Distinguish yourself from the other candidates.

Below are some tips for big firm job seekers.  This information will be posted in two parts.

This part provides ideas for demonstrating serious interest and commitment to a particular area of law and for preparing effective resumes.

• Demonstrate real interest in a particular area of the law
• Get out there by writing and speaking on current legal topics
• Start your own blog
• Post comments on other blogs
• Participate in writing/speaking competitions sponsored by your law school, the ABA, and other organizations
• Pick a law journal that will allow you to write about an area of the law you may want to practice
• Write an article for the law school newspaper or the city newspaper
• Comment on an article written in the law school newspaper or the city newspaper
• Obtain hands-on work experience in the area
• Choose the opportunity that will allow you the most heavy lifting
• Small, boutique firm that specializes in the area
• Government agency
• Take classes in the area or one that compliments the area (i.e., corporate classes for tax law)

• Prepare an effective resume
• Be specific when describing previous experience
• Various litigation matters does not say anything and suggests little heavy lifting
• Describe the nature of the matters and be as specific as client confidentiality will allow
• Focus on your role in the transaction more than the substance of the transaction itself
• What specific items did you work on
• How did you add value (use active verbs) in terms of solutions, efficiency, client/partner satisfaction, etc. (consider supplementing with strong recommendation letter)
• Overall, you want your resume to come alive and tell an attractive story
• If you have had several jobs, you may need more than one page
• Have at least one other person look it over before sending

Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono.

Related posts:

1. Career advice for 1Ls (part one)
2. Career advice for 1Ls (part two)