Enhancing your Legal Career. Jason Elias, Director, Elias Recruitment The College of Law, Sydney 26/9/13

Transcription

1 Enhancing your Legal Career Jason Elias, Director, Elias Recruitment The College of Law, Sydney 26/9/13

2 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

3 Career Goals Where do you want to be in 12 months 2 years 5 years 10 years?

4 Managing your career Develop a career plan Setting milestones Role of mentors/ coaches 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

5 Legal Options What to do with your Law degree: Lawyer in a firm/ ILP Sole practitioner Barrister In-house Counsel Community Legal Sector Government Academic

6 Lawyer s Weekly Poll May 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.

7 Beyond Legal Practice Policy / Politics Business Legal Publishing Journalism Legal events Recruitment Costs assessment

8 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

9 Sourcing Opportunities 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

10 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.

11 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)

12 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

13 Preparing your CV Contact Details Robin Banks Chandos St Dianella NSW

14 Contact Details Photos are inappropriate addresses should be professional Avoid 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

15 CV- Education and Qualifications 2010 Bachelor or Laws (UNSW) (Distinction Average) 2011 Grad Dip Leg Prac (College of Law) June Admitted to Supreme Ct of NSW Admitted to High Court of Australia

16 CV- Employment History May 2010 Current Johnson Legal, Sydney May June 2011 (3 dpw), Paralegal June 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

17 CV Skills and Memberships Skills Fluent in Mandarin Typing speed 80 wpm Memberships Law Soc of NSW Construction Lawyers Association College of Law Alumni Association

18 CV Hobbies and References Hobbies and Interests Swimming, hockey and Crime fiction Referees Available upon request

19 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

20 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

21 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

22 Questions and Answers For more career tips and job alerts, or call