Enhancing your Legal Career

Jason Elias, Director, Elias RecruitmentCollege of Law, Perth 13/6/13

Summary of Topics

1. Setting career goals

2. Managing your career

3. Sourcing opportunities

4. Applying for positions

5. Preparing your Curriculum Vitae

6. Interview preparation and skills

7. Question and Answer Session

Career Goals

Where do you want to be in…

12 months

2 years

5 years

10 years?

Managing your career

• Develop a career plan

• Setting milestones

• Role of mentors/ coach

• Building a profile

• Developing technical skills

• Enhancing soft skills

• Continuing Education

Map out your plan but be prepared to adapt to circumstances and seize opportunities

Legal Options

What to do with your Law degree:

• Lawyer in a firm/ ILP

• Sole practitioner

• Barrister

• In-house Counsel

• Community Legal Sector

• Government

Lawyer’s Weekly Poll May 2013

1000 Lawyers surveyed- the main reason I am a lawyer is because…

31% I love what I do and who I work with

30% I want to leave and am waiting for the right time to move

23% it’s all I know

16% the pay is good.

Beyond Legal Practice

• Policy / Politics

• Business

• Legal Publishing

• Journalism

• Legal events

• Recruitment

• Costs assessment

Career management

• Balance between “job hopping” and getting stale

• Always have justifiable reasons for leaving

• The Magic Two Years

• Quitting before securing next role

• Leaving on good terms/ burning bridges

Sourcing Opportunties

• Active or passive sourcing

• Reviewing job boards and

websites

• Building and promoting

your personal brand

• Social Media esp LinkedIn

• Developing relationships with stakeholders

• Understanding the "hidden job market" eg secondments

Applying for positions

• Appreciating the current market

• Tailoring your application

• Addressing the selection criteria

• Responding to calls for action

• Your Unique Selling Proposition

• How have you MADE money, SAVED money or IMPROVED systems.

Preparing your CV- Formatting

Biographical vs Skills based CV

Use formal language and the first person.

Check your spelling and then re-check your spelling (don’t rely on US spellcheckers)

Gilding the Lily

Promote yourself but be subtle and resist temptation to “embellish”

12% lied about qualifications,15% job performance,19% job descriptions,17% skills, 27% exaggerate current salary.

Preparing your CV

Contact Details

Robin Banks

rbanks@gmail.com

0412 345 678

12 Chandos St

Dianella WA

Contact Details

• Photos are inappropriate

• Email addresses should be professional

Avoid crazyrob@hotmail or hunkyguy23

• Do not include your DOB

• Do not include marital status or hints about your sexual preference

• Do not mention having kids or pregnancy

• Do not include your religious or political affiliations

CV- Education and Qualifications

2010 Bachelor or Laws (UWA)

(Distinction Average)

2011 Grad Dip Leg Pract

(College of Law)

June 2011 Admitted to Supreme Ct of WA

2012 Admitted to High Court of Australia

CV- Employment History

May 2010 –Current Johnson Legal, Perth

May 2010-June 2011 (3 dpw), Paralegal

June 2011- Current, Solicitor

Duties included:

• Legal research on major Trade practices matter

• Working closely with plaintiff clients

• Briefing counsel and attending hearings

Achievements

• Won staff award for client satisfaction

CV – Skills and Memberships

Skills

Fluent in Mandarin

Typing speed 80 wpm

Memberships

Law Soc of WA

Construction Lawyers Association

College of Law Alumni Association

CV – Hobbies and References

Hobbies and Interests

Swimming, hockey and Crime fiction

Referees

Available upon request

CV Pitfalls

• No potentially discriminatory material eg DOB, marital status, children, religion.

• Include dates eg admission date (which jurisdictions), months in dates of employment

• Explain gaps in your employment eg parental leave, travel to Europe, LLM

Interview Preparation and skills

• Be prepared

• Know who you will be meeting with (research their background)

• Use insiders/contacts where appropriate

• Work out where it is and plan your trip

• Be early (10-15 mins)

• Eat properly and brush your teeth

• Dress and groom appropriately

Interview tips

• Understand body language NB non-verbal impression is critical

• Firm handshake

• Lots of eye-contact

• Know your CV intimately

• Prepare answers to common questions eg TMAY or explaining gaps in CV

Questions and Answers