Hello Colleagues!
I am pleased to be back to share more advice for your journey toward a career in law.
First things first, you may notice I addressed you as “colleagues.” Now, you may be thinking, “Kristina doesn’t know me” or “I’m not even in law school yet, let alone working as a lawyer.”
So why the salutation?
I already think of you as partners in this adventure. Whether you are a curious pre-law student or in your early years as a licensed attorney, the legal world is small and I want to be among the first to welcome you to it. I encourage you to start thinking of yourself in your future role(s) within the profession, and to remembers the awesome responsibility that we are tasked with as lawyers. More on that some other time. 😉
Today we’re going to talk about creating a plan of action for your career. At the end of my last post, I mentioned harnessing your energy and interest in a tangible way.
What does this mean? And even more importantly, how do we implement it?
In recent days, I have heard the word “manifest” quite a bit. While the term can mean several things and apply to a host of scenarios, my takeaway is that manifestation is the process of:
believing a certain goal/objective will be achieved by you,
intentionally putting forth energy toward that goal, and
That belief materializing into your desired result.
Conceptually, that’s a pretty awesome idea. And that’s how you’ll harness your energy and interest: through manifestation.
We’ve talked about your why before, and that is your starting point.
Anchor yourself with a clear idea of why you are pursuing a legal degree. Keep in mind that your what (i.e. what job you will take, will you be a litigator or transactional attorney, etc.) may be unclear, murky, or even unknown right now. That’s completely fine.
I often think of law school as an opportunity to figure out what you absolutely will not do, rather than knowing exactly what you want to do.
Your why, however, should be clear. Brainstorm. Think about it. Do a brain dump. This is the time to get super specific. Once you are able to articulate your why in one concise (two at most!) statement, use this to propel yourself forward. Write it down. Put it on a sticky note and tape it to your mirror. This is your north star moving forward.
Now, let’s talk about putting your “why” to good use.
Start by listing (either electronically or by hand) your strengths and interests. Rinse and repeat – this time with weaknesses and dislikes. Keep this list handy as you navigate law school and beyond.
Ask yourself, what classes have I enjoyed in the past (and why)? What professional opportunities have I sought out, worked, or applied for?
These soul-searching questions and corresponding lists will help shape the framework of your career plan. The specific words you choose will aid in finding keywords in your job searches.
Next up, I encourage you to get curious about what a JD can do for you.
Maybe you know an attorney who practices a specific area of law. Or conversely, maybe the opportunities seem limitless and you feel a tad overwhelmed with options. Channel that curiosity into research about pathways in the legal profession – even the ones that seem a bit non-traditional.
Maybe you have always worked in non-profit spaces and your goal is to run your own someday. A JD can help you explore the realm of public interest as well as legal logistics.
Possibly you’re a scientist or an engineer by degree. Did you know having a background in hard science or engineering can lead to being a patent attorney, specializing in intellectual property?
Or, perhaps you are a teacher and you have dreams of doing more for students or for schools; a path forward may be through education law.
As you may be beginning to suspect, there really are no limits to the versatility of a JD degree.
In addition to your researching, list-creating, and self exploration exercises, this would also be a great time to talk to someone in career counseling at either a.) the law school you attend or b.) schools you are thinking of applying to. Yes, I am shamelessly plugging the work I do. BUT I do so in the hopes that you will connect with resources that can provide guidance, creative solutions, and even act as a sounding board. Career counselors can help bring into focus hazy ideas, dispel myths, and provide alternative ways of thinking about various career paths.
Additionally, I encourage you to talk with people working in spaces that you are interested in, try a couple of different internships, and learn about “hands-on” opportunities through your law school.
The implementation does not stop there. Nor is this a one-time process.
Just as you learn about various aspects of the law throughout law school, your career exploration is something you are always assessing and exploring. Even after law school and well into your career, you may change your job and goals.
You never stop learning about who you are personally, so why should your development as a professional be any different?
Now, you should have a career plan outline that looks something like the following:
State your why for going into the law with clear, specific terms that can be expressed in one or two sentences.
Conduct a self-inventory of applicable strengths, weaknesses, interests, and disinterests.
Research different opportunities that correspond to your interests
Talk with career advising individuals in your law school (or schools that you are applying/applied to).
Set up informational interviews with attorneys who work in various practice settings to strengthen your understanding of the practical application of law.
Engage in hands-on work while in law school (and even before if you can).
If you consistently engage in this process, you are going to be ahead of your peers and will have a solid framework for any future career transitions.
The next step in this process is to do a “deep dive”. We’ll take this general approach and explore each step, such as how to set up those conversations with legal professionals.
Until next time.
Kristina Bilowus is an Assistant Director of Career Development at MSU College of Law. She is also the current Treasurer of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, vice president of the Hellenic Bar Association, co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Oakland County Bar Association and co-chairs the DEI Committee for the Ingham County Bar. She is also a board member for the Michigan Center for Civic Education.
