2023 Summer Associates Are Made in the Winter - Part II

Hi All,

In part two of the 2023 Summer Associates are Made in the Winter miniseries we are discussion the application process and networking. These are two key aspects of a successful law school summer.

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. For larger firms and government positions, It may mean completing their online application process which may require additional information that you don’t usually include on your résumé - such as a complete job history. Having all of your information accessible and your submissions ready to go will streamline the process for you and allow you to apply and move on. 

But how are you tracking your applications?  As you apply for positions you will save yourself so much time in the future if you keep track of where you are applying. 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 your applications will help you if that call comes months after you submitted your resume.  Hiring timelines are not consistent and are often unpredictable.  Getting yourself organized now will absolutely save you time and stress later.

This will also 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 at the tip of your fingers 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.

Tracking applications can also be valuable to you further down the road.  Next year when you are applying for another summer position, or even later when you are applying for attorney positions you already have your own personal database at your fingertips. Throughout the application process you are bound to develop some opinions about some of the places you apply to.  Keep track of this.  You never know how this information may help you in the future. 

We love tracking applications for all of these reasons.  Our custom application tracker is just one of the valuable tools available in the job search bundle in our Etsy shop.  The time saved collecting all of this valuable information will make your job search more efficient and more effective.

Networking, of course, is always at the forefront of our minds. Think about how you can utilize your network during your summer job search.  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 résumé forwarded to a hiring manager by a current employee can go a long way in making your application or résumé stand out from the stack. Don’t forget to reach out to your fellow law school classmates.  If a 2L or 3L is leaving an internship, they may be able to pass along your resume and offer a recommendation on your behalf.  

If you are struggling with how to reach out to your network, consider picking up the phone or crafting an email just to loop them in with what you are currently looking for and ask if they may know of anyone hiring in that area of law.  If you’re having a conversation, you can also ask contact what they did during their law school summer.  They may inspire you to look into a position or opportunity that you may not have otherwise considered or even thought of. 

What if you don’t have anyone in your network yet to reach out to?  This may be especially true for first year first generation law students.  

Take a step back and take out a notepad.  Make a list of everyone you know in law school.  List your professors.  List anyone you’ve met at a networking event.  Go back a little further and now include your college classmates, add your college professors, and now add any past employers–whether they were full time jobs or internships.  Your list should be looking longer and longer.  These are all people in your network that you can reach out to and start building a stronger connection with.  Ask them for help in your job search.  Let them know exactly what you’re looking for and how they can help. 

Have a great day!

Haley & Amy

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Please keep in mind that 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. Rather this is a discussion of tips we have found helpful in managing client expectations in our own experiences. This should not be taken as legal advice.

We make absolutely no guarantee, expressed or implied, that by following the advice you will make any money or improve current profit, as there are several factors and variables that come into play regarding any given business or career. Primarily, results will depend on the business model, the conditions of the marketplace, the experience of the individual, and situations and elements that are beyond your control. As with any business endeavor, you assume all risk related to investment and money based on your own discretion and at your own potential expense.

Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. No material on this site, social media, or in the podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical and/or mental health advise, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advise your physician or other qualified provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.