LISTEN UP, LAW STUDENTS
Hi Lawblrs!Â
It feels like just yesterday I was applying for law school summer jobs, and now as a brand new baby lawyer Iâve been gifted the burden privilege of culling through hundreds of summer student application packages trying to find the perfect 2L summer student candidate.
As such, I have a few pieces of job-hunting advice Iâd like to impart to all lawblrs so that none of your resumes will be thrown in the shredder nearly as quickly as half of these applications were.
SO SIT YOUR BUTTS DOWN BECAUSE IâM GONNA LEARN YOU A THING.
1. ARE COVER LETTERS MANDATORY?
I donât care if the job posting doesnât specify that you need to provide a cover letter. Youâre applying for a job. You have 6-7 years of post-secondary education. You are one of the most highly educated minds of your generation - and so is everyone else applying for this job.
If you do not include a cover letter, and everyone else does, you are at a disadvantage. Let me tell you - no cover letter? No job. Done. I wonât even read the resume. Not including a cover letter shows a serious lack of judgment, and judgment is something that is extremely necessary for a lawyer to have.
2. SHOULD I PROOFREAD MY APPLICATION?
Yes. Yes you should do that. I just threw out five applications (5!!) because they were addressed and directed at the wrong employer. Donât be one of those five people. Be one of the other 95 people who benefit from those 5 peopleâs misfortune.
3. SHOULD I REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AT THE FIRM?
There are pros and cons to this. If you reach out to the right person, and you make a good impression, and that person ends up having a say - youâre in the green. But if youâre going to do this, for the love of Lanta please realize that youâre attracting attention to yourself - positive or negatively. So donât make an appointment to speak with a lawyer and then not phone in on time. Donât be rude, donât be impatient, and keep in mind that my time is literally worth more than yours and who knows - the person youâre speaking to might end up being the person making the final call on your application.
GOOD LUCK KIDDOS! Feel free to reach out to me for tips on law applications or interviews. Iâm happy to help if I can. :)Â
Just putting this back out into the lawblr ether because I still 100% stand by this advice.Â
xoxo your resident 3rd year call












