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Today’s
post is brought to us by guest blogger, Adam Gropper, author of the newly
released "Making Partner: The Essential Guide to Negotiating the Law School Path and Beyond." Adam offers these
great, easy to follow tips for those of you interested in applying to law
school.
1) Distinguish yourself in the
application process by articulating intended career path
When reviewing your materials, the
admissions committee is wondering:
a) whether you are likely to be one
of those students with lots of job prospects upon graduation, despite your
academic results; and
b) whether you are likely to be one
of those students to give back financial (and otherwise) to the school.
One way to help the committee form a
positive impression about you is to articulate precisely what your plans are
upon graduation:
a) what area of law do you intend to
practice
b) in what context (ex., government,
big firm, etc.)
c) what about that law school makes
this plan more of a possibility
How do develop a plan if you have no
clue:
a) read Barrister on a Budget: Investing in Law School…without Breaking the Bank and Making Partner: The Essential Guide to Negotiating the Legal Path and Beyond
c) if possible, match your
future plan with skills in your background and match your interest to a booming
legal field
1) consider items in the news
2) consider regulatory areas
3) examples of
both = tax, intellectual property, elder law, healthcare law,
securities law
d) talk to lawyers and ask them how
they decided on the area in which they are practicing
e) prepare a one pager to committee
articulating your plan
2) Distinguish yourself in law
school by "choosing a major."
a) Your major may be different then
your plan as presented to the committee
b) Decide as soon as feasible
because as soon as you decide:
1) you can make the most of networking opportunities
2) you can gain relevant experience in the area
3) You can excel in classes in
the area, which will help convince future employers that those are the grades
that matter (and you are less of a risk than another student that did not do as
well in those classes or did not take those classes).
a) similar process as above
1) match the major to your background
2) choose a good growth area
3) identify multiple paths for obtaining a job
4) match your interest to a booming legal field
This post is by guest blogger Adam
Gropper, founder of www.legaljob.com, a blog providing career advice for law students.
Adam is also the author of the ABA's recently published book,
"Making Partner: The Essential Guide to Negotiating the Law School
Path and Beyond,"
which can be found here.
Thanks,
Adam!
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