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Once you graduate, there's always a lot of pressure to land "the
job of your dreams." The truth is, almost no job right out of
school is anybody's definition of a dream job. If it were, half of
all new associates at large law firms wouldn't be changing jobs within
first three years of graduation! Let's be realistic. The most you
can expect from your first job is to find a place where you can hone
the skills you like to use, and learn what you need to learn to develop-over
time-a rewarding career. Accomplishing this is not only a lot easier,
but more realistic, when you take the time to figure out what skills
you prefer to use and what positions match your natural abilities.
Here are three simple questions that will help
you identify an initial career direction:
- Are you drawn to people, or to data and ideas? In general, you'll
find more of a people-orientation on the plaintiff's side of personal
injury; in criminal advocacy; in family, elder, immigration, employment
and sports law; and in general practice. If you gravitate toward
data and ideas, you'll be suited to such areas as insurance defense
and coverage, bankruptcy, intellectual property, environmental and
health law, commercial transactions, tax, and real estate.
- Are you motivated to solve problems or analyze
problems? "Problem-solvers" prefer
the concrete, relatively short-term projects in elder law, adoption,
small business representation, simple estate planning, criminal law,
guardianship, and general practice. "Analyzers" like the
complicated, large-scale projects readily found in environmental
law, commercial transactions, complex litigation, trusts and intellectual
property.
- Do you want to do more writing or more talking? Thriving in the
library or when you prepare class notes is a good clue that you tend
to writing. Preferring to learn through study groups or loving moot
court and clinical education classes means you're happier when you're
talking. At the beginning of your legal career, you won't do much
talking except in general practice, criminal or quasi-criminal advocacy,
or litigation in a mid-size or small law firm. Later in your career,
it will be hard to concentrate on writing unless you choose appellate
work, insurance coverage, intellectual property, or complex business
transactions.
By the time you finish just this simple analysis, you'll have identified several
areas of law that suit you. That knowledge alone will replace the fantasy of
a dream job with a concrete and realistic career direction.
Note: For additional help, click on our Virtual
Career Counselor for job options
based on The 7 Lawyer Types.
By Deborah Arron, JD, What Can You Do With
a Law Degree? A Lawyer’s
Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law (DecisionBooks, 2003)
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