You’ve heard of thinking like a lawyer, here’s where we tell you to apply for jobs like a lawyer.
Be strategic. Job seekers need to plan for contingencies in order to be effective, and no one can issue spot and find gaps like lawyers can, so use that skill. Numerous practice areas have been impacted by the pandemic. If the area you were most interested in is among them, it’s time to pivot and identify a solution. Look into areas, like family law and elder law, that are growing. Starting your legal career in a different practice area or geographic region than you initially anticipated isn’t going to prevent you from returning to your long-term goals when the time is right. The important thing is to get on the law job ladder. Ask 10 attorneys about their job trajectories and you’ll get 10 winding roads. It’s healthy to be flexible — just do so in a strategic manner by thinking about skills you hope to build for the future.
Be persistent. You've already proven that you have grit by graduating from law school, now use that persistence to dig deep when your job search calls for it. Don't lament the number of jobs you've applied for that you didn't get, or pine for every firm that didn't call you back, just keep moving forward. You only need one right opportunity, and you'll likely wade through numerous wrong ones before you get there. Lawyers don't win every case, but they learn from their losses and keep going.
Take your own advice. Lawyers are excellent problem solvers. As a lawyer, you've been trained to give sound advice, and chances are, you have good ideas about what you should be doing in your job search. Are you listening to yourself? Be your own best client and follow the steps you've laid out for success.
Finally, advocate for yourself. You’ve been trained to advocate for others, and job searching is an opportunity to advocate for you. When you write a cover letter, ask for a meeting, or pitch a program, use your advocacy skills to persuade your audience that you have a lot to offer.
