Five tips from an upper year who’s been through it
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the pumpkin spice lattes are returning, and another recruit season is in full swing. For most law students, the recruit can be a stressful time. However, through speaking with upper years and reflecting on my own experience, I’ve come up with some helpful tips.
Tip 1: Write a Strong Cover Letter
Your cover letter provides a unique opportunity to speak directly to your employer of interest. For this reason, you should never underestimate the importance of a good cover letter. For students applying to a specific area of law (criminal, labour, family, etc.), employers will often use these letters to discern who is genuinely interested and weed out those who aren’t.
Your cover letter should tell your story, demonstrate a genuine interest in the firm or position you are applying for, and explain why you are a valuable candidate. Pick one or two meaningful experiences and describe the skills you gained from them or the characteristics you demonstrated without regurgitating your resume. Additionally, you should tailor your cover letter to the firm or position by speaking about any connections you have (lawyers you’ve met, networking events, firm tours, etc.) and explaining why you are interested in that firm or area of law. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask your friends, the Career Development Office, or upper year students to read through your cover letter for any structural, spelling, or grammatical errors.
Tip 2: Have Fun with Your Skills and Interests Section
Employers will often pick from a candidate’s ‘Skills & Interests’ section to start a conversation, especially when they can relate to something you’ve written or when time is limited (such as during OCIs). This section is one of the few areas in your application package where you get to have fun, be authentic, and speak about the things outside of work and extracurriculars that make you who you are. For example, I wrote that I was an “ice cream connoisseur” on my resume during my 2L recruit and four of my interviewers asked me for ice cream shop recommendations.
Tip 3: Speak to Past Summer or Articling Students
When students think of networking, we often think of connecting with associates or partners. While that is important, the most valuable “coffee chats” can often come from speaking with students who have summered or articled at the firm. These students can provide insight into areas that associates may be less knowledgeable about, such as the interview process and how to prepare for certain questions, or the type of work that students are expected to do. In fact, employers enjoy when candidates can demonstrate that they know what they’re in for and that they’re up for the task.
More importantly, speaking with past summer or articling students can help you in your decision-making process. One of the most challenging aspects of the recruit is figuring out which firm is right for you. Knowing what you want out of your summer or articling experience, and whether a firm can provide that, is crucial.
Finally, the recruit can be a hectic process and who is better to guide you than someone who has been in your shoes? All the upper years I connected with were incredible support systems for me during this time. A friend of mine even had a past articling student offer to review her application package and put in a good word for her with the recruit team.
Tip 4: Have “Fun” With Your Interviews
I say “fun” because let’s be honest, interviews are rarely fun. The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) process is taxing, tiring, and resembles a giant dating game. That said, you’ll need to bring your A-game to each interview so you must find ways to replenish your energy. One friend suggested trying to match the energy level of your interviewer. Another friend recommended listening to “pump up music” before each interview. During the 2L recruit, his song of choice was ‘Levitating’ by Dua Lipa.
Another way students can make their interviews more enjoyable is by minimizing the number of surprises and controlling what they can. The obvious tip is to prepare for these interviews by thinking through potential questions, practicing answers out loud, and researching the firm and interviewers beforehand. In a world of virtual interviews, you can also alleviate unnecessary stress by testing your lighting, audio, and overall set-up in advance.
Finally, it is important to remember that you are interviewing the firm as much as they are interviewing you. This might sound like a cliché taken from a career services pamphlet because interviews are not often designed to make candidates feel this way. However, it is important to research the firm, speak to as many lawyers as you can, and ask the questions that matter to you. Not only are employers impressed with thoughtful questions but doing so will help you determine which firm aligns best with your interests and values. After all, if you pick a firm that you enjoy and will provide the experience you want, you can avoid doing another recruit!
Tip 5: Keep Your Connections
During the process, you will meet many people from many different firms. If you feel like you built a rapport or got along well with a particular lawyer, keep their contact information and reach out to them after the recruit. The harsh reality is that not every student will come out of the LSO process with a job. That said, there are many instances where a student was not offered a position through the recruit, kept in contact with certain lawyers regardless, and received an offer from these firms later. Other times, lawyers can help students find alternate positions by reaching out and recommending that student to their colleagues.
Overall, a recruit is not the be-all-end-all. It’s important to keep an open mind, have people who can support you, and ask for help when you need it. Good luck and see you on the other side!
