Week #3: Making Summer Count

When we reviewed the academic calendar prior to starting school, we were pleased to see that we had a whole month off after fall exams. But, it wasn’t long before we both learned that winter break is really a time for students to focus on their summer plans. Whether pursuing a paid position with a law firm, vying for a coveted judicial internship, or seeking funding through scholarships to support a local legal aid clinic, it’s important to take advantage of your winter break. Take time off, but also make sure you have a plan, especially for monitoring your inbox to keep up to date with resources and opportunities.

While we don’t have a lawyer or judge at the dinner table with us each night, we have both cultivated a village of support. Coupled with our drive to succeed, we both are confident that we will land right where we are supposed to be . . . as long as we keep putting in the work.

Hopefully you find this quick read before your spring semester begins. As always, we are excited for your feedback!

Here’s to going first,

Danielle and David

1. Get your ducks in a row.

More likely than not, your school offers career support. We were both assigned career advisors and our career development office is constantly disseminating new resources. At a minimum, you will need to prepare a resume, draft a form cover letter, perfect a writing sample, and make sure all of your social media platforms are professional. In the event that your school doesn’t equip you with career support, there are a number of quality resources online.

Personalize your cover letters, adopt a general style, but know that now is not the time to get Elle Woods creative. Try to keep your resume to one page, avoid informal fonts and bright colors, and know that all of these documents will be “in progress.”

Once you’ve saved working drafts of your resume, cover letter, and writing sample, begin soliciting feedback from qualified individuals. Your first, second, or third draft of a document probably shouldn’t be the one you send out to prospective employers. There’s no hard and fast rule about how many people should review your materials, but you’ll know when they’re ready. Trust your gut!

2. Cast a wide net.

We could write for days about the importance of casting a wide net. The more opportunities that you apply to during this process, the more possibilities you have to obtain an interview, and the better your chances are at receiving a summer internship offer. Fortunately, we both applied to multiple opportunities and ended up beyond pleased with our experiences.

If there’s a career development office on your campus, they probably will offer a portal of opportunities. Don’t stop there. Commit a bit of time each week to seeking out opportunities on other sites. If there’s a firm that you’ve interacted with and you really would like to learn more about their summer program, send an email expressing your interest. There will always be opportunities. You just have to put in the time and energy to find them.

Also, know that a number of programs review application materials on a rolling basis, so it is beneficial to gather your documents and submit your application as early as possible instead of waiting until the deadline. The more you get done over winter break, the less you will have to try and squeeze in on evenings and weekends during spring semester.

3. There’s no such thing as being overprepared.

If mock interview opportunities are available at your school, seize the chance and make it count. Dress up, research your interviewer(s), and if you’re interviewing remotely, prepare your environment. If they aren’t available at your school, ask a professor who previously practiced if they’d be willing to role play or call on another legal professional you know to stand in.

Know your resume, know your writing sample, and write out potential answers to frequently asked questions. Many first-generation law students do not have legal experience. Speak with your advisor about transferable skills from your past positions and understand how those skills are valuable in the legal field. Practice your expressions and tone, ask your peers for feedback on your proposed responses, and always be prepared to respond to “So, tell us about yourself.”

The best piece of advice that Danielle received came from a second year law student: “Make it a conversation and less of a traditional interview.” At the time of your interview, you have earned your spot at the interviewing table, and the committee is interested in learning about your personality, professional demeanor, and ability to communicate. Be confident, remain authentic, and remember that you are interviewing the firm as much as they are interviewing you.

4. Do your research.

You should be doing some research before you apply to a role. But, once you’ve learned that you have been selected for an interview, you need to do a deep dive. Know the partners, know the associates, know the firm’s practice area(s), and make sure you haven’t left any stones unturned before you enter that room. Oh, and if you are able to identify alums who work at the firm, or have mutual connections in common with employees, it’s absolutely appropriate to connect prior to the interview.

Want to impress the interviewers? Seek out cases that they’ve played a role in or articles they’ve published. If the opportunity presents itself, mention an aspect of the case or a tidbit in the article that you found interesting.

From our experience, most firms know that with only a semester of law school under your belt you probably don’t know exactly what practice area you’ll be pursuing. However, you absolutely need to make sure that you’re clear on what the firm offers. An employer recently told David that their firm–which specializes in litigation–has on more than one occasion brought in a candidate who almost immediately noted their desire to only do transactional work.

Five second sidebar: Transactional attorneys are often in the boardroom or in front of the computer drafting or negotiating contracts or brokering business deals. They aren’t usually found in the courtroom. Litigators are what we often see on television. They manage all phases of their client’s case and engage in the adversary process. Know the difference and understand that some roles offer you the chance to wear both hats from time to time.

5. Reach out to others for assistance.

You are human. We are still learning and we will make mistakes. But, learn from upper level students and attorneys. When Danielle received an email asking for her availability to schedule an interview, she mostly included two hour time frames. Before pressing send, Danielle shared the draft with a 2L who recommended she expand her time frames because unlike interviews in other fields, this one could last more than three hours.

As for attire, you’ll want to stick to a simple and traditional suit that is black, gray, or navy blue. Danielle asked a fellow classmate for deals in the area and ended up with two suits for the price of one. She also asked her advisor to glance at her outfit after cutting the stitches over the pants pockets and at the back of her suit jacket. David suggests swapping ties with friends and buying at least five dress shirts for a week of networking and interviewing. Wondering where to shop? Ask a mentor where to find affordable ready to wear suits. Your law school may rent suits to students or provide a stipend for professional attire, so seek out resources.

Searching for summer internships, applying for opportunities, and interviewing for positions will require a great amount of your time and the process can be overwhelming. Keep track of your calendar (we wouldn’t want you to show up late for any interviews!) and play around with time management strategies because the process itself will feel like a part-time job on top of your normal law school coursework. Above all else, we wish you the best during your application process!

That’s all for this week. Have additional thoughts? We want to hear from you!

Week #4: Money Matters will be shared on Monday, January 25, 2021.

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