Becoming a legal professional will be the biggest step you’ve ever taken in your career! The legal industry can be difficult and stressful, but if you talked to most attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, and case managers, they wouldn’t change your decision to work in the legal field for the world. To succeed in the legal industry, you must have a strong mind, dedication, responsibility, and organization. I cannot stress the importance of organization in the high-pressure, competitive legal world. Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you develop and expand your legal career:

1. BUILD A CAREER: If you can dream it, you can do it! Whether this means becoming a top-tier trial attorney, established corporate attorney, litigation paralegal, or law clerk for a senior partner, it all starts with the BELIEF that you can do it. Do some research and determine what education you will need, whether or not the school requires an entrance exam (LSAT, GRE, GMAT), and what materials you will need to complete your application. Most schools will require transcripts, letters of recommendation, and typically 1 or more standardized test scores.

2. RESEARCH DIFFERENT JOB DESCRIPTIONS: I always tell my clients that the difference between the position you want and the position you dream of is KNOWING what the job is for. I recommend looking into Monster, CareerBuilder, or Ladders. Think about the different job titles that interest you, and review and research job descriptions to see if they are a good fit for you. If your dream is to be a trial attorney, then working as an in-house corporate counsel is probably not for you, just as being a paralegal is probably not the ideal position for someone who wants to be out of the office to meet with clients. and make site visits.

3. BE PROACTIVE: There are few jobs available online. Unfortunately, many of the positions you find on career websites are out of date, out of date, and no longer available. Networking with other peers in your industry is the proven way to find a new job. If you’re new to a field, or looking at entry into the field, take some time to research the different organizations you can join and make your presence known. 95% of jobs are NOT advertised, they are secured by word of mouth.

4. MAKE SURE YOUR RESUME IS PERFECT: A thorough, accurate, and streamlined resume is essential for you when applying for your next legal job. If you don’t have resume writing experience, consider hiring a certified professional attorney resume writer.

GOOD LUCK!