Valerie A. Fontaine earned her JD from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and her BA, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, from UCLA. She was on the Editorial Board of COMM/ENT, a Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law. Valerie practiced law with a prominent Los Angeles law firm and entered the legal search profession in 1981. Valerie is past Secretary to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC) and former Chair of its Newsletter Committee. She currently serves as a consultant to NALSC headquarters.
The ability to converse comfortably anywhere, anytime is essential for business and social success. Small talk is an important skill when networking for jobs or business development, breaking the ice in interviews, and connecting with others before meetings. It puts people at ease while creating a smooth transition from initial greeting to business discussion. When…
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Although it seems counter-intuitive to job hunt during the holiday season, it’s a great time to step up your efforts while your competition is taking a break. Legal employers begin interviewing candidates in the fourth quarter to fill openings anticipated in the new year. You can take advantage of this time to position yourself ahead…
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Much is written about what goes onto a winning résumé. Equally important, however, is what to leave off of your résumé. Because you have very limited space to make the maximum impact, don’t waste valuable real estate with unnecessary information. Objective. It’s assumed you’re applying for an attorney position, so you don’t need to craft…
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Women lawyers often have the added challenge of balancing significant responsibilities at home in addition to those at work. As the saying goes, “Law is a jealous mistress.” The profession is demanding of all of its participants, but the burden seems especially heavy for women lawyers. In 1989, for the first time, the plight of…
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