.edu.

 

 Lists of past participating employers can be found here:  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/employer_list#2008. 

 

Additionally, the conference portion of event provides students with valuable information about finding and working in public service and public interest positions.  The conference schedule can be found at:  http://equaljusticeworks.org/events/ccf/schedule.

Posted in Federal Government, Internships, Public Interest, State and Local Government | No Comments »

Interested in working for Uncle Sam?

August 27th, 2009 by smund


In addition to the Department of Justice (the nation’s largest law firm and the first agency that always springs to mind), there are many additional opportunities for both internships and permanent positions in the federal government.  Although some agencies hire entry-level attorneys through their Honors Programs (see the Government Honors & Internship Handbook), others do not.   If you are interested in working for a particular agency, or division within an agency, you should view the website for that office. 

A list of governmental agencies can be found at: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml

Often times, hiring information, or at least contact information, will be listed there.  Students who intern in government offices during the school year and summer are in the best position to be hired for full-time work, especially with those agencies that do not have an official Honors Program.  Be proactive:  if you want to work for an agency but can’t find any job postings, find a contact person and call. 

A Few Starting Points:

1.  Careers in Federal Government Panel on Sept.2:  Alumni panelists will give advice on recommended steps for securing positions during and after law school, how to best present your skills and experiences to a government employer, and more.  RSVP through Symplicity.

2.   Mason Law Alumni Directory:  Connect with alums in federal government.  Obtain a password by sending your name, G number and class year to lawalum@gmu.edu.

3.  Read columns and web chats with Derrick Dortch, a Washington Post writer who is a Government and Security Clearance Specialist.    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wl/jobs/Content?Content=/Career_Advice/experts.htm

4.  Check out these websites:

www.partnershipforpublicservice.org and www.calltoserve.gov
and more – review the Opportunities with Government Agencies and Selected Websites for Government Job Searches document, available in the Symplicity document library. 

Posted in Externships, Federal Government, Internships, Job Searches | No Comments »

Welcome or Welcome Back!

August 21st, 2009 by smund

Career Services welcomes you all back to school!  We hope you all had wonderful summers and also gained some good legal experience as well.   Please stop by and say hello!

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Preparing for the Interview–Part 3

August 13th, 2009 by smund

Interviewing Tips:  What NOT to Wear

When in doubt, pretend you are in the 360 degree mirror with Stacy and Clinton from TLC’s “What Not To Wear” and ask yourself the following questions:

1.  Does your suit fit you correctly?
    And yes, you should wear a suit, even if you are told that the dress is business-casual.
   And no, a sports jacket is not appropriate.

2.  Is it an appropriate color? 
    Dark, muted colors are best.  Conservative patterns.  Play it safe-don’t make a bold fashion statement during an interview.

3.  Has it recently been cleaned? 

4.  Is your shirt or blouse ironed?  (Even if it’s under a suit jacket!)

5.  Are you wearing cologne or perfume?  (Trick question:  if you can smell it, it’s too strong.)

Specifically for men:

6.   Are you wearing socks?  Do they cover your calves when you are sitting down?  Do they match your suit?
7.   Are you wearing jewelry and if so, is it visible?   (Hint:  It shouldn’t be.)          
8.   Are you wearing a long-sleeve shirt in white or light blue?
9.   Is your hair clean and neat?
10.  Did you shave?

Specifically for women:

 11.  Where does your skirt hit when you sit down?  Is it pulling across your thighs? 
     Make sure that it is long enough and not too tight.  Knee-length skirts are best for most women. 
12.  Are you wearing stockings?
   Yes, you should wear stockings.  Get over it.
13.  Are your shoes closed-toe?  Can you walk in them?  If you had to run to catch a bus, would you be able to?
14.  Is your hair pulled back in a sloppy bun or ponytail?  (Hint:  This is not acceptable.)
15.   Do you have any body piercings other than earrings visible?  (Tip: This is not the time to show off your new nose ring.)
16.  Are you wearing big fashion jewelry or large religious/organizational pieces?   When in doubt, be conservative in your choices.

 If you think Stacy and Clinton would question your choice, change.  When in doubt, come in to CAAS and ask someone!

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Preparing for Interviews-Part 2

August 12th, 2009 by smund

Interviewing Tips:  What NOT to Do

 Throughout the year, CAAS receives feedback from employers about their interviewing experiences.  Here are some of the biggest complaints or reasons students were not selected:

 -  Failure to research employer or particular office/branch of employer and demonstrate a good “fit”.

- Stalker students who over-researched the interviewers and commented on things found only through google or social networking sites.

- Overbearing/over-aggressiveness/conceited/know-it-all

- Inability to express oneself clearly

- Late to interview

- Lack of planning for career with no apparent goals or purpose

- Interest(s) too narrow

- Lack of knowledge of field of specialty

- Over-emphasis on money

- Excuses, evasiveness, hedging on unfavorable factors in record

- Condemnation of past employers, associates, students, professors, and schools

- Lack of vitality/failure to look interviewer in the eye / limp, fishy or sweaty handshake

- Poor personal appearance

- Little sense of humor/cynicism/inability to take criticism

- Failure to express appreciation for the interviewer’s time

- Snoopy students who attempted to read the documents on an interviewer’s desk or pick up items.  (This may signal a lack of sensitivity to confidentiality concerns, which is damning in a law interview.)

Don’t be “that” student. 

Coming soon:  Part 3:  What Not to Wear
 
Don’t forget, the Legal Interview Guide can be found in the Symplicity Document Library.

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Posted in Fall Recruiting, Interviews | No Comments »

Preparing for Interviews–Part 1

August 11th, 2009 by smund


Part 1:  Doing your homework. 

 

Research the employer.  It is absolutely essential to research the employer in advance and the interviewers, if possible.  (Interviewer names for OCI will be added to Symplicity when the employers provide them to CAAS.)  At a minimum, students should consult the following resources:

 

Employer web pages/brochures:  Know the facts.  Make sure you know that if you are interested in tax, that particular office or agency has tax work.  Don’t ask questions of interviewers that could have been answered if you had reviewed the website.  In short, don’t waste an interviewer’s time.

 

Online resources such as: 

NALP forms available at www.nalpdirectory.com

www.martindale.com.

www.chambers-associate.com (and its parent site, www.chambersandpartners.com)

www.vault.com

www.findlaw.com


Law school colleagues, professors, adjunct professors, staff:  CAAS has a list of student and alumni contacts for many of the employers participating in Fall Recruiting.  This document can be found in the Symplicity Document Library.

 Internet Chat Sites and Articles and Surveys in Legal Newspapers


Prepare for Common Topics of Discussion such as:
 

Why you are interested in THIS PARTICULAR employer and certain practice areas.
Why you went to law school.
Questions about GMU’s programs (law and econ, legal writing, etc.)
EVERYTHING on your resume, including work history, time gaps, and hobbies.
Short-and long-term career goals.
 

Coming soon

 

Part 2:  What Not to Do (employer pet peeves), and

Part 3:  What Not to Wear. 

 

Don’t forget, the Legal Interview Guide can be found in the Symplicity Document Library.   Interviewing tips from NALP and Daniel Binstock (BCG Search) are available in CAAS. 

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