Jeremy Kaplan
If you are just considering a career in law, chances are you do not know where to begin. The good news is that this is a very fulfilling career option, with law firms always looking for new lawyers. Below are 5 tips to help you jumpstart your career in law.
Advance Your Education
The best way to jumpstart your career in law is to get the right level of education. This often entails getting a certification or advanced degree in a specialty area. Such certification or degree will help you stand out among other law graduates who have bachelor’s degrees. These additional credentials can also make it easier to get into a specialty area that you are most interested in and that might be quite competitive if you cannot stand out from the rest of the candidates.
Perform a Self-Assessment
A self-assessment will tell you if a career in law is right for you and may even point you in the direction of an area of law that would be a great fit for you. Making a list of your strengths and weaknesses and doing a review of your credentials, skills, expertise and experience can all help you to know if law would be a good fit for you.
Reach Out to Law Firms
Another great way to jumpstart your legal career once you graduate is to reach out to lawyer networks that are looking for individuals like you. A lot of law firms have lawyer networks for lawyers who are interested in their area of practice. You can reach out to those that focus on an area you are interested in and ask if you can join their networks. For example, if you interested in
employee rights advocacy, you can reach out to firms like Lotas Legal at lotaslegal.com. They are building a network of lawyers interested in advocating for the rights of employees and would be happy to have you.
Hone Your Tech Skills
Technology is revolutionizing all areas of modern life and law has not been left behind. Becoming adept at computer applications used in the field of law, or a specific area of law you are interested in, gives you an immediate advantage over candidates who do not have these skills. Honing your tech skills is especially important if you would like to work as a legal secretary, paralegal or in
litigation support because tech skills give you a massive advantage in these areas specifically and in all areas of law generally.
Find a Mentor
Anyone who would like to enter the world of law should not underestimate the value of a good mentor, especially in an area of law they are interested in. A mentor can walk you through what to expect as a lawyer, help you to secure employment, and help you understand the intricacies of being a lawyer or working in the field.
A career in law is a highly fulfilling one. The one area a lot of people struggle with is getting their career started. Hopefully, the tips above are enough to help you jumpstart your career in law.
