LegalJob recently talked with several 1Ls concerning career advice.  This post is the first of two summarizing the advice:

Put yourself in a position to pick a specialty area (sooner rather than later).

• Talk to as many people as possible practicing in different areas and learn how they spend their days.
  • Take advantage of programs offered by your law school or local bar group
    • Participate in legal clinics
    • Participate in career events/attend panel discussions
  • Law professors may provide helpful guidance or have suggestions on helpful people to consult
  • Seek out 2L/3L mentor
• If possible, relate your pick to your undergraduate education or work experience.
  • It may be helpful to have this head start (as far as distinguishing yourself from the competition early on)
  • It is okay to chose something else but think about how your undergraduate or experience will help you contribute (even if not naturally connected)
  • Remember that employers appreciate focus and dedication to a particular path (so keep this in mind for your future elevator pitch)
• You may change your mind (and that is okay)
• You may change your mind multiple times (and that is okay)
• You will likely change jobs multiple times (and that is okay)
• The purpose of this initial decision is to help put you on a path to eventually attract multiple job opportunities

Maximize the information resources of the Career Development Center

• Once you have one or two practice areas you are considering, ask for information about government and private job options in these areas
• Ask for contact information for people that match at least three of your touch points
  • Same hometown (place of birth or where you were raised)
  • Same undergraduate degree
  • Same law school
  • Similar law school experience (i.e., moot court winners)
  • Similar work experience
  • Working in the practice area you are interested in

Contact people practicing in that area (with your touch points.)

• Make clear up front that you are not looking for a job
  • If not, many folks may not be interested in talking with you
• Ask for five minute meeting/call to discuss their background and opportunities in the practice area
  • Ask what qualities they have that makes them good at their particular practice area
  • Attention to detail and focus probably helps every lawyer, but what about other qualities (for example, tax planning which requires creativity and the ability to anticipate many different alternatives requires a different skill set then tax controversy which generally requires focus on a narrow legal issue and a contained set of facts)
• Get specifics on what their day looks like and the kinds of matters they handle
  • Does that sound interesting to you?
• Ask what experience would be most helpful to excel in this practice area
• Certain classes at the law school (or outside the law school)
• Certain work experience
• Participation in certain law school activities

Image courtesy of jscreationzs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net