5 Ways to Get Your First Job while Studying Law

A student's life is a busy life, but unless you want to be backed in a corner and beaten by the competition when you graduate, you need to start building your career as soon as possible. This means that the time to find your first job in the legal world is right now. You don't have to wait to graduate to get a job that will help you use those legal skills you've obtained and get some experience in the field. 

This doesn't have to cost you the academic success you are working so hard on, and can prove to be an amazing step toward a really good and successful career. That being said, what follows are the five best ways I know of that would help you find a job and work while studying law.

1. Volunteer to Get More Hands-on Experience

Your studies probably take a lot of time, so you can't spend half your days working a full-time job. So, you might want to consider getting some volunteer or part-time work, or even some freelance work that will give you the time to tackle your studies. Hiring a service that provides online help with essay for students will also help in the process - and take away all that workload you're dealing with while you also have to work.

Volunteer work looks amazing on a resume, and it is a great way to get more experience while you're still studying law. It gives you a chance to set your foot in the world of law and learn from practice and not just books. Moreover, it's a great chance to work and study since volunteering is usually a flexible activity compared to full-time and part-time jobs. Since you probably won't be paid at all, you can arrange your volunteering hours to fit your school schedule. 

But, if you do this, don't expect some high-profile cases and definitely, don't expect to become a lawyer overnight. This is a great chance to learn more through practice, not your actual first job.

2. Write a Great Resume

With your current qualifications, the volunteering experience, and any relevant projects you have worked on - prepare to impress any employer. Be aware that 80% of the job applicants are rejected during the first resume scan in an elimination process. That's how important a resume is in the hiring market.

That being said, you need to work on your resume, and you need to start now. This is not something you can wing or copy from others. In fact, a filled template is so obvious today, it will get your entire application thrown in the trash bin within seconds. 

So, sit down and write a resume that can grab the attention of any potential employer and land you your first job. If you don't know how to do this, do some research. You're a law student, so you definitely have experience in performing thorough research. If you don't have the time, ask others to help you. But whatever you choose to do, don't send out a poorly written resume. The first job for students is the hardest to land, and the resume gives you the best chance at getting one.

3. Prep for the Interviews

With a great resume and some volunteering experience or completed projects, as well as recommendations from your professors - you can land an interview for your first job. Since you haven't worked before, you probably haven't been to a lot of these. So, do your best to practice the answers to commonly asked questions, learn about interview body language, find decent clothing for interviews, and simply practice. 

4. Research the Companies You Want to Work For

By researching the companies you want to get a job at, you will improve two of the things on this list - your resume and your interview success. You should be aiming all your efforts toward impressing the employer, which is best done if you know exactly what they are looking for. 

This will be your very first job, so you better choose well. Find a job that suits you and would help you build a nice career, or teach you valuable things to use when you graduate. There are many careers you can pursue as a lawyer, so this is also a way to test the waters before you finalize your decision.

5. Showcase Your Skills and Legal Knowledge

You're studying law, so you already have many cards up your sleeve. One of the best weapons a student has is his growing knowledge and skills in the world of law. People can hardly mess with you or cheat you out of things since you know a lot about contracts, legal issues, and laws - even at this point. 

Since you are a student, people will probably attempt to pull a fast one on you in terms of payment or work hours. If you showcase that you have great legal knowledge and a nice skill set, they'll know that this isn't going to be easy. In fact, employers will be impressed by your strong stand and confidence, so make sure to show it during your interview.

Conclusion

If studying the law is your dream, I see no reason why you couldn't jump into it while you're still at school. This will get you all the experience you need to start strong in your career, boost that resume of yours for when you graduate, and give you a chance to see what expects you in the future.

Author's Bio

Connie Elser is an intellectual property lawyer at a popular firm based in New York. Two years ago, she was a paralegal and before that, a beloved legal assistant. She climbed her way up the ladder in the same firm she started volunteering at while at law school, and is now a renowned lawyer.

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