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Personal Branding Corner: Is Your Pain Your Passion?
By Katy Goshtasbi • April 23, 2012 •Careers
In personal brand development for clients, we often try to have people see that what makes us unique and develops into a great story about us is our adversities and life challenges. It is often very difficult for clients to: 1) unearth and face their life challenges and adversities and 2) be open to sharing this information with others in an effort to build connections with potential clients and employers.As humans, we connect with people over things we have in common. That's why alumni networks and fan clubs are so popular. We also connect with people over hardships. Even if…
It’s All About Who You Know – 5 Tips for Successful Networking: by Julie Locke
By Raj Selvadurai • April 23, 2012 •Careers
I guess you could call me the poster child for career movement and taking risks. I graduated from law school, joined a big firm as a litigation associate, realized within two years that big firm life was not for me, and have been on an alternative career path (always in the legal profession) ever since. I won’t bore you with the details; you can visit my LinkedIn profile if you’re curious - http://www.linkedin.com/in/julielocke . After twelve years in the working world and a number of career moves, I am certain of one very important thing. Finding your best career options…
Walking Away from the Dream Job (Twice) and Never Looking Back: by Lisa Forbes
By Raj Selvadurai • April 13, 2012 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Features, Guest Bloggers and Profiles of Women in the Law
I have made two job changes during my career as an attorney, and both were met with the same line of questioning: You’re doing what? You’re going where? Why would you do that? Fantastic…after months of battling my own inner demons (particularly that irritating overachiever who tends to define herself by what others think of her decisions and, therefore, always wants to go to the “best” law school, law firm, etc.), now I have to deal with my colleagues and mentors making me feel like I’m making a huge mistake. Rewind ten years to me, about to graduate from Harvard…
Raising the Bar: In Defense of Document Review
By Julia Spitznagel • April 09, 2012 •Writers in Residence, Careers
Document review: a task performed by attorneys in anticipation of legal proceedings. The type of review can vary from hour to hour, and usually involves contract attorneys. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_review). It's definitely not a sexy post-law school job to have. I know, because I'm working as a document review attorney for a firm right now. The hours can be long, especially if there's a big rush to get a project done, and it's probably the most tedious aspect of any litigation. It's also a temporary position, and pay can depend from month to month on the caseload of the firm. So, it won't…
Ms. JD International: State Department, Part III: Foreign Service
By - - • April 07, 2012 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Law School, Pre-Law
Ms. JD International: State Department, Part III: Foreign Service The Foreign Service is the flagship arm of the State Department, and is an excellent career choice for Ms. JD Internationals seeking a career in the international sector. Ever dream about living an expat lifestyle? Attracted by the aura and mystery of diplomatic work? Want to represent the United States abroad? Then the Foreign Service may be for you. Whether you are straight out of law school or have been practicing for years, the Foreign Service is a great option to stoke your international interests and embark upon a diplomatic career.…
Personal Branding Corner: Got A Common Reality With Clients/Prospects?
By Katy Goshtasbi • April 02, 2012 •Careers
Just recently on American Idol, we saw a new twist. It seems that not only are the producers looking for talented singers, but now they have smartly turned their energies towards finding someone who also looks and fits the part of the singer they are cultivating. Makes total sense to me - if you are trying to brand yourself as a country music singer, then you need to look the part so that your fan base sees your visual brand/appearance fit into their overall reality of the singer.What American Idol did wrong, in my opinion, was to get Tommy Hilfiger…
Profile: Community Prosecutor Sharla Jackson
By Jessica Nwokocha • March 15, 2012 •Careers
“I find that I can try a case, put a bad guy in prison for life, go home and bake cookies and knit socks.” -- Sharla JacksonI had the pleasure of interviewing Sharla Jackson, Senior Assistant District Attorney and Zone 5 Community Prosecutor for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, GA. ADA Jackson is a native of Miami, Florida. She graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and then went on to attend the University of Miami Law School, earning her J.D. in 1990. After passing the bar, ADA Jackson’s first job in…
Raising the Bar: Pulling out the stops in a rough economy
By Julia Spitznagel • March 13, 2012 •Careers
In today's economy, it's becoming increasingly difficult for lawyers to find jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected employment statistics for lawyers suggest that the numbers of new graduates looking will exceed the number of jobs. I've been asking friends what they've been doing in the meanwhile to find employment. Hanging your own shingleAccording to the BLS, 26% of lawyers are currently self-employed. Self-employment gives new lawyers an opportunity to make a name for themselves and gain experience. However, the lawyer won't have the resources that an established firm could provide, and will not have guidance on avoiding the pitfalls…
Personal Branding Corner: Treat Your Clients/Customers/Prospects Like You Treat Your Pet
By Katy Goshtasbi • March 05, 2012 •Careers
When we work with clients on developing their natural talents as part of their personal brand, we see trends. Personal branding is about the emotional quotient you trigger to get clients/prospects in action to get to know you and work with you. The best emotion to trigger is joy. We ask clients what daily activities bring about that sense of joy for themselves. We ask for two reasons: 1) so that they can do the activity over and over again for their own benefit AND 2) by doing this activity and having joy/happiness, you develop a strong personal brand and attract…