The word “sales” makes many lawyers uncomfortable, but you’re in sales every day whether you realize it or not. You sell yourself and your expertise to your firm or company, current and potential clients, colleagues, opponents, and judges. And, when searching for a new position, you are the product you want the prospective employer to…
Objective statements are a waste of time and valuable resume space. Don’t squander those precious resources with meaningless words. You have just a few seconds of a hiring authority’s scanning time to entice them to read further before they set your resume aside. Prospective employers want to know immediately whether you’ve got what it takes…
Dishonesty of any kind is a non-starter in a job search. Recently, I was speaking with legal industry consultants and employers about what red flags they see during the lateral hiring process, and how they weigh various risk factors in their decisions. There was an interesting discussion around various warning signs candidates exhibit during the…
Lawyers should Google themselves for the same reasons law firms and corporations do. Self-Googling (or “ego-surfing,” as it’s sometimes called) is not narcissism; it’s a wise move to identify and shape your personal online reputation or “brand.” Given that everyone from prospective employers to potential clients is likely to check you out online, you should…
Once you decide to return to law practice after a taking a break, such as to raise children, write the Great American Novel, or pursue other personal or professional interests, you need to determine the type of position you seek, assess your transferable skills and brush up if necessary, and let the world know you’re…
Despite the many perks of working in-house, there is one big negative: very little room at the top. Corporate law departments tend to be relatively flat organizationally and advancement depends on a number of factors mostly out of an ambitious lawyer’s control, such as the size and structure of the department, the age of its…
