Your Post-Graduation Job Search

By: Kandice Thorn

It's hard to believe it's already mid-May and graduation is upon us! For the past year, your job search has likely taken a back seat to your studies, but once you have graduated (and taken the bar exam, if that's your plan), the job search will move to the front and center. It's no secret that the job market is tough these days.  Here are some tips to help you have a successful post-graduation job search:

Make the Most of Your Summer

By: Kandice Thorn

Those of you who are graduating will likely spend your summer doing one of two things: (1) studying feverishly for the bar exam, or (2) going on vacation. But for those of you who started your program in the spring semester and will return to finish your programs in the fall, you may be wondering what you should be doing this summer to make the most of those lazy summer months. Some of you have full-time internships lined up--if you do, that's fantastic. But if you find yourself with time on your hands this summer, here are a few things you may want to consider:

Cover Letters: Be Concise

By: Kandice Thorn

I said in a previous post that one common mistake I see in cover letters is that they are too long. This is actually the most common mistake I see in cover letters, so common that I thought the topic deserved its own blog post. First, I am going to describe what a concise cover letter should look like, then, because I like lists, I am going to give you the top five reasons you should keep your cover letters short and sweet.

Translating Legal Education: Describing Your Foreign Law School Grades

By: Kandice Thorn

What is the difference between a sehr gut and vollbefriedegent in the German system? A 7 or 10 in the Argentine system?

Unless you are ensconced in those countries, it is unlikely you would know. Even if you can translate the grades, you would need to have a strong understanding of the cultures and traditions that govern legal education in those countries to fully comprehend what the grades mean. Most employers will not have this information easily at hand. As a candidate from a foreign country, if you choose to provide grade information in your resume, you also need to be sure you are providing the appropriate context so that an employer can understand the information. Otherwise, the information will lose its effectiveness.

Translating Legal Education: Why You Shouldn't "Equivocate" Your Foreign Law Degree

By: Kandice Thorn

I see a lot of resumes that state "J.D. equivalent" as a way of easily and simply stating foreign legal degrees. But what exactly is a degree that is equivalent to a J.D.? In what respect is it equivalent? Is it equivalent in the number of years of study required? In that it qualifies you to practice or sit for a qualifying exam? In that it is a doctoral level or professional degree? Or is a J.D. a master's level degree?

Advice for Career Changers

By: Kandice Thorn

Most LL.M. students come to the program as the logical continuation of a career path that has been already well defined. However, we also have a number of students who pursue the LL.M. degree as a way to move their career in a new direction. For these students, the question of how to market themselves to employers can be tricky.

Being Nice

By: Kandice Thorn

First, I must confess that this is a topic I have been wanting to address for some time, but I have been a little lost as to the right way to approach the subject. The gist is something that should be quite obvious: if you are nice, people will like you and want to help you; if you are mean, people will not like you and not want to help you.