Must-Read Legal Websites for Attorneys

Must-Read Legal Websites for AttorneysMust-Read Legal Websites for AttorneysBeing an attorney doesnt mean should be stuck reading briefs and journal articles each and every day. There are so many great online publications and blogs that have so much rich content that range from timely law topics to career tips, to the common struggles of a lawyer. Not only can these websites provide great resources, but also the articles can often help you feel more rejuvenated and enthusiastic about the law. Here Are Seven Websites We Recommend You Bookmark Above the LawThis website publishes new content on a daily (even hourly basis). Article topics tend to focus on the following areas BigLaw, small law firms, legal technology, legal marketing, in-house counsel, law school, and government issues. You can always count on Above the Law to offer a thoughtful (and sometimes even humorous) look at current events. For example, there has not been a shortage of articles about the recent Supreme Court d ecisions. Above the Law also has a great Career Center on the website, which includes job postings from throughout the country and advice for job seekers. JD SupraThis website syndicates content from publications to blogs on a multitude of law and geschftlicher umgang topics. JD Supra readers include in-house counsel, business leaders, reporters, and editors.The ability to search the site by topic area is very helpful, especially if you are researching a specific field such as same-sex marriage or patents. The Trending feature at the top of the website lets you read the most popular and topical articles being circulated and read.ABA JournalPerhaps the standard for lawyers and legal professionals, ABA Journal includes articles and blog posts about current issues and the latest in legal news. If reading articles and blog posts dont always fit into your daily schedule, check out the ABA Journal podcasts that are interesting and can be listened to on the go. A recent podcast featured th e topic of how lawyers can maximize relaxation while on vacation. Findlaw.comThis legal website provides job listings for a wide range of legal professionals. It also maintains a comprehensive set of legal resources for law students and legal professionals including case law and legal news.Trebuchet LegalThis site focuses on what happens after you attend law school and pass the bar exam. Created by the founders of The Girls Guide to Law School, Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, Trebuchet provides career-related advice to law students and attorneys. Articles range from how to start your own virtual law office to marketing yourself as an attorney. LawJobs.comIf youre on the search for a new job or legal career, youll want to bookmark this site. LawJobs.com lists legal job openings, classifieds and nationwide ads for lawyers, paralegals, and legal support staff. The Career Center includes career profiles, salary information, and career advice. Its a great resource if youre in th e market for changing jobs or careers.JD Careers Out ThereIf you just finished law school and still arent sure what type of legal career you want, this is the website for you. Founder Marc Luber has two goals with his site to help you find a career youll love, and help you be successful at that career. Be sure to check out Marcs video interviews in which he talks about what you can do with a law degree and how to break in and find a job.

7 Reasons to Look for a Job While You Love the One You Have

7 Reasons to Look for a Job While You Love the One You Have7 Reasons to Look for a Job While You Love the One You HaveMost people wait until theyre miserable, desperate, or unemployed to departure looking for a new job. But as it turns out, it might be smart to look for a job while youre in a position you love. That might sound odd, but there are a few good reasons for doing this.Heres why you might want to look for a job, while you still love the one you have1. You can be more objective and have higher standards.When youre desperate for a new job because the one you have is terrible, any ol gig can start to look good. Once you start feeling slightly desperate, jobs that dont match your criteria (e.g., they dont offer work flexibility or arent in your intended career field) might not matter so much now- but will later on. Having a job that you already love allows you to job search more objectively- and more importantly, more selectively- to find a position that will truly be a fit fo r you.2. You can look more leisurely. Lets say that you have a huge fight with your boss and in a moment of bravado/stupidity, you quit your job on the spot. Looking for another job that checks all the boxes can be tough, especially so if youre doing it under duress. Being able to take your time to look for a job, picking and choosing which jobs to apply for at ease, can not only strengthen your own job searching skills for when the time comes to actually look for a new position.3. You can get a sense of what types of jobs are really out there. Time truly flies, and a job that you thought you would only be in for a year can suddenly become two or three years. Looking for a job while you love the one you have can give you some insight into the current job market and help you assess what types of jobs are out there. You can also learn what potential new skills, education, and experience employers and recruiters are looking for right now. That way, youll be prepared if and when you do decide to search for a job.4. You can negotiate better. Salary can sometimes be a sticking point when it comes to accepting or turning down a job. While you can use a salary calculator to estimate how much employers are paying for jobs in your field, nothing beats real-life experience in finding out what your exact set of skills and experience means to a potential employer, in dollars and cents. Being employed can help you to negotiate salary better since youll already know what other employers are paying- and more importantly, youll know your own worth. Since youre employed, you have nothing to lose by asking for a higher salary or better benefits- and if a potential employer knows that youre exploring new opportunities, he might make offer you a better deal to get you to leave your current job.5. You can improve your interviewing/job search skills. Job searching can take some finesse, and if youve been out of the job market for a while, your own job search skills or interviewing s kills might be a little rusty. Starting a job search (even if you love the job you have right now) can oil out the kinks you might initially experience and also help you to polish your interviewing skills as you meet with various employers.6. You can boost your network. In todays job market, its never a bad thing to know a lot of people. Having a rich, robust network can help you connect with people who might be able to give you some solid job leads. You never know when you might need to reach out to a contact for help in looking for a real job.7. You can be better prepared for the future. Sure, you love the job you currently have. But what if the company suddenly downsizes- and you lose your position? Thats where doing some pre-job searching can put you ahead of the competition. You might have already done some interviews and established new connections that could lead you to a real job interview- and a real job offer sooner rather than later.Start Looking for a New Job

Want a Readable Resume Summary Opt for a Bullet List

Want a Readable Resume Summary Opt for a Bullet ListResume Summary Option Use BulletsWant a Readable Resume Summary Opt for a Bullet ListWriting can be a difficult task. Take it from someone who has been doing it professionally for most of his career. When youre writing your resume, trying to summarize what you have to offer an employer can be more than difficult. But the Summary section of your resume, a paragraph that goes right below your name and contact information and addresses your top qualifications for the job, is where most hiring managers decide whether to read the rest of the resume.If you have a hard time assembling a strong, coherent paragraph for a Summary, heres a tip Forget the paragraph and use bullet points.Since a bullet list is usually easier to read than a dense flgel of text, a time-pressed hiring manager will probably appreciate it.For example, lets say youre a customer service manager looking for a similar position. Heres a summary in paragraph formSUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONSExperienced, award-winning customer service manager and leader with track record of success over the last 10 years in retail and online environments. Strong skills in analyzing and solving problems led to 25% jump in customer satisfaction over one year in current role, which helped boost market share 5%. Clear communication of changes in product and service offerings to associates resulted in 10% sales increase in a highly competitive year. Strong advocate of training and professional development programs for new and experienced customer service associates.Now lets break that up into bulletsSUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONSExperienced customer service manager and leader with 10-year record of success.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills led to 25% jump in customer satisfaction and 5% boost in market share over one year.Clear communication to associates of changes in product and service offerings resulted in 10% sales increase in a highly competitive year.Received comp any and industry leadership awards for developing successful training program for new customer service associates.The bullet-form summary is bedrngnis only a bit shorter than the paragraph form, it gives the reader a break by showcasing your value in easily digestible bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, the last bullet point reveals something more specific about your success in developing training programs compared with the last sentence in the paragraph.In todays tougher-than-tough job market, you need to be able to market yourself to land a job interview, and eventually, a job offer. If you have delivered strong, tangible results for your current and previous employers that can help you land the job, you may be comfortable in writing a paragraph for your Summary, but consider using bullets. Remember Writing is one thing, getting someone to read your writing is another.