tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post3196218930753764669..comments2024-01-09T21:43:06.916-05:00Comments on Esq. Never: A Present from Esq, Never: Resume Advice for the J.D. Looking for a Non-Legal PositionEsq. Neverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18248019550876835145noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-80983470686459693262010-07-19T21:36:45.824-04:002010-07-19T21:36:45.824-04:00Esq.,
The sample resume will benefit those with l...Esq.,<br /><br />The sample resume will benefit those with law degrees seeking employment in non-law fields as well as those without a law degree but an undergraduate degree who are facing the dark star equivalent of the void known as resume databases.BA2LLBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149020949141107132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-12159731122787194402010-07-08T20:52:32.472-04:002010-07-08T20:52:32.472-04:00Esq.,
If your JD is listed, then it'll automa...Esq.,<br /><br />If your JD is listed, then it'll automatically draw the employer's attention. At this point, I would think the employer would question exactly why you aren't going after a legal job. <br /><br />Listing a good class rank at least gives the employer reason to believe that you at least could practice law... though perhaps GPA could achieve the same. (My school gives the exact rank out of X students.)<br /><br /><br />A loyal reader (and 3L),<br /><br />12:41Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-24476998515115069362010-07-08T18:14:05.046-04:002010-07-08T18:14:05.046-04:00This kind of information is very limited on the in...This kind of information is very limited on the internet. Nice to find the post related to my searching criteria. You write your articles very well.finance courseshttp://www.aot.edu.au/finance.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-3375828450955389552010-07-07T17:41:48.504-04:002010-07-07T17:41:48.504-04:00"From my personal experience, some employers ..."From my personal experience, some employers will accept that a JD is versatile - if you take the initiative to explain it. I'm, of course, open to more artful methods of explaining it away."<br /><br />10:19 here. I agree completely with the first sentence quoted; your experience accords with mine. The phrase I take issue with in the sample resume is "recently received a JD for the purpose of ..." because it makes the candidate sound either like a liar or an idiot. No one puts himself through the meatgrinder of law school *in order to* pursue a job in a non-legal field. <br /><br />Yes, put the JD on the resume and add something about your analytical or writing or public speaking skills or whatever you developed in law school that's relevant to the job you're seeking. <br /><br />If the employer's close-minded about JDs, you won't get an interview anyway. If the employer's open-minded and calls you for an interview, don't even address the JD until you're asked (and of course you will be) why you're not practicing law. <br /><br />Then either go the route of relative honesty ("It was the right decision when I started but by the time I graduated we were deep in a recession and field was saturated") or tell a better lie ("I enjoyed law school and did well but by my second year I realized that actually practicing wasn't for me; I finished the degree because I had only one year to go and it's a useful degree for many different jobs - such as this one" and then segue off law school and make your pitch for why you're the right person for this non-legal position).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-75488009937026499042010-07-06T20:16:04.905-04:002010-07-06T20:16:04.905-04:0010:19 - I agree that plenty of employers will dism...10:19 - I agree that plenty of employers will dismiss this, but those employers will likely drop a resume with a JD regardless. From my personal experience, some employers will accept that a JD is versatile - if you take the initiative to explain it. I'm, of course, open to more artful methods of explaining it away.<br /><br />12:41 - My concern about listing the class rank is because it can draw more attention to the JD. Do other schools really keep official rank? You don't want your reference to your JD to stand out from your undegrad degree.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I doubt this will make a big difference either way.Esq. Neverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18248019550876835145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-22045081090388289782010-07-06T12:46:03.651-04:002010-07-06T12:46:03.651-04:00Thanks a ton, Esq. Never--this is the kind of prac...Thanks a ton, Esq. Never--this is the kind of practical advice that those of us trying to escape this hellhole of a "profession" need!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-37709552853618487942010-07-06T12:41:29.368-04:002010-07-06T12:41:29.368-04:00If you have an impressive class rank, why not put ...If you have an impressive class rank, why not put that down? <br /><br />Even the most oblivious employers will likely know that law school are notoriously competitive. It certainly wouldn't hurt.<br /><br />(I can understand the rationale for not offering that you're in the top 50%.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-1321938947743444702010-07-06T12:23:22.822-04:002010-07-06T12:23:22.822-04:00That professional summary thing is great. I am go...That professional summary thing is great. I am going to add it to my non-legal resumes ASAP. I believe that is what most of us have been missing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-56695842401532000082010-07-06T11:49:59.451-04:002010-07-06T11:49:59.451-04:00Awesome tips! Thanks so much!Awesome tips! Thanks so much!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-34661548363493941602010-07-06T10:19:40.414-04:002010-07-06T10:19:40.414-04:00"Recently received a J.D. for the purpose of ..."Recently received a J.D. for the purpose of enhancing client assistance and presentation skills."<br /><br />If I saw this on a resume, all I'd think is, "What a maroon! Who spends three years and six figures getting a professional degree to enhance his ability to work in a completely different field?" I know you have to address the J.D. somehow - I don't think this is the way. And I wouldn't assume that employers don't know enough about a law degree to see through this. With the numbers of J.D.s being graduated every year, who in the United States doesn't know at least one unemployed lawyer who bitches about the wasted three years and the loan debt?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5618663158161665199.post-45008097038749404122010-07-06T09:23:19.865-04:002010-07-06T09:23:19.865-04:00Thank you so much for your tips!Thank you so much for your tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com