Written from the perspective of someone with insider knowledge, this book provides insight into the way Canadian law firms recruit. Wendy Griesdorf, former director of career services at Osgoode Hall Law School, reveals everything aspiring and new lawyers need to know about securing summer, articling, or associate positions, including how to research a law firm job, how to apply and interview, and how to succeed once hired. The book offers detailed information on the different recruitment cycles in Canada (including on-campus interviews), guidelines on the preparation of an effective resumé and cover letter, strategies for developing successful interviewing techniques, and tips on networking. It includes resumé and cover letter samples, examples of interview questions, as well as a personal workbook designed to help students and associates analyze their skills and interests and formulate their career goals.

A must-have for law students and new lawyers.

Table of Contents

Preface

CHAPTER 1: Preparation
Resumés and Cover Letters

CHAPTER 2: Interviews
Fifty Points on Interviewing
Professionalism in Interviews
Physiology and the Interview

CHAPTER 3: First Year
Recruitment Cycles for First-Year Law Students
Legal Research and Writing

CHAPTER 4: Second Year
Second-Year Summer Jobs
On-Campus Interviews (OCIs) for Positions with Law Firms in Toronto
Other Second-Year Summer Jobs

CHAPTER 5: Third Year
Beginning Your Articling Job Search
Articling in Another Province

CHAPTER 6: Articling
How to Excel at Articles

CHAPTER 7: Associate Positions
A Framework for an Associate Job Search
The Associate Job Interview

CHAPTER 8: Practice Management and Organization

CHAPTER 9: Samples
Sample Resumé and Analysis
Sample Cover Letter and Analysis
Sample Cover Letter Sentences
Sample Interview Questions
Sample Practice Areas
Sample Law Office Structures and Traditional Law Careers
Sample Organizational System
Sample File List
Sample Telephone Log

CHAPTER 10: Personal Workbook
Personal Background
General Areas of Interest
Emerging Areas of Interest
Advanced Areas of Interest
Research and Information Integration
Network Building
Work Environment, Work Style, and Career Goals
Core Messages
Tactical Strategies for Improvement
Budget
Deadlines and Send by Dates

Wendy Griesdorf's book on law firm recruitment is like having a law school career development office, an outplacement service, a law firm director of students and associates, and your mother all rolled into one neat little portable package. It is a terrific resource for law students and lawyers who want to control their professional career paths, providing very practical advice on the logistics of keeping their careers on track.

-- Anne Mundy-Markell, Director of Student & Associate Affairs, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Ottawa

Law Firm Recruitment in Canada: Job Search Advice for Law Students and Associates provides revealing and honest advice to law students entering the recruitment process and associates searching for legal positions. Wendy Griesdorf draws on her considerable experience as the Director of Career Services at Osgoode Hall Law School, as well her experience as a practising lawyer, to walk the reader through the preparation of resumés and cover letters, recruitment processes, interviewing skills, and practical tips. The excellent advice and information is presented in an easy-to-read, chronological manner and provides a comprehensive resource for law students and associates who are making important choices in their career paths.

-- Nancy J. Stitt, Director of Student Programs,
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Toronto

I found Wendy Griesdorf's book to be an extremely thoughtful, comprehensive, and well-organized guide to the recruitment process for students. It is filled with a vast amount of sound, practical advice that demonstrates quite clearly that the author understands what is important to us as lawyers and student recruiters. I would highly recommend the book to any law student who wishes to perfect his or her job search and interview skills.

-- Robert M. McLennan, Student Recruitment Officer, Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang, Vancouver

This is an excellent resource for law students. It is packed full of useful information, tips, and a practical personal workbook. By using this book, law students will gain a better understanding of Canadian recruitment processes and an edge when applying for competitive articling and summer positions.

-- Maryanne Forrayi, Career Advisor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary