DEPARTMENT
OF LEGAL STUDIES
Welcome
to the Manor College Legal Studies Career Center. This webpage is designed to provide you with the
most up-to-date information for taking that final step and getting your dream
job.
By
clicking on the links below you will be able to access tips and suggestions on
writing your resume, preparing for your job interview or learning more about
the career paths that are available to you once you complete your legal
training.
Legal
studies career counselors are available to meet with you to begin the placement
process. For individualized counseling,
or to find the answers to any of your employment questions, contact:
Diane
Pevar,
Mary
Sims,
Browse
the
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Paralegal Profession
and Career Paths |
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An
effective resume will get your foot in the door; in other words, it will get
you to the next stage of the job search, the interview. It is your professional
portrait and must say much with few words.
It
is also evidence of your organizational skills; how you arrange the contents of
the resume indicates how logical and organized your thinking will be.
Be
sure to consider the following suggestions when creating your resume:
Use good quality paper
(at least 24 or 28 lb content).
Use white paper only –
most resumes today are faxed or e-mailed and color will not be appreciated and
can cause a facsimile transmission to blur.
Use only black ink so
that the printing is clear and readable.
Font should be conservative
and easy to read.
Point size should be 12;
again, easy to read.
Layout should be
attractive and logical and consistent throughout the resume.
Use a commercial or laser
quality printer to ensure readability.
No more than 1-2 pages in
length.
Repeat your name and the
page number on second and subsequent pages to ensure that your entire resume
connects if e-mail or faxed.
Always organize
educational and employment sections with most recent experience first.
Always include a “Special
Skills” section that details your computer skills and any other special
abilities/training that make you unique.
Other important points:
Your educational option
should be described in one of the following ways:
Associate in Science Degree, Paralegal
Paralegal Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate
Include the following
beneath your Manor degree:
Program approved by American Bar Association
Be sure to include all
other Associate or Bachelor Degrees or Certificates you hold.
Your résumé’s description of employment experience should
emphasize your ability to:
·
Communicate,
both orally and in writing
·
Organize
·
Make
decisions
·
Supervise
and manage
·
Act
both independently and as part of a team
Include any volunteer
employment/experiences to demonstrate the above skills and fill any possible
gaps in your employment history.
Click on the names of any of the legal studies
graduates that appear below to view their resume. If you wish to print any of these sample,
copy and paste into Word and then print.
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John is a graduate of
the Paralegal Associate Degree Program |
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Amy is a graduate of
the Paralegal Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program |
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Jane has graduated from
the Paralegal Associate Degree Program after being employed in the business
world |
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Marla is a Legal Nurse
Consultant program graduate with extensive hospital experience |
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Jane is a Legal Nurse Consultant
program graduate who has ob-gyn and midwife experience and has published |
ADVICE FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW
The
scope and purpose of the interview is to find out if the job candidate and the
potential employer are a good fit.
Interviews always produce anxiety and stress, but learning how to
present yourself, with regard to both appearance and personality, will help you
succeed at this final stage.
Types of Legal Interviews
The
Nonadversarial Chat appears to be a
friendly encounter. The interviewer will
be warm and seemingly non-directed.
Beware of the trap inherent in this interview; you can become too
relaxed and be unaware of the interviewer’s real agenda, which is to relax you
into blurting out your shortcomings, or revealing information that is
essentially irrelevant to the interview, such as your age, family status. Stay
alert and keep your delivery upbeat. Do
not allow your answers to stretch out too much and do not ramble.
The
Cross-Examination is an interview in
which the prospective employer appears organized, cool and remote. He/she may even appear to be tense and
combative, just as a lawyer would on cross-examination in a trial. This type of interview can cause you anxiety
and disrupt your rhythm. Do not overreact to negative pressure. The interviewer wants to learn how you will
react under pressure, even though this is not the ideal way to learn that
information. Present yourself positively
and be clear, posied and assertive in your answers.
The
Court of Inquiry occurs when several
people interview you at the same time.
You may have several questions directed at you at the same time. Again, the interviewers want to see how you
will react under pressure; will you reveal too much about yourself, or become
easily overwhelmed? Do not bow to the pressure.
Answer only one question at a time.
Keep a smile on your face and don’t rush your answers. Try to make eye contact with each interviewer
at some time during each answer; don’t just look at the person who asked the
question.
Interview Preparation
Employers
look for a number of traits and competencies when interviewing potential
hires. Among the most important are:
strong organizational
skills
competency
reliability
flexibility
team player
Learn anything and
everything you can about the law firm or company before you go on the
interview. Research the company and the
position if possible, as well, the people you will meet with at the interview.
Utilize sources such as www.martindale.com
or Find a Lawyer.
Role Play. Once you have finished
studying, begin role playing (rehearsing). Use the general questions provided
below and prepare answers. Practice
relating information about yourself out loud. Try to keep your answers to the
information your new employer will want to know.
Review
your work experiences. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with
specific information targeted toward the companies needs. Have your facts
ready!
First impressions are
very important, so consider the following grooming tips:
Be conservative in your
dress
Don’t wear anything that
is too trendy or distracting
Make sure your shoes are
shined
Hair style and, if
applicable, make-up, should be conservative
Surveys reveal that the
following personal and professional traits have been identified by interviewers
as positive qualities:
Professional appearance
and behavior
Good verbal communication
skills
Effective listening
skills
Enthusiasm and energy
Flexibility and
adaptability
Imagination, creativity
and resourcefulness
A positive attitude
Honesty
Sincerity
Alertness and
attentiveness
Thoughtfulness
Persuasiveness
Poise
Logical and
well-organized thinking
How
do you convey these qualities to an employer without actually saying , for
example, “I am logical and well-organized?”
Be prepared to related anecdotes (stories and examples) of things you
have done in other jobs and in your schooling and life experiences that will
demonstrate these qualities. Here are
some more Do’s and Don’t’s for the interviewing
process:
Do’s for
the Interview:
1) Be punctual
2) A good, firm handshake
3) Listen
4) Maintain eye contact with
your interviewer. Show you want the job with your interest.
5) Think before you begin
your answers
6) Have questions prepared
ahead of time to ask
7) Show interest and
enthusiasm
8) Put a positive spin on
even negative items. An example would be
the interviewer who asks “What is your biggest weakness?” Respond with something positive, such as “I
would have to say that my biggest weakness is my need to be organized. Sometimes I drive people crazy, but I believe organization is very
important.”
9) Encourage the interviewer
to share information about his or her company. Demonstrate your interest.
10) Thank the interviewer for his time
11) Get the interviewer’s business card so you can
send a formal thank you note later.
12) Do ask “When will you be making your
decision?”
13) Send a typed thank you note within 24 hours of
the interview.
14) If you don’t hear from the interviewer within
the time period he/she mentioned, call.
15) If you end up not getting the job, ask “why?”
The feedback will help you in the next interview.
Don’t’s
for the Interviews:
1) Don’t arrive late
2) Never apologize for lack
of experience
3) Don’t chew gum or mints
4) Don’t smoke