Getting that Job!

The graduate employment market is highly competitive, as increasing numbers of law graduates are vying for seasonal clerkships and articles. So how do you make your application stand out? What do employers look for? And how should you behave in an interview?

Research!

The key to successful applications and interviews is preparation, so do some homework. Demonstrating that you know a lot about the firm and the practice area you are applying to is impressive. If you know what the firm’s strongest practice areas are, or that it has offices in London, Paris or Warrnambool, it shows you have a genuine interest in the firm and gives you an edge over other less prepared applicants.

A good place to start your research is at legal careers fairs. All the major law firms that are in the market for some graduates will be represented. It is a great opportunity to speak to human resources representatives about your options, and most importantly about the relevant requirements and deadlines for applications. Many organisations also bring along some employees, so you can hear from previous graduates about their experiences with the firm. If your university does not hold a careers fair, speak to your careers office about how you can find out more about what’s out there.

The next logical step is to further your knowledge of the firms you are targeting, before preparing your application. You will collect a great number of brochures and give-aways at the careers fair, which are great for finding out more, but make sure any hard copy materials you are referring to are up-to-date. The firm’s website is likely to be the most current source of information. Some of the information you should research includes:

• Practice groups
• Partners
• Services
• Firm history and future vision
• Any media coverage the firm has received
• Clients
• National and international
• Offices/affiliations
• Seasonal Clerkship and articles programs, plus details of when and where to apply
• Recent news – new partners, mergers, new practice groups, new offices

Begin by researching the firms to which you wish to apply. This step is important in making sure you apply to a firm that practises in your areas of interest. The website will also identify relevant partners and major projects that you can include in your covering letter. You will also gain a glimpse of the culture of the firm.

Have a look at the details of different articles programs and read some testimonials from current articled clerks. As you surf the web, jot down some questions that spring to mind about each firm, so if you proceed to interview stage, you have them prepared.

Once you have identified the firms you would like to apply to, make sure you are familiar with the application procedure for each one, the contact details of the person you need to send it to, and most importantly, the closing date!

A Professional, Impressive CV

The best CV is concise and logically arranged.  Getting it Right gives you further information to help you draft your CV. Click on the links to view an example CV and covering letter. There is no fixed rule on length, but the usual graduate CV is about three pages long.

Your CV should be professional, like any business document. Do not use coloured paper, colour printing or fancy fonts – they can be distracting and make reading harder. Keep it simple and elegant.

Follow a logical progression. On the first page, set out your personal details: name, contact details, and education. Include your interests, memberships, awards, achievements and languages skills.

Then detail your employment history, starting with the most recent. Include information about your duties and responsibilities in each role you have held, and don’t leave anything out - an employer will always be impressed by a student who has held part-time positions during university, so even if you think the experience might not be relevant, it should be included.

Always include a full academic transcript. If the transcript is difficult to decipher because subjects or results are expressed as codes, you may wish to re-type it in a more legible form and submit it along with the transcript. This carries a strong warning however: there is no room for creativity here, so don’t even think about it!