Enhancing Career Preparation Through the Comprehensive AGED Model
Enhancing your legal career
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Transcript of Enhancing your legal career
Enhancing your Legal Career
Jason Elias, Director, Elias RecruitmentCollege of Law, Perth 13/6/13
Summary of Topics
1. Setting career goals
2. Managing your career
3. Sourcing opportunities
4. Applying for positions
5. Preparing your Curriculum Vitae
6. Interview preparation and skills
7. Question and Answer Session
Career Goals
Where do you want to be in…
12 months
2 years
5 years
10 years?
Managing your career
• Develop a career plan
• Setting milestones
• Role of mentors/ coach
• Building a profile
• Developing technical skills
• Enhancing soft skills
• Continuing Education
Map out your plan but be prepared to adapt to circumstances and seize opportunities
Legal Options
What to do with your Law degree:
• Lawyer in a firm/ ILP
• Sole practitioner
• Barrister
• In-house Counsel
• Community Legal Sector
• Government
Lawyer’s Weekly Poll May 2013
1000 Lawyers surveyed- the main reason I am a lawyer is because…
31% I love what I do and who I work with
30% I want to leave and am waiting for the right time to move
23% it’s all I know
16% the pay is good.
Beyond Legal Practice
• Policy / Politics
• Business
• Legal Publishing
• Journalism
• Legal events
• Recruitment
• Costs assessment
Career management
• Balance between “job hopping” and getting stale
• Always have justifiable reasons for leaving
• The Magic Two Years
• Quitting before securing next role
• Leaving on good terms/ burning bridges
Sourcing Opportunties
• Active or passive sourcing
• Reviewing job boards and
websites
• Building and promoting
your personal brand
• Social Media esp LinkedIn
• Developing relationships with stakeholders
• Understanding the "hidden job market" eg secondments
Applying for positions
• Appreciating the current market
• Tailoring your application
• Addressing the selection criteria
• Responding to calls for action
• Your Unique Selling Proposition
• How have you MADE money, SAVED money or IMPROVED systems.
Preparing your CV- Formatting
Biographical vs Skills based CV
Use formal language and the first person.
Check your spelling and then re-check your spelling (don’t rely on US spellcheckers)
Gilding the Lily
Promote yourself but be subtle and resist temptation to “embellish”
12% lied about qualifications,15% job performance,19% job descriptions,17% skills, 27% exaggerate current salary.
Preparing your CV
Contact Details
Robin Banks
0412 345 678
12 Chandos St
Dianella WA
Contact Details
• Photos are inappropriate
• Email addresses should be professional
Avoid crazyrob@hotmail or hunkyguy23
• Do not include your DOB
• Do not include marital status or hints about your sexual preference
• Do not mention having kids or pregnancy
• Do not include your religious or political affiliations
CV- Education and Qualifications
2010 Bachelor or Laws (UWA)
(Distinction Average)
2011 Grad Dip Leg Pract
(College of Law)
June 2011 Admitted to Supreme Ct of WA
2012 Admitted to High Court of Australia
CV- Employment History
May 2010 –Current Johnson Legal, Perth
May 2010-June 2011 (3 dpw), Paralegal
June 2011- Current, Solicitor
Duties included:
• Legal research on major Trade practices matter
• Working closely with plaintiff clients
• Briefing counsel and attending hearings
Achievements
• Won staff award for client satisfaction
CV – Skills and Memberships
Skills
Fluent in Mandarin
Typing speed 80 wpm
Memberships
Law Soc of WA
Construction Lawyers Association
College of Law Alumni Association
CV – Hobbies and References
Hobbies and Interests
Swimming, hockey and Crime fiction
Referees
Available upon request
CV Pitfalls
• No potentially discriminatory material eg DOB, marital status, children, religion.
• Include dates eg admission date (which jurisdictions), months in dates of employment
• Explain gaps in your employment eg parental leave, travel to Europe, LLM
Interview Preparation and skills
• Be prepared
• Know who you will be meeting with (research their background)
• Use insiders/contacts where appropriate
• Work out where it is and plan your trip
• Be early (10-15 mins)
• Eat properly and brush your teeth
• Dress and groom appropriately
Interview tips
• Understand body language NB non-verbal impression is critical
• Firm handshake
• Lots of eye-contact
• Know your CV intimately
• Prepare answers to common questions eg TMAY or explaining gaps in CV
Questions and Answers