|HELP!| How to apply to Law Firms???

[ketchup456]

Hi,

I need help (for a friend) on the best way to apply to law firms? I've been running through employment sites like no tomorrow and I already know that using that option is possibly a bad idea as I believe getting even an entry level attorney job is based through networking. Anyways, my friend has an undergrad in Corporate Law. So, my question is, is there any other sites or specific firms, or any other options that have worked for you or people you've known, in successfully getting a law related job? Please share! :)

Thank you RFDers :)

[underjeep]

I hope this helps:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7401431n&tag=contentMain%3BcontentBody
http://www.lawdegreefail.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Go-to-Law-School/239348152800236

[ketchup456]

That's horrible o_o

[eiad77]

The employment situation is much better for Canadian law school graduates than American ones because we have a lot fewer law school graduates per capita. Does your friend have an LLB or a BA in legal studies? They are quite different degrees.

[Icedawn]

The overall gist of your post makes no sense, frankly. Have they been called to the bar? Do they have a Canadian law degree? There are major on campus recruitment drives where the majority of students get their first job - did your friend not get involved in those? Very confused by your post, alas.

[Octavius]

Hi,

I need help (for a friend) on the best way to apply to law firms? I've been running through employment sites like no tomorrow and I already know that using that option is possibly a bad idea as I believe getting even an entry level attorney job is based through networking. Anyways, my friend has an undergrad in Corporate Law. So, my question is, is there any other sites or specific firms, or any other options that have worked for you or people you've known, in successfully getting a law related job? Please share! :)

Thank you RFDers :)

Your friend's best bet is to start cold calling law firms. If your friend has not taken a paralegal course, I would not expect many firms to be interested in interviewing them, let alone offer them a job.

If your friend has the university degree I think they have (see further on in my post), I would tell your friend to be very clear to the law firms that they contact that they have an undergraduate degree in "legal studies" rather than saying that they have a "law degree".

While the degree in question may be properly classified as a "law degree", calling it such while contacting law firms seeking employment would result in those law firms being very confused as to what, exactly, your friend's qualifications are.


The employment situation is much better for Canadian law school graduates than American ones because we have a lot fewer law school graduates per capita. Does your friend have an LLB or a BA in legal studies? They are quite different degrees.

Agreed.


The overall gist of your post makes no sense, frankly. Have they been called to the bar? Do they have a Canadian law degree? There are major on campus recruitment drives where the majority of students get their first job - did your friend not get involved in those? Very confused by your post, alas.

My guess is that based on the wording of the OPs post, their friend more than likely has the following non-law school University degree:

Law with Concentration in Business Law, B.A. Honours (20.0 credits)

http://www1.carleton.ca/law/prospective-students/undergraduate-students/programs/
http://www4.carleton.ca/calendars//ugrad/current/programs/law.html#lcblbah

As this is not a law school program, and since it does not reflect what one would learn at law school, the OPs friend (with this degree anyway) would not be eligible be called to the bar.

Hence, why the OP is asking for help in getting their friend a paralegal position rather than a position as a lawyer.

[ketchup456]

Your friend's best bet is to start cold calling law firms. If your friend has not taken a paralegal course, I would not expect many firms to be interested in interviewing them, let alone offer them a job.

If your friend has the university degree I think they have (see further on in my post), I would tell your friend to be very clear to the law firms that they contact that they have an undergraduate degree in "legal studies" rather than saying that they have a "law degree".

While the degree in question may be properly classified as a "law degree", calling it such while contacting law firms seeking employment would result in those law firms being very confused as to what, exactly, your friend's qualifications are.



Agreed.



My guess is that based on the wording of the OPs post, their friend more than likely has the following non-law school University degree:

Law with Concentration in Business Law, B.A. Honours (20.0 credits)

http://www1.carleton.ca/law/prospective-students/undergraduate-students/programs/
http://www4.carleton.ca/calendars//ugrad/current/programs/law.html#lcblbah

As this is not a law school program, and since it does not reflect what one would learn at law school, the OPs friend (with this degree anyway) would not be eligible be called to the bar.

Hence, why the OP is asking for help in getting their friend a paralegal position rather than a position as a lawyer.

Thanks for summing up what I meant Octavius. Yeah I'm not 100% sure on what my friend has, maybe I should ask. Regardless I'm just looking for entry level stuff. I'll take your advice on "the calling the firms". I never knew applying to Law Firms would be this complicated. :S. Anyways, thanks for the help RFDers! I'll appreciate anymore help you guys give! I know that my friend went to YorkU for the undergrad if that helps.