We Need To Look For Employment Everyone - Let's Talk Resumes for Our Law Jobs (cont.).

Hello, everyone. I apologize for the lapse in posts. We had some technical difficulties, that I think we have resolved. During our last chat, the discussion on resume preparation was focused on the items that you must bring to the table just to prepare the document that you want to tell a story to the various employers. Today, I want to continue the discussion & discuss how to prepare a resume that focuses on you and what you can bring to an employer. How do I suggest that we continue this process? Let’s continue the process or the procedural aspect of writing the document.

1. Capitalization: Your name, address, telephone number, zip code, etc., should only require initial capitalization. Any references to the names of the employer or your title should also consist of initial capitalization, as well. You do not have to have a fully capitalized name in order to procure a position. There are some other things that we can do to make your name stand out on the resume paper. Often, we prepare our own resumes. When we do so, there is a tendency to want the employer to see in us exactly what we see, which is a good employee. There is nothing wrong with wanting a future employer to see the best in you. He or she just does not need to see it in all caps. Also, all caps, in this electronic world, is akin to shouting in a text message. It says, look at me, please - - and look at me harder than you look at others. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be recognized quickly, either. You just want the words in the job description and the resume, overall, to do that job for you. You don’t want to shock the employer into hiring you. You want to create a strong interest. You do that by delivering a strong resume.

2. Punctuation: Everything that I suggest is important. Punctuation is so important that it can never be overlooked. If you do not understand much else, you have to understand the comma, the semi-colon, the colon and the period. You must know what role each plays in a sentence; that includes sentences in a resume. So, let’s begin. A comma and a semi-colon require one space between it and the word in the document. So, always place one space after a comma and after a semi-colon. No matter where you are on the resume, you must include a space for both. You must include two spaces after a period and a colon. Always! It is not difficult to follow this construct, especially if your legal writing professor was strict in his or her grading and did not allow you to fall short in small (punctuation problems) and large (paragraph and organization) scale matters.

3. The Comma: Often, there are several ways to determine whether your document requires a comma. Anytime there is a shift in a sentence, try using a comma. For example, if you stop mid-way in a sentence, just as I did, to explain something in the sentence, then you use a comma to show a change in the tenor of a sentence. If you decide to create a list of items, those items are separated by a comma. When you want the reader to pause, and really consider a specific word, phrase, or comment, or when you want to provide emphasis (or, power) in a sentence, then you should use a comma. You are the master of your comma, so you decide how you want the reader to adjust to things you find important in your resume.

4. Semi-colon: use the semi-colon to separate two clauses; a dependent clause and an independent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand on its on as a sentence, but an independent clause, can, as it is a sentence that can stand on its own.

5. Italics: You do not need to use italics in a resume, except, perhaps for the purpose of highlighting a word or phrase that will make the reader say, “gee, golly, wow.” Examples? You were responsible for a balancing a $50 million dollar budget. You were the supervisor for 300 employees. These are major accomplishments and employers’, regardless of type, will be impressed by your ability to properly work with and around money (and, people).

6. Symmetry: I am going to mention this aspect of resume writing right now and will come back to it tomorrow, for a more in-depth discussion. The one thing that symmetry stands for is balance. This, in its simplest form means, do the right and left sides, and the top and bottom sides, look even. Or, are there too many words on one side of the resume, or too many numbers on the other side of the resume. It is not something that you will automatically notice, but it is something that an employer will notice immediately because he or she is not used to looking at your resume on a consistent basis.

Well, I will stop here and pick up tomorrow, with more thoughts on what goes in the resume and how you organize it when you finally include it in the document.

We Need To Look For Employment Everyone - Let's Talk Resumes for Our Law Jobs.

Hello CLEO Family. I want us to learn how to write and construct a resume. It is time for all of us, really, to keep our eyes open for employment. The first year students have the task of looking for work after their first year, and work on improving grades, which were discussed in the last three posts.

Second year students - - well, this is a very big year for you. You are looking at work this summer that will double as a possibility for full-time work sometime in the fall 2012. It is very important to you to find the position that wants you now and may ask you to return to work for "the company," later.

Third year students - - have found or are still looking for work for the fall. Yes, their efforts have turned to the bar examination, the multi-state professional responsibility exam, and maintaining a respectable grade point average this last semester leading into graduation

Well, let's talk first about perfecting the process. What process is that? The process of obtaining all of the information you will need to put together a resume that has all of the bells and whistles necessary to make you a star! What will you need in order to properly prepare prior to writing one of the most important documents of your current law school life?

1. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all of the places where you worked prior to and during law school. No, you will not include this information on your resume, but you will need it (sooner, rather than later). Some interview person will ask you some obscure question related to a job you once held, and that question may have to do with a person whose name you never thought would surface again.

2. Laser Printer: Access to one all of the time. No dot-matrix, or older model that cannot provide you with "academy award" looking documentation. You want the print on the resume to be as "fine" as you, when you enter a room for an interview. The resume is often the only document (other than the cover letter) that arrives to the job before you do and you want to make a grand, positive entrance. Nothing less.

3. Twenty-four pound weight paper: Most people will tell you that 19-lb is good and good enough. I want better than good. I want best. I may make a few suggestions of what brand I use or used in the past, but I want to keep from advertising products on this blog. If you ask me, I have to tell you. Right?

4. Matching letter sized envelopes: You cannot purchase beautiful paper, without purchasing beautiful envelopes, too? Right? Surely you want to send your best document with your best paper. I mean, what else would you use to send your resume? A white envelope? Yeesh! I don't think so. Sending a resume in a white envelope is like wearing a gown to a New Year's Even (celebration, for real!) and wearing a half length or three quarter coat to the party, and not a floor length cover-up. You must have the right accessories. That's what makes the resume shine and stand out.

5. No matching letter sized envelopes? The only other envelope that I will allow you to send your resume in is an 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch envelope. That's it. A yellow manilla folder that is the same size or one inch larger. This is the second of two types of envelopes that I will endorse for you as this envelope prevents the resume from being destroyed in the "send resume process." It is my personal favorite. Why? Well, I work really hard to make other people work hard, too. Hard work and the items you need to make your resume stand out are worth every dime you will spend.

You don't always get your returns within a 15 minute time span, but people do look at who you are and what type of document you send and how you send it makes a huge difference.

I will inundate you with more process driven criteria, but I will pick this up again, tomorrow. Until then, go out and consider envelope paper and resume paper; then make a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers that you will need (hopefully, need real soon).

Thank you for your time,

Prof. Smith

First Year Students - How To Do Better This Semester: Look To Some Friends In High Places - Look To Yourself; Part III - The Final Installment

I am my best friend. At times, I am sure that I can and have been an enemy to myself, as well. But most days, I tend to count on me to make the decisions that I know fall directly into my own, personal lap. I take the good of me and make it better and I take the bad (sic) of me and try to at least keep myself from traipsing downhill.

I became my best friend because I needed an advocate for me. Someone who would have my back e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y. I needed someone who wanted me to win, or at least, best myself, as often as possible. I needed someone I could count on during the good and the tough times. That is when I realized that the person that I was looking for - - was none other, than myself!

And no one should want more for you than yourself. No one. We like having other people in our corner, shouting our names, and wishing us the very best in this career, and in life, generally. But, really, isn't it your responsibility to put you on the market. Aren't you your own walking advertisement? When you talk to others about yourself, do you create a personal Public Service Announcement? If you have not come to that decision, I want you to try something for me.

Start being your best friend. Right this second. I mean, now. Within the next nanosecond.

This means that you are looking out for yourself.

This means that you are looking at your own exams. This means that no matter how you feel or how you want to feel about your work that you are your best friend, which means that you are your best critic, too. You can take the criticism because it comes from you, it is about you, and it is all about making you better. You are not scared of you, are you? You are willing to tell yourself how much or what you need to do to be better, right? I am.

It's not always pretty, and it does not always happen (truth) all at once, but once I signed on the dotted line about my love for me, I realized that the game was on - - for real.

Are you willing to look at the words you wrote on the exam, the answers you provided the instructor, the grammar and punctuation, and the sentence structure? Are you willing to look yourself in the mirror and say, this is my best, or not my best? Will you talk to yourself about your exam work product? Can you announce to yourself that you could have provided a better product to Professor X?

Or, are you willing to say, I know I have a great product, but I could stand to work on something else. Something else that has been bothering me for some time. Perhaps, I need to read more. Perhaps, I could brief my cases better.

Perhaps, I know that I need to stand up in class and recite, not throw a "pass" to the professor, moving the question to another classmate.

Use a critical set of eyes. Tell yourself the truth about who you are, what you do, what you need to do, what you haven't done, and what you have to do to be better.

The interesting thing about being your best friend - - especially as it relates to law school exams, etc., is that the relationship is between you and you. You can tell yourself anything about you, right?

What are you going to do to you to make you a better student in law school this semester?

What is your personal, soon-to-be lawyer Public Service Announcement?

Prof. Smith

First Year Students - How To Do Better This Semester: Look To Some Friends In High Places; Part II.

The best way to beat (or, best) an exam is to sit down and actually take a practice exam. Someone penned the phrase that "Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance." I cannot take credit for this moniker, but I can take credit for doing what I have done since learning. Planning to take a series of practice examinations now, does, I believe, prevent poor performance on a final examination later. You will be fortunate to learn just a lot about yourself and how you react under testing or testlike conditions.

There are a lot (and, I mean a lot) of things we worry about when deciding whether to sit for a few practice exams. It is true. Some of those things should give us pause for concern. Most of the things that students' give as a reason why they don't write practice examinations are not important. Not at all.

Let me try to defray those fears, initially.

1. Sentence Length: You may actually write a few, run-on sentences in the answer, but it will still be an answer. It may not be grammatically correct, but you are not entering an English contest; you are writing to properly and adequately convey a message to one person in an audience multiplied by five (5) classes).

2. Abbreviations: Yes, of course you can abbreviate. Do you really think that your professors believe that you are deficient, or care that you abbreviated something, especially, "Daniels Chicken, Seafood, Biscuits, Chips, & Bacon Grease." You are worried about points in the wrong category.

3. Spacing: If you are typing the "practice" examination, and, as most law schools, now, you are typing the final, then you are provided instructions regarding typing. I believe that your work is double-spaced. If you fail to turn in a written product that is not double spaced (eg., single or triple spaced), I doubt very seriously whether the professor erases more than a point or two, if any for typewritten work that is single spaced. It is still typewritten, after all, isn't it.

4. Knowledge of the law: I want to say that this is a sticky subject in which to make a comment, but, at the end of the day, it isn't. Many students say they don't "do" practice examinations because they don't know enough of, or, any law. They just don't feel right practicing a question when they don't know the answer. True, it is of the utmost importance for any lawyer to have a handle on the law, in general, and especially in one's practice area.

However, you are not always practicing the substance of the law when you sit down for a practice exam. You are practicing for what if, moments, too. Don't you want to know whether you freeze up, or slow down, or move faster, or don't move at all when you have, let's say, difficulty articulating a law-related concept?

Don't you want to have a backup plan and shouldn't you know what that plan entails? What better way to know your flaws and how to implement a Plan B, other than to take practice tests. The other benefit to taking practice examinations is that you are required to struggle to answer the questions. You have already struggled on some written assignments; why not add law school questions as an additional challenge to those circumstance in which you did not know the answer.

Give yourself the best possible opportunity to win a new grade, by practicing on old exams.

Thank you,

Prof. Smith

First Year Students - How To Do Better This Semester: Look To Some Friends In High Places.

Hello Second Semester, First-Year Students. On Tuesday, I talked about a few things to consider that will help you when you review first-year grades with your respective law professors. Now that you have a grade in the subjects you mastered during the first semester, let me tell you a few things you can do in order to get even a better grade this spring, and end the year on top.

1. Talk To 2Ls In The Top of Their Class, Or 2Ls Who Earned An "A" In A First-Year Course. Seeing is believing, and seeing an exam booklet where someone earned a 93 or better in a course indicates that it can be done, and you are in touch with someone who has done it. That makes you think that you are one (1) person away from earning an "A" grade, as well.

What is more compelling than holding the booklet in your hand, is that if you are lucky (and, nice), you will get to see the writing inside of the booklet. Yes, I suggest that you locate a 2L or 3L, someone who received an "A" in a course and ask him or her to request a prior examination from first year, so that you can read that exam and feel what a "A" grade sounds & looks like. Sometimes there are "C" students that can be slightly careless about speaking to how hard they worked for their grades. I decided to use the word, careless because all students want to believe that they hit the books so hard that they cannot lose. I chose the letter "C" because it is a middle of the road grade; no more - no less.

Please remember, that just because you walk tall (read, re-read and memorized your notes before the exam) and stand tall (you can state 8 single causes of action in less than 15 seconds), doesn't mean that you are "tall," as in you received an A grade.

Now, find someone who is willing to let you see what a grade of "A" looks like.

2. Suppose You Don't Know Anyone That Received An A in any of your classes, then what do you do? The next best thing would be to get together with a few Bs and Cs and create the "A" answer from the fall 2010 exam, or a spring 2011 exam. Yes, the entire answer. Of course you can do it. Take some of the heavy hitters from the first-year class, and go through the exam outline word for for word.

3. Hire a Grade Consultant: Get together with four or five students if you have decided that because you don't always "get" the subject(s) as quickly as others that a thrice monthly helper is good for you. A consultant is a person that provides you with a mini-T.A., session, except that it is really specialized and catered particularly to your needs. You can meet as a group with this person once every 10 days - the consultant can prepare problem sets for you, give you quizzes, explain the material to you (especially, difficult concepts) and how that material relates to the entire subject as a whole.

Let's get those spring 2011 grades into gear. Go to someone (a grade higher than you) for help.

Next. Practice Makes Perfect!

Prof. Smith

Examination - Review of The Fall Semester's Grades.

Hello, CLEO Family. I am here to continue my discussion of Exam Review, which is important, particularly, for the first-year law student, who has been in the law school community for a single semester.

In my last post, I provided some things that you should consider when "thinking" about your grades and the final report. I mentioned positive thinking and that grades, regardless of alphabet, do not reflect the skills you possess and the lawyer you will become. Continue to keep that in mind.

All around my law school are sign-up sheets for those students that want to review their exams, dates and times are available for anyone willing to wait in line for some of the professors' time to review their work, and to obtain advice from the professor on how to get better.

What Should You Expect From An "Exam Review" Meeting? Wait a minute. Let's Answer Two Questions? What should you expect from an exam review meeting and what you should not expect from an exam review meeting.

1. You should expect to enter the meeting prepared to discuss the exam and your performance with the professor. That will require you to have read the examination and your answers to the exam prior to coming to the professor's office. Like everyone else, the professor has set aside a small measure of time for you and similarly, for the colleagues following directly behind you. You do not want to dawdle.

2. You should expect not to have to pull teeth from the professor to understand where your analysis went wrong on an exam. Some teachers are close mouthed when it comes to reviewing and giving specific information on exams because they (sometimes) want you to get to the answer on your own. It is almost like if it is a real struggle to find the "tort, or contract, etc." then it makes you work harder, and see the damage must easier as well. Professors want you to grapple with the material, however, it is not the true nature of law schools to force feed someone with all of the findings of fact and conclusions of law. Otherwise, when will you be able to receive the number that you want (and, information) when a question is placed before you.

3. You should expect to learn what is important to the professor on an exam. Try very hard not to tell the professor your version of the answer. Instead listen to her tell you the version she created when she wrote the question. The professor will explain to you why he or she wrote the question a particular way. Then slowly, he or she will explain why all roads lead to a particular answer. This is a golden moment for you as you have the professor's full attention. Write down what she is telling you. Why? You may be forced to return home with all of the information, but without the best reason why X is the answer. And, it has nothing to do with you, so don't take it personally. Time was probably up, and the professor had to move on to the next student.

4. You should not expect that the professor will draw you a complete map about the answer to a question, but you should be able to draw a complete map for the professor about how you got to your answer. Remember, this person has looked at tons of exams; there is no reason why he should remember yours specifically. Help your reviewer understand what you did and if the professor does take extra time explaining to you where you went wrong AND what you need to do in order to get it right, then you should be still. Very still (as the earth has come to a stop). It takes a lot of work to be a law school professor, and there are never enough minutes in the day to help all the students we would like to assist. So, when an opportunity to actually help someone in school presents itself, we take it seriously. You should too, as you now know that a full, well thought out answer and explanation can crop up at any time.

Think about these "meeting" suggestions. They should help you when you meet with the professor. It is not that they have the upper hand or are better than you; it's just that they have information you want and you are trying to figure out how to transfer it from their minds to yours. For this year's set of final exams. Go class of 2011!

Thank you,

Prof. Smith

Welcome Back CLEO Students

Welcome Back To The CLEO Blog For The Spring 2011.

I know many of you attended the Mid-Winter Seminar.  I am certain
that you learned a great deal from the professors and lecturers.
If you have any questions that I can answer for you, please let
me know.

I know grades have been posted for most of the law schools and
you are excited about your exams and work, in general.  The
first-year students have probably received their first set of
grades.  Congratulations on making it through your first
semester of law school.  You really persevered and here you
are completing your very first year.

Congratulations as well to all of the CLEO family who are
graduating this May, as well. I know you are excited to finish
law school and to start your career as a lawyer.

I just want to talk about grades with you for a moment.

1.  Always think positive about your work and I am sure that
positive things will happen.

2.  Whatever your grade report shows, it is not a reflection
on who you are as a student or what type of lawyer you will be.

3.  Stay positive.  All of the time.  Don't be harsh.
You can turn that "B" into an "A."

4.  When you meet with your professor, listen carefully
to what they have to say.

5.  Use the academic support team at your law school as a
place to help you get a plan of action for this semester.

6.  Read fact patterns carefully.

7.  Spend the allotted time on a question.

8.  Utilize the facts in the fact pattern.  It is a closed
universe created just for you.

More tips tomorrow,

Prof. Smith