More NLJ Wisdom on Current Hiring Trends

Earlier in the week I posted a blog about the National Law Journal (NLJ) article titled “Elite Firms Seem to have Lost their Appetites”.  Although I am a bit of a skeptic about what all of this means in terms of the futures for most young lawyers in America—-after all the NLJ 250 is only one way to practice law—I did see some tidbits that are worth sharing for those of you who did not read the article.  Yes, I am familiar with the fierce competition for your time, and I fully understand that many of you did not get to that particular reading assignment.  So, here goes with a few things worth repeating from the article.

NLJ:  “I think that it [hiring levels] will be slow to go back to the levels it was at before.  But when the economy does turn around, if that’s a possibility, we could have a shortage of midlevel associates. ”

This makes me think about another shortage that firms are likely to experience once the big, bad recession departs.  There is likely to be a shortage at the top of firms when senior lawyers decide that their 401Ks and investment portfolios are healthy enough once again to get them through retirement in the style to which they have become accustomed.  Many of those lawyers, who have been putting off retirement since the big market crash of 2008, will finally retire.  That will create more opportunities at the top and most likely will shuffle things around all the way to the bottom.  What that means to you is, if you hang on long enough, opportunity may come knocking again much more often than in recent years.  So, when you are lamenting the size of your student loan debt and wondering whether law school was worth it, think about those possibilities.  It may make you feel better.

NLJ:  “For their part, law students recognize that the dynamics of the job market have shifted.  They have responded by being more careful about where they apply and arriving for interviews better prepared and with more polish.”

I would put more emphasis on preparation than polish.  If you are unprepared at an interview, no one cares about the polish.  Do your homework.  Thoroughly research the various practices of the firm and which offices include which practices.  It is unfortunate to be talking to a partner in LA about your enthusiasm for a practice that is only done out of the NYC office.  The competition is too steep for that kind of oversight.

NLJ:  “Largely gone is the sense that law students can wing their on-campus interviews or will snag summer jobs based solely on the prestige of their law schools or impressive grades.”

Who ever thought this!  Dinosaur lawyers?  This kind of thing may happen for the very top of the top of top law school classes, but it simply does not reflect reality for the rest of you.  I give you and your career services departments more credit than that.  Winging and snagging is not your style.  Live up to your own expectations!

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