Top Things A Solo Law Firm Should Do At Year End

This post is for all of those aspiring law students who wish to open their own practice.  

As the owner of a solo law practice, all year you have likely been running around acting as manager, developer, business generator, marketer, human resource manager and administrative assistant.  Given the numerous roles, it is often tough to sit back and look at the big picture.  For some businesses, December can be a slower month and it is a great time to reflect and plan for the future.  Whether you are running a law firm or a lemonade stand, as 2012 comes to an end there are several things that a prudent business owner should consider to position themselves for the new-year.  Here are the top things you should consider.

1.     Thank Your Customers

Study after study has shown that it is far easier to get new business or a referral from an existing client than it is to find a new client.  Even though many know this is the case, some business owners ignore current clients while spending significant resources trying to attract new clients.  This is a big mistake.  While business generation is important, you should make sure that you are catering to existing clients and you should also find some way to thank your clients.  This can be taking them out for coffee or dinner, sending them a small gift or even sending them a card.  A generic blast email to a client is better than nothing (although pretty close to nothing), but instead of this approach you should always try to personalize any message you send.  Let your customers know that they are special and it will likely be the best time and money you ever spent.

2.     Thank Your Referral Sources

In order for a business to thrive, a significant amount of your clients or customers will come from referrals.  Many of these referrals will be extremely lucrative for you and you should certainly acknowledge the people who send customers/clients your way.  This is not only a matter of courtesy but it is good business, as it will differentiate you from others and keep you at the top of a referral source’s list for next year.  Lawyers have a number of ethical rules to follow when it comes to providing things of value for referrals but even lawyers can send a hand written thank you card to referral sources or find another way to make your referral source feel appreciated.  For other industries, certainly a gift or a dinner is the minimum that you could do for someone who has referred significant business to you.

3.     Take Advantage of Tax Law that Can Reduce Your Tax Burden

There are a number of things you can take advantage of before year-end that will save you tax dollars.  Here are a few tax saving tips;

• Make a 401K contribution
• Look at expenses you can pay by year-end to get a tax deduction like association dues and other business expenses
• Make charitable donations
• Calculate estimated taxes and make a payment

Check with your lawyer or accountant for more tax saving ideas and also ask him/her about any tax changes for 2013.

4.     Review Your 2012 Marketing Plan & Make a New Plan for 2013

Just last week I made a list of all of the marketing sources I used in 2012 (eg. Published Articles, Newsletters, Networking, JD Supra distributions, Social Media, etc), and compared this to the clients that each source generated.  This simple analysis will allow me to modify my marketing strategy for 2013 to focus on the most lucrative marketing strategies.

5.     Set Some Realistic Goals for 2013

You should give some thought to some of the things that you want to accomplish in 2013.  If you have not made a business plan yet, perhaps now is a good time to make one.  A plan forces you to sit down and think from a financial and strategic perspective and this will only help your business.  This analysis should also include a comprehensive review of your expenses and a budget for the New Year.  I just went through a budget review exercises and I was able to significantly reduce my expenses based on a line-by-line review of what I spent money on in 2012.

6.     Meet With The Business Professionals That You Planned to Meet With All Year But Did Not Get a Chance

One meeting you should have for sure is a meeting with your accountant.  I will contact my accountant this week and also have meetings set up for insurance and 401K plan set up.

7.     Critically Review Your Policies, Procedures & Make Changes

During the year, I often did not have time to review policies such as billing, practice management, accounting, personnel, operations and consultations.  At year-end, it is a good idea to take a look at how you did things and ask yourself whether you can improve in some way.  I just went through this exercise and changed my policy with respect to consultations and implemented a new practice management system that has streamlined my accounting and billing.

8.     Review Your Website

Do not underestimate the importance of your website!  We had a client that just signed with our firm last week who indicated that one of the reasons he signed with us was because he thought we had a professional website that kept him on our page long enough to get a feeling for who we were.

Even if you are in law school, you can mark this post and refer to it when you achieve your dream of opening your own firm. Good luck!

Would You Like To Sit For The Bar Exam In February Rather Than Go To Class?

So what will they think of next? The State of Arizona is considering letting students sit for the bar exam in February rather than going to class.  I for one would have loved the option. (not sure I would have done it but I would have loved the option.)  This week, the Arizona Supreme Court is reviewing a proposal submitted by the law schools in the State, requesting 3Ls be provided the option to sit for the February bar exam as long as they meet some criteria.  

The proposal would permit students in their third year to sit for bar exam courses rather than their regular classes and the bar preparation would be more focused on professional skills. Deans of these law schools view this as a positive move to help students more quickly find a job, save money and become increasingly ready to practice law. Let us know what you think...We are very interested in your thoughts so let us know what you think.

Exams, Exams, Exams

If this is your first set of law school finals, our thoughts are with you and we can only say that it is not going to be as bad as you think. Well..perhaps it will be but it will be over quickly.  While the process can be a tough one, with Finals around the corner, we wanted to give you some helpful tips.  Here is a list of things to help you get through the next few weeks.

• Study In Groups but Find a Good Group

It is impossible for a law student to assimilate all of the information that law school has to offer. As such, studying with a group of people will help you recognize the things that you may have missed. A great approach is for all members of the group to work on a hypo or an exam and then sit down with the group to go over answers.  Remember to listen carefully to the answers of your fellow students because they will always have picked up on things that you will miss.  

• Avoid Study Groups that Waste Your Time

While a good study group is great, cut your losses if you do not feel you are getting anything out of the group or they are wasting your time.  Give it a real chance but you will find that your time will run out as exams near and you will not have time to waste.

• Make Your Own Outline

Do not use commercial outlines or other outlines that you can download at places like the outline depot.  The benefit of an outline is making your won and your grade will significantly improve if you work on your own outlines. This of course assumes that you went to class and have notes to make a good outline.

• Do As Many Practice Exams and Hypos as You Can

I was always shocked at how many people entered an exam and had not done even one practice exam. This is a mistake!  You should do as many exams as you can under timed conditions and compare your answers with either the answer sheet or friends

• Do Not Borrow Time from Subsequent Exam Questions

At the start of an exam, budget your time from each question and DO NOT BORROW TIME.  Those who borrow end up missing easy points on final exam questions. The fact is you likely have gotten as many points from the question you are wasting time on and you can always come back to it if you like if you have time.  

• Make A Schedule

Make a study schedule of what you want to cover and stick to it.  Time is a premium around exam time and you will find that the organized student does best.

• Go Visit Your Professor

There are many reasons to visit your professor during office hours.  First, Professors often give away what is on an exam.  Second, they can clarify things you do not understand. Third, they will see that you are engaged and this may help your participation grade. 

• Relax

Do not stress yourself.  You should of course take exams seriously but do not beat yourself up or stress too much. this will only lead to poor performance.  

Good Luck!!!!

What You Should Know About Which Business Form (LLC, Corporation, S-Corp or Sole Proprietorship) You Should Select If You Start Your Own Law Firm

More and more law students decide to open their own law firm after they complete law school.   When faced with this challenge, the question often comes up of which business entity makes sense to select.  In addition, as a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) and Attorney, I have had my share of questions from clients regarding which type of entity a person should set up if they want to start a business.  I too had to ask myself the same question when I started my own law firm http://www.legalservicesincorporated.comand was surprised at how much inaccurate and confusing information exists on the Internet.  Moreover, as this is a complicated area, some advisors often give misleading and unclear advice on the topic. 

When deciding which entity to select for your law firm your decision will be based primarily on flexibility in the ownership structure, limited liability protection & tax reasons.  For a solo practitioner, your decision will be between a Sole Proprietorship (“SP”), Corporation (“C”) or Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) so those are the entities we will focus on.  Let us look at the SP, C and LLC in turn. 

What are The Advantages & Disadvantages of a Sole Proprietorship?

When you were a child, you may have had a lemonade stand where you bought, peeled and juiced lemons, marketed your event and took in revenue from your lemonade sales.  If so, your business would have been a Sole Proprietorship.  This type of business is easy to set up and in many places you are not required to do anything in terms of registration with the government.  For legitimacy and because some of the entities you deal with (a bank for example) will insist that you register your business, it is always a good idea to register your small business with the Government.   In terms of the process, you simply fill out some forms with your State or local Government office, pick a name, pay a fee and start business.  When you file your taxes, you will simply list the name of the business on your tax return and also itemize all of your revenues and expenses on your personal return.  All in all a very simple set up.

So if it is so simple, why doesn’t everybody pick this business form for their law firm?  The key reason is that this business form does not protect the owner’s personal property if someone decides to sue the law firm.  The legal terminology for this is that a Sole Proprietorship does not have “limited liability” protection.  Instead, the law firm and the individual are considered the same person and if the business is sued or incurs debts, you, the business owner, will be personally liable.  As you can imagine this can be a scary proposition as the end result of a bad business decision could be the loss of a home, car or personal belongings.  You should also note that even though you may face a low risk of being sued, this risk jumps significantly if you deal with vendors, hire employees or have clients visit your premises.  Even a photo on your website can result in a law suit.  As such, this entity is often not selected when people set up a law firm and instead a limited liability entity (a Corporation or LLC) is selected. Note though that there are special rules for setting up limited liability entities for lawyers and limited liability entitles do not protect you against malpractice. 

As I Am A Lawyer How Does A Professional Corporation Fit Into All Of This?

As you are a lawyer you cannot just set up a “regular” LLC or Corporation. Instead, you must set up a Professional Corporation or a Professional LLC.  All this means is that the limited liability will not protect the business owner against malpractice. As such, if you are a professional you must also get malpractice insurance. The idea here is that the Government does not want professionals setting up a limited liability entity and then shirking their professional responsibilities.  The entities are the same as a regular Corporation or LLC in all other regards.  Now let us take a look at the limited liability entities. 

As a Lawyer, Should I Set Up A Corporation & Will This Eliminate My Personal Liability?

In order to better separate personal & business finances (and for a number of other reasons too complicated to get into now), Corporations were formed and offer a law firm or business owner limited liability protection.  As such, generally speaking a law firm owner and the Corporation are two completely different people and you will only stand to lose what is invested in the law firm.  Accordingly, if someone sues the law firm they can only reach the assets in the business and not your personal assets.   The same concept applies to debts but as a practical matter, if you have a new Corporation a bank or other lender will usually ask for a personal guarantee as they are fully aware that a Corporation has limited liability.  You should remember to include the name of the law firm on any legal documents such as a loan document or lease, to avoid exposing yourself to liability even with the limited liability protection.

This limited liability protection gives a business owner peace of mind but there are issues associated with a Corporation.  The first is that in order to form a Corporation you must adhere to a certain amount of formality which requires time and expense.  For example, you must appoint a board (this can be yourself) and also hold board meetings, develop bylaws and develop minutes.  You must also fund the corporation and issue stock to yourself. 

The second is the issue of double taxation.  As a corporation is a separate entity, the government will tax the Corporation and then tax the business owner again on their personal tax return.  This also means that you must file a Corporate tax return.  While double taxation may seem reasonable for Ford or Microsoft (in that the Corporation’s profits are taxed and then distributions to shareholders through dividends are also taxed) it hardly seems fair for a small business who simply set up the Corporation to avoid their home being taken away from them if they were to be sued.  As such, the government created what is called the “pass through entity.”  The two forms of pass through entities are a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and S tax status. Let us first look at the LLC.

What is A Limited Liability Company (LLC) & Why Would A Lawyer Starting  A Law Firm I Opt For It?

A LLC is a relatively new creation and a very common business entity form for new law firms.  It was established to offer the business owner limited liability protection while addressing both of the problems outlined regarding a Corporation above. The first is the formality associated with setting up a Corporation.  To address this, a LLC has the advantage that the business owner is not required to adhere to the strict Corporate formality.  Instead, a flexible operating agreement is drawn up to describe how the LLC will operate.  A LLC also addresses the problem of double taxation as a LLC is a “pass through entity.” This means that all of the earnings in the LLC are taxed as if you earned them personally.  As such, the entity itself is not taxed but rather the earning “pass through” to you.  The tax preparation is much simpler than a Corporate tax return and is very similar to how you would file as a Sole Proprietorship.

In terms of set up, the process is simple in that you submit forms to the local government, pick a name, pay a fee and you will have to draw up an operating agreement. 

Regrettably, there are two downsides to a LLC.  First, many States have what is called a publication requirement where you must publish in local newspapers that you plan to open a LLC.  (A very odd requirement indeed as I cannot imagine who would read it – do you remember the last time you saw a LLC announced in the newspaper)  In some locations, this can be very expensive. For example, in Manhattan, this requirement would cost approximately $1500.  You should consult your local lawyer and ask about the impact of not meeting the publication requirement as it may not be as bad as you think.  The second disadvantage is that a LLC is subject to self-employment taxes on all of the income earned.  There is relief on the employment taxes though as the LLC can elect “S status” to eliminate this requirement on at least a portion of the employment taxes.  This is further described below.

Is “S Status” The Same As A S-Corporation and Can I Elect S Status For A LLC?

When you search the Internet, you will see many references to an “entity” referred to as a S-Corporations and you will often see self-employment taxes as one of the advantages of a S-Corporation over a LLC.  You should get all of that out of your mind and think of S as a TAX STATUS rather than as a type of entity.  If you do, most of your confusion will vanish. So here is the lowdown. 

BOTH a Corporation and a LLC may elect S status and if they do, they will avoid self-employment taxes on at least a portion of their earnings.  Here is a brief and simple example.  An entity (LLC or Corporation) makes $100,000 and the owner assigns themselves a salary of $60,000 (salary must be reasonable in order to qualify).  When this occurs, and S status is elected, the owner will only have to pay self-employment tax on the $60,000 rather than the full $100,000.  Do not confuse self-employment tax with income tax as income tax is paid on the full $100,000 and this cannot be avoided.  In order to be eligible, you must file the S tax status election with the IRS right after you set up the LLC or Corporation (they give you around 60 days).

We just explained how S status works and it may seem like the perfect middle ground.  Regrettably though, it too has its drawbacks as the ownership structure has certain requirements and you must be a U.S. resident for tax purposes to be eligible.  In addition, if you elect S Status there is a limitation on the amount of owners that may hold shares or membership units in the company.  If you are considering electing S Status, you should consult a Lawyer or Accountant as it is a complicated area. 

What Makes A Good Letter Of Reference For A Law School Application

As it is Law School application time, many have asked me what makes up a good reference letter and some have even asked me to write one for them.  Here are a few tips regarding selecting the proper person. 

In general, the more letters you have the better but all letters should be relevant and come from someone that knows you and can speak to why you would succeed in law school. 

The best letters come from your old college professors that can speak to your intellect and your ability to do well in law school.  The professor should of course know you and be familiar with your work and this usually means that you had the professor for a semester or you have performed research for the professor.  An unhelpful or non relevant letter from a professor would come from a professor who is a friend of your parents who you have never met.  This type of letter is useless and will not get you very far.  Similarly, if you know a professor but have never been in his/her class, the recommendation will only serve as a character reference and this is generally not what the admission’s office is looking for.  What they are looking for is a letter that will demonstrate you will do well in law school and this letter must be from a person who is in a position to give a reliable opinion about this.

Another good letter is a letter that comes from a lawyer that knows you and can speak to your scholarly potential.  This is especially the case if the person will be able to illustrate why you will do well in law school.  Another great source is a past or current employer especially if the employer can write about your analytical skills, problem solving ability or scholarly ability. 

When I went to law school,  each of my letters was selected to cover off an area that I thought would interest the admission’s committee.  Namely, one came from someone that attended Harvard, another came from a Judge that could speak to my scholarly ability and the others came from professors that I had for law school classes in my first year.  Each was strategically selected and the selection worked well for me. 

That worked for me and it could also work for you. Give who you want to select some careful thought as the people who are deciding whether or not to admit you will certainly review who you have selected.

The First Impressions of Your One L Year

Starting law school can be daunting and is not for the faint of heart.  There are a few things to keep in mind though that will keep you grounded and make the first few months more manageable.  Here they are.

Do Not Stress About The Socratic Method Of Teaching

One of the biggest challenges of law school is getting used to the socratic method of teaching.  I know that I was terrified of the first "call on."  I remember worrying that I would look silly, unprepared and nervous.  This went on for the first few months and I often spent many a class in fear.  After time though, I realized that the call on was not a big deal.  First, neither the professor nor your classmates expect you to look like an expert.  Second, you likely look and sound much better than you think. I found I was my own worst enemy and very critical of what I said in class. Finally, fumbling or not knowing an answer is normal and expected.  You are there to learn and if you knew everything you would not need to pay $45,000 a year to go to law school.  The best advice I can give you about the socratic method is to prepare for class and to relax.  Those two things will make your first few months run smoothly.  One thing I can promise you is that by the second semester, your fear of the socratic method will drastically reduce as you will come to terms with everything I have mentioned above.  One student I met used to skip classes because she was so terrified of the call on.  Big mistake.

Go To Class

You likely have already started to see many people cutting classes.  Some say that they can just read the text and do well and others feel the professor just repeats what they already know.  Both of these types of students generally do poorly in law school.  The best way to get good grades is to go to class.  Several people who were not doing well after the first term asked me for advice on how they could improve their grades and invariably they were people who did not feel that going to class was that important.  I cannot tell you how many times I heard, “He just repeats what is in the textbook” or “I go to most classes”.  Going to half of the classes will get you half the grade and if you do not mind a B- or C, then do not bother going to class. This advice is applicable for all years in law school but especially the first year.  Even in my third year of law school, I would read and brief a case and be surprised when I would attend class and find that I missed a significant point.  In addition, often when I read cases and then subsequently went to a class, I found that I may not have paid as much attention to the part of the opinion that the professor found most interesting.  If a professor finds a particular aspect of an opinion fascinating, you can bet that this aspect is what is going to show up on the exam.

Keep Your Eye On The Prize

Your first year will be the most important year of law school and may very well determine the opportunities you will be afforded after you graduate.  You should keep in mind that on campus recruitment is conducted immediately after your first year ends so employers only have your grades and activities of the first year to go on.  As such, to the extent you can, you should put as much focus and attention on getting good grades and getting involved in activities such as Moot Court and Law Journal.  While I understand that most will put in an effort, this is the year to perhaps skip the party now and then,  cancel plans that interfere with studies and to do everything you can to get top grades by year end.  

Do You Like Our Blog? Please Nominate Us for the American Bar Association's Top 100 Law Blogs.

We have thoroughly enjoyed creating blog posts for you and will continue to post new and exciting law school topics.  It is not often that we ask for your help but we will do this now. We would love to be on the American Bar Association's list of top 100 law blogs and we need your help. Please nominate us. It is quick and easy and you can follow the instructions in this link.

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Everything You Want To Know About First Year - The Law School Lowdown Webcast

If you missed our Webcast that where we partnered with LexisNexis to summarize everything you wanted to know about the first year of law school you are not too late.  You can view the presentation here!

http://us.reg.meeting-stream.com/reedelsevierlexisnexis_071012/

Our Webcast Sponsored by LexisNexis on the On Campus Interview (OCI) Process

We thank all of you that attended our webcast on the OCI process.  

If you missed the webcast on preparing for on-campus interviews, you can find the recording here:

http://bit.ly/OCIprep. 

We have also included a copy of the presentation here where you will find out what to expect on OCI day, how to prepare for your interview, some things you should never do and some parting tips.  Best of luck with your interviews!  Click Here to Access the OCI Presentation.

Join Us & LexisNexis For A Webcast On OCI (On Campus Interview Process)

On August 7th, 2012 at 3PM, Ian E. Scott & Shauna C. Bryce will team up with LexisNexis to present The OCI Lowdown.  During this one hour webcast you will find out everything you need to know about the on campus interview day and process.  The topics will include:

•Overview of The Recruitment Process

•What to Expect On OCI Day

•How Is An Interview Different From A Resume?

•What Does An Interviewer Want & How To Give It To Them

•Top 3 Things You Should Never Do & What To Do Instead

•Some Parting Tips

There will also be time for questions and answers.

Register now for "Preparing for On-Campus Interviews" webinar with me, Ian E. Scott, Esq., and Shauna C. Bryce, Esq of @brycelegal Hosted by LexisNexishttp://ow.ly/cBNJN
We look forward to seeing you there!

Just Sat For The Bar Exam? Here is What You Should & Should Not Do While You Wait

With the bar exam now over many who sat for the bar are considering what to do.  We hope that you will celebrate this weekend and we wanted to provide you with some things to do and consider over the next few months.  It seems like ages ago (even though it was just two years) that I sat for the bar so I asked a more recent bar exam taker to write a guest post suggesting what you should do. He has some great ideas so take a look.  The guest post was written by Salaam Bhatti.  Salaam does in house counsel work for a rapidly growing rehabilitation and pain management practice.  You can check out his blog at: www.lawgspot.blogspot.com or follow him on Twitter @salawm.  Here is Salaam's guest post.

Welcome Back to Reality

The Bar Exam is over. What do you plan to do now?  For many, the Bar Exam was the edge of the world; after it ended, who knew what lay ahead?  After I completed the bar exam last year, my wife and I went straight to the mountains and camped for a week.  One of the bonfires was fueled by the hard copy of my bar exam notes (rest assured, the digital copy remains safe).  Fortunately, I was out of cell phone reception so I did not have to field any calls about “How do you think you did?” or “What did you answer for essay 4?” or even people saying the dreaded F word “I’m sure you did fine.”

I did something that many students do after taking a bar exam: go away. In times past when the economy was booming and lots of students had jobs in the bag before the bar exam, one could hear about students trekking across Europe for a few weeks. Times are economically tough for many, and the bar exam has not eased in any way, shape, or form.  So the vacation is still necessary.  If you are hanging around home (which probably has some evil bar study memories associated with it), then take a few days off to just go somewhere.  Go alone, go with a friend, go with a significant other.  Learn to fish, find a lovely sunrise, drive for six hours in one direction and see what you find, do something that has nothing to do with the law.  Just be mindful of not breaking the law.

 

Here are some things not to do:

1. Do not think about whether you passed or failed. I know, everybody is telling you that.  Let me tell you why: For the most part, everybody thinks they failed. I thought I failed.  A lot of people also felt they performed strongly in certain parts of the bar exam.  And why not? You studied for about two months, of course you know certain things that are on the exam.
2. Do not talk about the exam.  It is the same thing as crying over spilled milk.  Do you cry over spilled milk? No, right? Then stop talking about your answers.  This also means to stop looking at your bar study notes to see if you had all the elements in there for the property essay.
3. Do not sit on your bum all day.  Go exercise. Exercising will help you build a strong, positive attitude, which will show itself at interviews and networking functions.  You don’t have to join a gym.  You can run in your neighborhood or do calisthenics, yoga, aerobics, etc in your own home.  Besides, you probably have some bar study food to burn off. 
4. Do not talk about the exam on your social networks anymore.
5. Stay away from websites that have depressing news. 

Here are some things to do:

1. Go watch the new Batman film.  It’s an epic journey of a man who has to go from the bottom to the top.  And yes, it is perfectly okay to liken yourself to Bruce Wayne and call Bane the “Bar Exam”.
2. Look for jobs.  Network.  All that good stuff.  Go easy on the Craigslist search. Those jobs are hard to come by because everybody is applying for them.  When people say “Go ask everybody you know about a job.” They mean that literally. Go to career services first.  Become a familiar, friendly face and they will want to help you out.
3. Not finding a job? Then create a job.  Incorporate your own small business.  This will help you make a little bit of money as well as draft legal documents, which will help your brain from going into atrophy.  Create a business to help people learn how to use social media, start a bakery, develop a personal website, etc.
4. Go to a temp agency.  There is no shame in this.  SallieMae is probably chasing you, you need to pay rent, you have bills.  If you jump into temp work, you will find yourself in an entirely different network.  Take this opportunity to spread your name.  You never know when you just might start moving up the ranks at the temp job and have something great come from it.
5. If the market is tight in your area, then move.  A very rich doctor told me that wealth is for those who are not rooted.  The doctor immigrated here with only two suitcases, worked hard, and moved from place to place.  Now he has a massive house, great job, and a wonderful family.  In the words of Ms. Frizzle, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.”
6. Read some non-legal books.  Find joy in pleasure reading once again.  I have read many books since my bar exam and am absolutely taken by Sherlock Holmes. 
7. Conserve your most valued resources: time and money.  Stay away from Amazon Prime, Netflix, unnecessary subscriptions. Redbox is a great and cheap movie rental substitute.  Do you need a pricey cell phone plan? Do you require impulse buys from deal-of-the-day websites? You’re nearly a lawyer, analyze things in a beneficial way.
8. Be as productive as possible.  If, in a few months, you find you failed the bar exam, then you will have created enough distance from it so that the shock does not hurt too much.  Who knows, maybe you will have found a new niche where bar admission simply doesn’t matter.  But if you want to tackle the exam again or even want to do another one elsewhere, buckle down and get to it. Whatever the case, keep moving ahead.  And if you keep these items in mind, ahead is where you will end up. 

You can find out more about Salaam by checking out his blog at: lawgspot.blogsopt.com or you can follow him on Twitter @salawm

lawgspot.blogspot.com lawgspot.blogspot.comlawgspot.blogspot.com

The Law School Lowdown - Join LexisNexis and Law School Success Tips For A Free Webcast on What To Expect In Law School

Are you starting law school in the fall or have you thought about going to law school? Please join us on Tuesday July 10^th at 7PM EST for a Webcast on what you can expect when you go to law school.  We have partnered with LexisNexis and you can register for the FREE Webcast if you click here.  As a teaser, here are 6 of the greatest law school myths.  We will add 6 more during the Webcast as well as go over first year courses, the Socratic method of teaching, how you will be graded and how to do well in law school.  You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.  Here are the top 6 law school myths exposed and the reasons they are myths. 

#	Law School Myth	Why Is It A Myth
1	Your first year of law school is similar to your first year of college	The two are like day and night and for many law school is considerably more work.  Two key differences are the amount you must prepare for each and every law school class and the Socratic method (described below) of teaching.  Also, be prepared for one exam to determine your entire grade in law school.
2	You will not find a job after law school	Most people do find jobs in law related fields but at times it takes longer than you may think.
3	A law degree is as good as a money printing press	Not!  Some lawyers make lots of money and some do not.  If you are going into this profession for the money you should rethink why you are becoming a lawyer.
4	You will fail out of law school	Law schools grade on a curve relative to other students and typically the lowest mark that a student who does the work will receive is a C. There are of course exceptions and some schools apply grading systems similar to college.
5	You have to be an excellent public speaker to do well in law school and become a lawyer	This is absolutely not the case.  In order to be an effective lawyer and law student, you must write well but public speaking is not a requirement.  I have found that most people that get the highest grade in law school classes are the people you do not hear a word from all semester.  Also, contrary to what many think, most lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom.
6	You can make up for bad grades in your first year in your second and third year.	Although this is number 6 on the list it is the Number 1 myth of law school.  Your future as a lawyer is often based almost exclusively on your grades in first year. Make the first year count.

  

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A Great Book For Law Students or Lawyers Looking For A Job: How To Get A Legal Job: A Guide for New Attorneys and Law School Students

In this tough economy recent law school graduates need a way to stand out and have to take advantage of every opportunity they can get.  Moreover, the age where “mistakes” were overlooked by employers has disappeared and inadvertent errors, a minor faux pas or a poorly constructed job search strategy can cost you the job of your dreams.  Even jobs with low compensation and benefits are competitive.  Recently, a Boston law firm received 50 resumes for a job that paid $10,000 per year.  (For those of you not familiar with Boston, the city has a cost of living similar to New York) 

To make sure you are doing every thing you can to ensure your chances of success you should pick up Shauna C. Bryce’s book How To Get A Legal Job: A Guide for New Attorneys and Law School Students.  I recently had the opportunity to review the book and it is a great tool for any lawyer or law student looking for a legal job. 

How to Get A Legal Jobprovides a comprehensive job search strategy and describes the processes and strategies starting right from the on campus law firm recruiting events in law school.  The book also covers lateral transfers and recruiting strategies for jobs outside of a law firm.  What struck me about the description of the on campus recruitment process in law schools was how much it mirrored my own experience.  Ms. Bryce certainly has hit the nail on the head and has captured this experience perfectly.  In terms of content, the guide covers a number of different areas including, establishing your career goals, how to find a legal job, benefits & things you should look out for when using a recruiter, how to research an employer, how to make an effective legal resume & cover letter, how to effectively interview and how to handle offers.

There are a number of reasons this guide stands out and why I highly recommend it.  Here are a few of the reasons.

How to Get A Legal Job Is Different From Other Generic Job Search Guides

I have seen many job search guides on the market but I have not come across many that focus specifically on the legal market.  When I started law school I had worked for over 10 years in an investment bank and thought I was a job search expert.  I was shocked to find out though that when it came to hiring the legal community did things differently. For example, when I went to see a career counselor at my school with my resume in hand thinking that it was already perfect, the counselor provided me with excellent suggestions that improved it and made my resume consistent with a legal resume.  The resume did not resemble my old resume at all and I learned the important lesson of how important it is to understand the specific market & conform your materials and strategy to the way people expect to see things.   A generic resume, cover letter or job search guide cannot do this. How to Get A Legal Jobdoes not just generically talk about topics like how to make an effective resume or cover letter but instead focuses in on how a lawyer or law student can pull together effective material and an effective strategy. 

The Book Contains A Number of Practical Lessons and Words of Wisdom

In every chapter, How to Find A Legal Job contains separately highlighted “lessons” or “words of wisdom” that are practical pieces of advice that you do not see in most guides.  The book labels these as “sidebars” and the key thing here is that these quotations and anecdotes are from real attorneys and hiring professionals.  I found these sidebars particularly helpful and they are things that often job searchers only find out after they have missed many great opportunities.

The Book Is Written By Someone Who Knows What She is Talking About

The key to good writing and engaging your audience is to write about something you know.  Ms. Bryce practiced law in a large top international law firm in New York, worked in a regional law firm, and also worked as in house counsel.  During that time, she reviewed resumes, conducted interviews, worked on a firm’s hiring committee, and mentored junior and mid-level associates.  She then brought her experience to job hunters becoming a professional legal resume writer and career advisor.  Moreover, Ms. Bryce graduated from Harvard Law School and successfully navigated her way through the on campus recruitment process there.  All of this experience shines through in her book and I really felt like I was reading the advice of an expert when I read it.

The price is $24.99 for paperback and $14.99 for Kindle and can be purchased on Amazon.  It is a great investment and you will be glad you purchased her book.  You can also visit Ms. Bryce’s website at http://brycelegal.com/or see her featured in this The Student Appeal article: Click Here 

You can buy How To Get A Legal Job on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0692015299 

10 Things to Remember About Your Summer Employment at A Big Law Firm

Just about to start your summer at a big law firm?  A full-time job at a large law firm is not for everyone but a summer at one is highly recommended.  Even if you do not have any interest in practicing at a large firm after the summer, a summer at one is a great experience and you will be paid around $35,000 for the summer.  You should be careful though, because many who have summered at large corporate firms and swore that it was just for the summer, often must have drank the Kool-Aid and went back after graduation.  If you have decided to work for a firm during the summer here are a few things to consider.

1. You will likely get a job offer but do not take it for granted.  Most large firms extend offers to 100% of the summer class but the poor economy has changed this.  While you will likely get an offer you should not assume that you will get one and act accordingly. This does not mean that you should stress out and worry.  Just do a good job and you should be fine.
2. Do not get drunk at firm events. This sounds obvious but many students drink and act silly at firm functions.  There is a summer associate legend that worked at a firm one summer and she jumped into the Hudson River while on a boat cruise.  Even though this happened years ago, people still talk about it.  Do not let this be you.
3. Bring a pen and paper to every meeting.  You would be shocked at how many people do not do this and it looks really bad.
4. Do a bit of research about an assignment before you meet with the lawyer. Generally the staffing person will at least tell you the company name and you can Google the company and perhaps bring a print out of some documents to your first meeting to show you took initiative.  During my summer, I printed out one Internet article about a company prior to meeting with the lawyer and she noted this as a very positive element on my review.  As a summer associate it does not take much to please.
5. Communicate with lawyers and tell them when you have too much on your plate.  While the law firm wants you to enjoy yourself, they also want you to do work.  You are ALWAYS better served though communicating that you have too much on your plate rather than just accepting work and either not finishing it or not finishing it well.  If you communicate that you are too busy and explain why, the worst thing that will happen is that they will find someone else.  Remember that every lawyer you work with thinks that you are only doing work for them so do not assume they know about your other assignments. 
6. You will quickly see that you will be wined and dined during your summer.  This does not mean though that you have encountered a bonanza.  Do not order the most expensive things on the menu or alcohol during your lunches.  Order as if you or your parents were paying for the meal.  I remember one summer associate that ordered around 7 diet cokes during lunch (at $4) each and lawyers commented to me how they thought that was inappropriate.
7. Check in regularly with lawyers regarding the status of the assignments you are given.  The lawyers you are working with will greatly appreciate if you regularly update them with status of the assignments they have given you.  Do not let them think that the work they have given you has fallen into an abyss and a simple call or email will go a long way.  Also, let the lawyer make the decision if you stay late. I would often ask a lawyer when they needed the work product and offered to “stay late” if he/she needed it. Nine times out of ten they would indicate that sometime in the future was fine and that staying late was not necessary.
8. Let your secretary know where you are if you leave. There is nothing worse than people looking for you and no one can tell a partner or senior lawyer where you are. 
9. Treat your secretary with respect.  They have lots of power in firms and can make your life miserable if you treat them badly.  Moreover a good working relationship with someone that you will see every day just makes sense.
10. Enjoy your summer!  The summer perks are amazing and you should make sure that you are enjoying the lunches, the theatre, the scavenger hunts, the bowling, the concerts, the parties and more.

Two more closing points!

Avoid “Cold Offers.”  You can read what I think about cold offers here.

Also check out great summer job tips at The Girls Guide To Law School.

Good luck!