Summer Associates are Made in the Winter - Part II

Lawyers Who Launch

The preparations that you undertake during the winter months set the foundation for an amazing summer as a law student. In part I, we shared four steps that you should start right now to set yourself up for success this summer. In part II, we build on that with the applications process, utilization of your networking, and a practice tip for your voicemail.

The Application Process The application process for summer positions varies widely depending on where you are applying. For smaller law firms, this may simply mean emailing your cover letter and resume. Larger firms and government agencies often have their own online application process, which may require additional information not necessarily on your resume. You may also need to submit your transcript so be certain that you’ve given yourself enough time if you need to obtain an official one. Hiring timelines for companies and law firms vary widely. It is not unusual for someone to contact you about a position months after you applied - even for summer positions. Keeping track of where and when you have applied to a position, will help you if that call comes months after you submitted your resume.

We highly recommend tracking your applications in some manner. This will be incredibly helpful when you are in a variety of stages with different firms. Tracking your applications will allow you to be aware at one glance of where you are in all stages of the process everywhere you applied. Having this type of information readily accessible will make it easy for you to keep on top of your applications. You can easily know how long it has been since you have heard and whether you should follow up. You can also keep on top of whom you should follow up with without having to comb through your emails. For these reason, and so many more, we believe that application tracking is essential to a successful job search. This is why we have included a custom tracking spreadsheet with The Law Student’s Guide to Networking Course.
Utilize Your Network Look to your network to see if you can find a specific contact in an area of law, a law firm, or branch of government that interests you. Being able to reach out to a specific person or have your resume forwarded to a hiring manager by a current employee can go a long way in making your application or resume stand out from the stack.
Prepare Your Voicemail As a generalization, many lawyers love speaking on the phone. Many interviews will be scheduled via email. However, do not be surprised if someone calls to speak with you directly. Make sure that your voicemail clearly and professionally states your full name and that your memory is free so that a voicemail can be left. For more on law student networking to help you put your hard work into practice and land your dream role, check out The Law Student’s Guide to Networking Course or our book The Law Student’s Guide to Networking - now available in paperback!
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Please keep in

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Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. Your jurisdiction will have rules of professional conduct that you must follow. This discussion does not focus on the any such rules, including the rules from the jurisdiction where we practice.