InternshipRatings.com

Brian K. Bokor

Attorney

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

If America is a melting pot, law school is the stew.  Law school students come from every walk of life and for good reason: there is a not a set path that law school admission offices seem to prefer when considering an application.  However, most law school students have a background in history, English, political science or business. If you are majoring in one of these, you likely have already considered law school.  If you are not majoring in one of these, don’t fret - you are just as likely a candidate for a career in law.

When is the best time to go?
Many students go straight to law school after completing their undergraduate studies, while some work for several years before returning to school.  If you already know that law school is the next step in your life, you will need to take the LSAT and get your application ready well in advance.  The LSAT is the standardized test that law schools require as part of admission.

There are numerous review courses and study guides that can help you prepare for the LSAT.  Check with the law schools that you are interested in to determine the deadline that you must complete the test to be eligible for admission.

Law school admission offices vary in what they require during the application process.  You can likely find and download the school’s application online. The application is the only correspondence that you will have with the admission office, so make sure that it is in perfect shape before submitting it.  You will need your college transcript to send with your application.

If you are unsure if law is the right career choice for you, work in a law firm or in the legal field for a year or two.  This will give you a good understanding of what attorneys do on a day to day basis.  This type of work experience will help to confirm whether you want to proceed with law school.

What could I be doing now?
If you are contemplating law school, meet with your advisor to discuss your interest.  Your advisor can help you determine what law school(s) could fit your background and skill set.  Also, many schools have a pre-law society.  If your school offers such a group, attend several meetings or events and join the society if you feel it will be beneficial.

Can I get an internship at a law firm?
Law firms typically do not offer summer internships for college students.  If you are able to find a firm that does offer then, having experience working within a law firm could be a wonderful resume builder.  Chances are, however, a great portion of your summer will be filled with filing and copying.  Law firms usually hire current law students to work during the summer.  This work is often substantive and complex, (and under the supervision of a practicing attorney). Often, these “summer associates” are offered full time positions to return to the firm after completing law school.

What classes should I try to take moving forward?
Obviously you need to take all the classes that are required for graduation. In addition, take courses in political science, pre-law, government, and business.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, its affiliates, or its employees.

By Dan Klamm
Outreach & Marketing Coordinator
Syracuse University Career Services

As a Career Services professional at Syracuse University, I work with lots of intelligent, creative, capable students who would make wonderful interns at a variety of organizations.  They come to me seeking to strengthen their resume, tailor their cover letter, or formulate the perfect response to “What is your biggest weakness?”…yet sometimes they undermine all of this hard work with the content of their online social network profiles.

When I tell students that many employers “Google” them as part of a background check, they are surprised; some students call it “stalking.”  I would disagree - in fact, I think it’s a surprisingly cheap and effective way for employers to get a quick snapshot of a potential intern before investing resources in hiring and developing his/her talents.

Google your name; see what pops up among the top search results.  For many students (and non-students), it is their profiles on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other popular networking sites.  Does your content on these sites reinforce the message that you are a smart, reliable, low-drama potential intern?  Put yourself in an employer’s shoes.  If you’re faced with hiring Internship Candidate A (who has a clean online image, and maybe even some positives like a well-written LinkedIn profile or a newspaper article about one of his accomplishments), or Internship Candidate B (who has a public Twitter profile which talks about smoking pot and regularly blacking out from alcohol consumption) - who would you hire, all other qualifications being equal?  Most would go with Candidate A, who appears to be less of a liability and more likely to perform reliably on the job.

So before you pour time and energy into making the perfect resume or crafting the ideal answer to interview questions, take a look at what your online presence is saying about you.  If an employer Googles your name, will they be impressed or turned off?

Some simple steps to building an internship search-friendly online presence:

-          Don’t post online about illegal activities that you’re involved in…especially on public sites which pop up first when someone Googles your name.

-          Utilize the privacy settings on your Facebook account.

-          Use Twitter to post smart and relevant content; if you’re posting questionable stuff, privatize your account so only friends can view it.

-          Create a LinkedIn profile to show off your educational/professional accomplishments and ambitions.

-          Start a blog to display your subject area expertise and writing skills.

I was a college student just over a year ago; I know what it’s like.  Having fun and doing some crazy things are part of the college experience.  However, posting about these activities (particularly the illegal ones) can have a significant negative impact as you look for internships (and in the future, full-time jobs).  Don’t let something as small as an off-color tweet be the reason you don’t get hired for an internship.  If you’re putting attention and work toward the other parts of the internship search, it’s time you devote just as much energy to your online presence.