Tips for hiring an effective employer - ie. how to be an effective hire

I came across this article in the Washington Post today in response to a small firm administrator who is having trouble hiring and retaining effective employees. The advice s/he gets is a great insight into what it takes to be an effective hire. So, if you know what employers are looking for, you can tailor your responses to meet their needs. Give it a try at your next interview and reap the rewards.

Interested in becoming a law professor?

Here is a list of teaching fellowships courtesy of the TaxProf Blog.

Why e-resumes are different

It is so easy to submit a resume on-line that it has probably encouraged you to apply to many more positions than you have in the past. However, there is a downside to the ease of electronic submissions. Employers now spend even less time reviewing resumes. Thus, you need to make sure your e-resume stands out from the crowd. Here are some tips from the non-legal world of employment that are certainly helpful to aspiring lawyers. Pay particular attention to the section on using keywords. This is especially important for government employers and others who use resume software as their first-line resume reviewers.

Money to open your own practice

Civil Action Finance, LLC7800 Glenroy RoadMinneapolis, MN 55439-3122Toll Free: 800.328.7171
National International Translations Court Reporting Private Records Public Records Investigations Surveillance


The current economic climate has significantly impacted the prospects in the job market. Recent graduates are faced with the possibility of job loss while upcoming graduates have to deal with the reality of few placement opportunities. Thus, more young lawyers are looking at the advantages of a solo or small firm practice. Civil Action Finance, LLC, through our Young Lawyer Financial Program®, provides the entrepreneurial civil litigator viable options for setting up a law practice to financially compete with the well established firms and withstand the deep pockets of the insurance industry. We work directly with the young lawyer to provide the necessary funding to litigate personal injury and product liability cases. If any of your upcoming or recent graduates have any desire for the solo or small practice “life” please let them know there are financial options for them. If you need more information, I encourage you to contact me personally so we can get the information into the hands of those interested. You might also go to our website at www.CivilActionFinance.com/YoungLawyers.aspx . As with anything worth pursuing, the more options and/or information, the greater the opportunity.
Sincerely, Craig Robbins CRobbins@CivilActionFinance.com Civil Action Finance, LLC Tel: 952.830.8348

www.CivilActionFinance.com

"Be Bold and Valiant" in your job search

I came across an article today that seems both counter-intuitive and perhaps brilliant. The author cautioned law students not to settle and to after their dream job with gusto. The article states "[h]iring partners, career professionals and candidates agree on some basics for seeking work in today's difficult market: Applicants need to be realistic about qualifications and the market, sweat the professional details, and be flexible enough to think about alternative job opportunities." But then goes on to state that "like investing in a down market, the reward for taking the risk to seek that dream job may be stunning." So, while you want to be ruthless with the details, perhaps you also want to be "bold and valiant" in your consideration of opportunities. Check out the article to find out how.

Is contract work right for you?

In a tight legal market, no option should be off the table. For some, contract work is a great alternative to the rigors of firm life. Check out this article from the ABA about the benefits of contract work. If this is a path you'd like to pursue, come see me, and we will strategize the different options. One benefit of contract work is it could be short-term or turn in to your career. The options are almost limitless.

Help at tax time

With everything going on and bad news almost daily, everyone is looking for ways to save money. One way to save is on your taxes. You may be eligible for tax breaks and/or credits for educational expenses. Follow this link for more information.

What's your greatest weakness?

If this isn't the most dreaded interview question, then it's certainly in the top 5. How you answer this question says a lot about you as a candidate and an employee. How to respond? There is really only one option - identify a weakness that does not impede your ability to perform the job responsibilities and highlight your efforts to improve. The Wall Street Journal has some excellent examples and tips for overcoming this question. Whatever answer you craft, make sure you deliver it confidently and with a smile. As always, if you need assistance or guidance with interviewing, visit our office. We're here to help!

What's Hot and what's not

We all know the economy is bad, but there are still opportunities out there. Where are they? Check out this list:

Hot: Restructuring, bankruptcy, health care, alternative energy, family, IP, employment,
immigration, criminal defense (especially white collar crimes)

• Warming: Litigation (especially class actions), environmental (depending on what the new administration does)

• Cool: M & A, private equity

• Cold: Real Estate, Project Finance, Securitization

An area that will be very important in the coming months and years is all regulatory areas. So, if you're interested in a practice area, even one that may be cooling, and there is a regulatory aspect to that practice, check it out and think about that as an option.

Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

The 5th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held August 7-8, 2009, in Kansas City, Missouri. Students who are interested in becoming part of Kansas City’s dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event. Students who will be returning to school in August and those graduating in May are eligible to attend the job fair, as employers will be interviewing for both summer and post-graduate positions.

The HDLJF is the result of Kansas City's leading law firms, legal associations, and corporate legal departments coming together to encourage law students to practice law in Kansas City. The HDLJF is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers. In addition, the event is a great way t to learn more about living in this wonderful city.

The HDLJF will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. It will kick off with an evening Welcome Reception on Friday, August 7th at the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. The Saturday schedule includes a continental breakfast, interviewing from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and a luncheon at which participants will be greeted and addressed by a special Keynote Speaker.

Please register as soon as possible after registration opens on March 26. Students who register before May 25th will be entered into a drawing for exciting prizes. The final deadline for registering is June 20th, 2009.

Students can register on-line and find more information about the Job Fair at http://www.heartlanddiversity.org/StudentReg.htm. You may also contact Emily Perry at 816-474-4322.

Tips for navigating an unsure future

No matter what the state of the economy, there are ways to make yourself marketable and competitive. Being knowledgeable, about your particular market, the legal market in general, and the state of the profession, is one excellent way to get and remain competitive. While I'm sure many of you regularly read blogs, are you reading the ones that are most helpful to you? An earlier post about the ABA Journal Top 100 Blogs is good place to start. You may also want to check out the Career & Professional Development Blog, authored by experts in the field, for helpful tips and tricks for landing a job.

NALP's 2009 Online Apartment Exchange

Law students seeking summer housing and students with hoursing available for the summer are invited to participate in NALP's free online 2009 Apartment Exchange. It's easy -- Just visit www.na.p.org and follow the link to the Apartment Exchange. The Apartment Exchange will be available from January 15 until May 15, 2009.

Foreign service is hiring

Ever consider a career in the foreign service? Are you intrigued, but don't know what it entails? The New York Times has an excellent article highlighting foreign service and the extent to which the hiring window is open. If you don't mind travel and are looking for a way to contribute to the global community, consider foreign service. As always, we're here to help you pursue this and all other career goals.

Political appointment positions

President-elect Obama's transition website has a direct job application page for political appointment positions throughout the executive branch. It is at http://change.gov/page/s/application. Prospective job applicants who are interested in career, civil service (not political appointment) positions are still directed to the OPM website at http://www.usajobs.gov

Scholarship opportunity

Welcome to LawSchoolVets.com, the online home of the Military and Veterans Benefits Scholarship exclusively for Law Students. We are proud to provide this yearly scholarship opportunity to all Law Students who have served or continue to serve, in the Armed Forces of the United States.
While there are numerous Veteran Benefit programs tied to education: the Montgomery GI Bill, benefits for National Guard and Reservists, and other national scholarships. The costs of attending an accredited law school remain challenging for all students. Our scholarship opportunities have been endowed to help defray the continually rising costs of getting a law school education. Apply now!


DETAILS
Each August, the Military and Veterans Benefits Scholarship Program awards three $2,000 scholarships to 2L or 3L law school students. Qualifying applicants include any student accepted to an accredited law school program, full-time for the associated Fall semester. Students must also have served in a branch of the Armed Forces, or be concurrently involved with a branch of the Armed Forces. These may include: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Reserve, Marines and ancillary departments and programs.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Our application period opens on May 1st of each year. At that time, we post an essay prompt asking a simple question related to both the service time put in by our applicants as well as their decision to pursue a law degree. The essay responses should be between 2 and 4 pages in length, single spaced.
We ask that each applicant submit their essay response here on our website, by visiting our Submission Page. There, the applicant can fill out a short form listing basic personal information and upload their file. Should you require special accommodations for submitting your application, or should you have questions, please email us at Help.Desk@LawSchoolVets.com.

FUNDING
The Military and Veterans Benefits Scholarship program is funded by personal grants and donations from various military organizations, retired military servicemembers, and fundraising programs. We are continually looking to expand our scholarship offerings. If you are interested in donating to the program, please visit our Donors Page.

Online Registration for the Rebellious Lawyering Conference is now open!

Online Registration for the Rebellious Lawyering Conference is now open! The RebLaw Conference is an annual, student-run conference that brings together practitioners, law students, and community advocates from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change.

Where: Yale Law School, New Haven, CT.

When: Friday, February 20–Sunday, February 22, 2009 Cost: Standard registration is $30. (Registration is free for members of the Yale, UConn, New Haven, and Quinnipiac communities)


Go to www.law.yale.edu/reblaw to register. Also check out our schedule, information, and links, including the Reblawg, updated frequently with rebellious tidbits. Love, Reblaw Housing & Registrationrebellious.law.housing@gmail.com.