Job-Seeking 1Ls Advised to Expand and Confine Job Searches
Job-seeking first-year law students should expand their job search beyond their dream jobs, but confine it to geographic areas where they can demonstrate ties.
That’s the advice of Bryan Cave recruiting manager Lynne Traverse. Writing in the American Lawyer, she tells students that future employers won’t expect to see a lot of premium 1L summer jobs on resumes.
Students can still apply at larger law firms that are still hiring 1Ls, but they should also consider smaller firms as well as jobs in government, public interest firms and corporate legal departments, she says. And the news isn’t all bad: Some government agencies are hiring more summer interns because of job freezes, she says.
Students should research potential employers and tailor their cover letters to demonstrate their knowledge. “That helps make you stand out in a crowd,” she says.
She also discourages students from sending resumés to potential employers in areas of the country where they don’t have family members, a school connection or other strong ties. Employers are likely to view strong ties as an indication that the job seeker may be interested in a permanent job in the future.
