An Overview of Law Firm Jobs and Career Ladder

An Overview of Law Firm Jobs and Career LadderAn Overview of Law Firm Jobs and Career LadderThree-quarters of all attorneys work in law firms- business entities in which one or more of them engage in the practice of law. Law firm titles, the roles of law firm attorneys, and the number of roles utilized can vary kusined on the size and complexity of the firm. Law firms also employ non-attorney executives and staff, such as paralegals and secretaries to support the firms legal and business functions. Managing Partners The managing partner sits at the top of the law firm hierarchy. A senior level or founding lawyer of the firm, she manages day-to-day operations. She often heads an executive committee comprised of other senior partners, and she helps to establish and guide the firms strategic vision. The managing partner usually assumes management responsibilities in plus-rechnen to maintaining a full-time law practice. Law Firm Partners Law firm partners, also called shareholder s, are attorneys who are joint owners and operators of the firm. The types and structures of law firm partnerships can vary. Sole proprietorships- firms with just one attorney- general partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), professional associations, and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are the most common. Most law firms embrace a two-tiered partnership structure equity and non-equity. Equity partners have an ownership stake in the firm and they share in its profits. Non-equity partners are generally paid a fixed annual salary. They might be vested with certain limited voting rights in law firm matters. Non-equity partners are often, although not always, promoted to full equity status in one to three years. Theyre frequently required to make a capital contribution to the firm become equity partners, effectively buying in to the role. Associates Associates are typically younger attorneys who have the potential to become partners. Large firms divide associates int o junior and senior associates, depending on merit and experience level. The typical lawyer works as an associate for six to nine years before ascending to partnership ranks or making partner. When- and if- an associate makes partner generally depends on a combination of factors, including the associates legal acumen, his client base, and how well he fits into the firms culture. Of Counsel Attorneys Attorneys who are of counsel arent technically employees of the firm. They usually work on an independent contractor basis. Lawyers who serve in this role are usually very experienced, senior lawyers who have their own books of business. They have strong reputations in the legal community. Some of-counsel attorneys are semi-retired lawyers who were formerly partners of the firm. Others are hired to augment the firms client base or knowledge base. Most of-counsel lawyers work on a part-time basis, manage their own cases, and supervise associates and staff. Summer Associates Summer associates, also referred to as summer clerks or law clerks, are law students who intern with a firm during the summer months. An internship can be unpaid in smaller firms, although large firms often have well-established summer associate programs that serve as a tool to recruit young, talented lawyers. These positions are often highly competitive and well-paying. A successful summer associate might receive a permanent offer of employment to work for the firm upon graduation. Work Your Way Up The natural and typical progression of a career in law, one spanning decades, typically works out like this in larger firms. It might begin during law school and culminate in a semi-retired of-counsel role. The lines can blur considerably in small firms.Summer Associate Junior Associate Senior Associate PartnerManaging PartnerOf Counsel Attorney

How to Spot Job Search Scams

How to Spot Job Search ScamsHow to Spot Job Search Scams14Like the truth, job search scams are out there.In fact, in the telecommuting and flexible schedule job arena, its estimated that for every one job listing,6070 are scams.Did we get your attention?With a daunting statistic like that, its a good idea to be on your guard from the beginning and wait to get involved with a company until it has proven itself to you.At , our staff isdedicated to weeding out scam job postings and giving our members only pre-screened and legitimate listings. But if youre searching for jobs outside of , its a good idea to protect yourself. Here are two excellent articles, written by the staff, that every flexible job seeker should readHow to Avoid Job Search Scams 5 Questions to AskIn a nutshell1. Is the hiring companys name includedin the job listing?2. Do you need to pay to get the job?3. Does the job listing sound too good to be true?4. Does the company ask you to provide your Social Security number , drivers license number, credit card number, or bank information?5. Does the job sound like any of the followingcommon work-at-home scamsunsolicited contact, wire transfer, stuffing envelopes, data entry, assembly work, multilevel marketing or pyramid scheme, shipping manager, rebate processor?How to Avoid Work at Home Scams 5 Precautions to TakeIn a nutshell1. Protect your Social Security number.2. Consider how you disseminate your contact information and work history.3. Defend your computer.4. Protect your financial information.5. Consider your online behavior.Also considerSearch KeywordsIn general, be careful of thekeywordsyou use to search for a remote job. Work from home is a phrase associated with lots of job search scams and pyramid schemes. Instead, try safer words like remote work, telework, and telecommuting.Unprofessional CommunicationJob postings are almost certainly a scam if they promise easy money for easy work, if they require you to invest or pay a fee to get the j ob, or if they use all capitalized letters or lots of and $$$ punctuation.And beyond the posting itself, unprofessional emails are also a big red flag. Alwayscheck to make sure the hiring manager contacting you is using correct grammar and professional language, and that the email is from a business account that includes verifiable company contact information.When They Contact YouBe especially wary of employers who contact you unsolicited. That is how even a veteran remote worker named Irenefell prey to a search scam, after a company contacted her via her LinkedIn profile. The company hired her as a freelancer, then told her theyd decided to go in a different direction after shed been working for three weeks. She never got paid for her time. Findmore information on how to avoid LinkedIn scams.The Interview ProcessGetting hired for a remote job should feel pretty similar to getting hired for an in-person job with the exception that you may be interviewing over the phone. Rather than advertising easy jobs withno experience needed, legitimate employers care about your qualifications and will complete the regular interview process, most likelyasking sometough questionsalong the way to see if you are a goodfit for the job. Its always a good idea toresearch a company before the interview, but ifyouve reachedthe interview stageand are having doubts, remember that this meetingis also a great opportunity for you to ask questions about the company.By keeping these tips in mind, youre bound to create a safer job search experience for yourself. And remember, does this work for you- every job on is pre-screened and verified to belegitimate.Best of luck in your job searchReaders, haveyou hadany experiences with job search scams?If youve worked remotely in the past, how did you know the employer was legitimate? Share your experiences below.Sara Sutton contributed to this post.

Looking for a smart summer beach read Try these 2 new books

Looking for a smart summer beach read Try these 2 new booksLooking for a smart summer beach read Try these 2 new booksBreaking news from theNext Big Idea Club CuratorsMalcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pinkare proud to announce their two hand-picked selections for the new season. The two most groundbreaking nonfiction reads of the summer are Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreRange Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldIt may seem that intense, prolonged focus on a singlepursuitis themost likely path to success, but as investigative reporter and bestselling author David Epstein shows inRange, success is far more likely for the generalists of the world, those who dare to pursue the full spectrum of their interests, passions, and abilities.For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everyt hing I thought about something was wrong. IlovedRange. - Malcolm GladwellBiased Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and DoStanford professor and MacArthur genius grant recipient Jennifer Eberhardt reveals how unconscious bias impacts daily life inschools, offices, and neighborhoods everywhere, offering both eye-opening reflections on the problem andscience-backed wisdom toward a solution.Dr. Eberhardt writes with empathy and nuance, deftly weaving in her own story and including tales of her own fallibility. The result is that, in the end, she leaves us with both hope and solutions . . . Ive been telling everyone I know to read this book.- Daniel PinkNext Big Idea Club members receive instant access to a full library of e-courses based on the worlds mostgroundbreakingnew nonfiction books. They are also invited to join the clubs erreichbar community, where they can discuss what theyve learned with their fellow members, the featured authors of the season, an d even the four renowned curators.This article first appeared on Heleo.

Why So Many Lawyers Quit the Profession

Why So Many Lawyers Quit the ProfessionWhy So Many Lawyers Quit the ProfessionFor non-lawyers, its crazy to think about how many lawyers leave the profession every year. You suffered through (and paid for) three years of law school, passed the bar exam, and now youre walking away from life as a lawyer? But most lawyers have probably considered leaving, even if they ultimately decided to stay. So, whats going on? Why do lawyers leave the profession? There are many reasons, but here are some popular ones. The Hours Lets face it, lawyers work a lot. Whether its demanding clients, hard deadline in court, pushy partners in a law firm, or just a commitment to the work, alaw job is rarely a 9-5 endeavor. After years of missed dinner dates and canceled vacations, the hourly toll of being a lawyer can start to add up, to the point where no amount of money is worth it. At that point, people tend to quit in search of a better work/life balance. The Pressure Along with the long hours, yo uve got the constant pressure of trying to prevail in an inherently adversarial system. Add to that the fact that lawyers are often dealing with very serious, real-life problems (involving emotional and important aspects of peoples lives, such as family, money, freedom and so on) and youve got a recipe for stress and pressure. Over time, without appropriate coping mechanisms, this pressure can become unbearable, leading lawyers to leave the profession. The Constant Arguing Some pressure is inevitable in the law, but much of it is created by the constant arguing that goes on (especially between litigators). Beyond the inherent arguing over precedent and facts in court, theres the daily grind of arguing over when to schedule depositions, or how many document requests each side is going to be allowed to make. Some people love this sort of thing, but many dont. If youre not in the I love to argue camp, the weight of ongoing arguments can rapidly become too much. The Lack of Contr ol Even worse than the long hours, in many cases, is the lack of control over your work and your schedule as an attorney. When youre subject to the whims of the court, or of the partners or other senior lawyers you work for, the lack of control can become highly frustrating. This is why many lawyers leave (or opt out of firms and other large organizations to open their own solo practices). Boredom With the Work Lets face it, much modern legal work is pretty boring. If you went to law school with visions of giving frequently, compelling opening and closing arguments in court and executing surgical cross-examinations on a regular basis, the reality of modern law practice might come as a harsh surprise. Very few cases end up in a trial, and many so-called litigators have never actually tried a case. Most work takes place in writing, and much of your time will be spent alone in an office, thinking and doing research. (Or, even worse, suffering through tedious document review assign ments.) The law itself, in theory, is pretty fascinating. But the day-to-day work can be a grind. (This is why the people who loved law school are often the first to exit the profession.) If youre not sure laws for you, dont despair It might be possible to find a better fit within the law, or worst case you can join the legions of other disaffected attorneys who left for greener job pastures elsewhere. At least youll be in good company

Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Which Tools to Use

Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Which Tools to UseTwitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Which Tools to UseTwo job seekers tell all. Find out which tool each used to catapult their job searches, and which could help with yours.A layoff is never easy. Nevertheless, if your previous job was focused on studying the maze of social-networking sites and figuring out how to use them best, youd be way ahead of the game.At least, Randy Giusto hoped he would. Until April, the vice president and research director at market-research firm IDC was in charge of a group of 40 analysts. They brought in more than $15 million per year by creating reports that measured, and often changed the direction of, huge markets in consumer and digital media.The shock of his layoff left Giusto without an immediate plan. Most jobs are gotten through networking - knowing people, talking to people, and a big percentage of that today is done through social networking as well as in person.Like millions of other out-of-work executives, Giusto found its hard to separate online and offline networking in 2009.After all, we now rely on online job boards, social-networking sites and mobile devices to make connections. Knowing people, talking to people, and finding and capitalizing on job leads, now takes place largely online.Industry-specific and social-networking toolsGiusto started close to home. He signed up for groups on LinkedIn that focused on market research, consumer electronics, mobile and other technology areas in which he had some experience, and for groups formed by recruiters hed worked with in the past.Members of the groups alerted him to a series of job openings that had either been posted only in inaccessible places or bedrngnislage at all - opportunities in the background job market that he would never have seen without a connection to specific parts of the industry, in which hed worked for years.Vertical-market groups and networks really have become one of the most effective, most reliable sources f or that kind of job information, according to Paul Gillin, author of The New Influencers and Secrets of Social Media Marketing, and tech-industry veteran/consultant who specializes in social-network marketing.A lot of people think they dont have the time or expertise to use industry-specific or at-large social-networking sites, Gillen said. But if you make yourself savvy, and its not hard, in how to use Plaxo and LinkedIn and Twitter and vertical networks, you can do a lot. He focused his job search on one Twitter.When he was at IDC, Giusto maintained a Twitter feed where IDC customers could follow his analysis of industry issues in the news. He realized he could leverage this and show his value to potential employers by compiling and analyzing information for his followers.That kept me in contact with a lot of people who (had) sought me out. People (were) saying they didnt have any openings right now, but offering or raising the possibility of some consulting work that might br de through the summer, and (saying) we could talk more in the fall, Giusto said. Especially in July and August, when the number of job postings went way down, I built a network of people with different specialties I could turn to on a freelance basis to fulfill some of the more complicated engagements.This push strategy on Twitter resulted in most of his job contacts coming to him, rather than vice versa. Mostly they came through Twitter or they searched on LinkedIn for people with certain skills and found me that way, he said.Start with a strategy, not a toolToo many job seekers approach their social networks the wrong way when theyre looking for a job, said Ellen Gordon Reeves, author of Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview and consultant/career coach at the Columbia Publishing Course - a six-week, graduate-level training program on magazine and book publishing. Some just march right out and broadcast, I need a job. Can anyone help?Desperation creates paralysis, she said. Peo ple get a whiff of desperation, and it turns them off, for one thing. When people feel out of control, theyll say theyre happy to do anything. When you say that, theres nothing in my brain (as a contact) that I can use to help you. I have all these networks and contacts and resources, but if I dont have a clue what youre looking for, I dont know how to help you. When you approach people like that youre asking the helper or potential employer to do the digging to figure out how to help you.The best approach is the saatkorn direct-contact, web-of-trust method used in more traditional, in-person networking, Gillin said.The most important thing is to have a strategy, he said. Ill go to events that people go to with the express purpose of networking for jobs and they havent even thought about how I can help them. You cant put the tool first you have to know what youre looking for and then use the tool - whether its Twitter or LinkedIn or Plaxo or another service - to help you get there .You have to stop looking for a job, and start looking for a person, Reeves agreed.If you ask a roomful of people how they got their jobs, 80 percent will say it was through some kind of referral. So you have to stop sending your resume into the black hole of cyberspace, and use the tools to research and find the companies youre interested in and the job youre interested in and the person you should talk to about that job. Then you use social-networking tools to make that contact happen.Examples of good strategies in actionThat backdoor approach works remarkably well, according to Aliza Freud, CEO of SheSpeaks.com, a word-of-mouth marketing startup that enrolls women in a cooperative effort to make their voices heard to developers of the products they use.Example 1 One candidate Freud recently hired got noticed by searching SheSpeaks.com to get familiar with the companys approach, and also following Freuds own Twitter feed to gain a better perspective on my thinking and hot buttons (as a potential employer), Freud said.Example 2 Another researched the company and then used LinkedIn to find connections who could make the recommendations that helped make the candidate stand out among hundreds of candidates and eventually land the job, she said.Using video to put you in the spotlightWithout a direct link to a company - a contact who knows the hiring manager or can introduce you - its hard to get noticed.It is especially difficult in industries where there have been so many layoffs that theres a crowd for every opportunity that crops up, said David Schmidt, a Michigan-based MktgLadder member and 20-year PR and marketing veteran who specializes in manufacturing technology and IT-related professional services.Not even professional associations are exempt from the glut. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), in which Schmidt has been active as a member and speaker, is so packed with job seekers that its job boards generate the same overwhelming flood of re sumes as more general sites, he said.One way to get noticed is to use an innovative bit of technology or marketing, like a video resume. Schmidt, who lost his management job two months ago when his agency went out of business, recorded and posted a three-minute resume he believes can highlight his skills and experience, give an idea of what hes like to work with, and maybe even attract attention a text resume wouldnt. As an appendix to his video resume, he also produced a short tutorial on Web 2.0 practices, available on his YouTube account.Youve got to try anything you can to set yourself apart, Schmidt said. Im only getting started with this and a couple of other approaches, but its a new way to get an edge and can impart more about my personality and some of my video and producing skills.New technology strategies like Schmidts can produce results - or waste a lot of time - depending on the person producing and the picture that gets painted. It can be ineffective for people who are not making their message clear or presenting a consistent picture of themselves in all the social media they use, Gillin said.What I tell people is to pick LinkedIn or Plaxo or whatever network youre most comfortable in get all your information up to date, and tell people clearly what youre looking for. Then make that profile the one you update with new information, Gillin said. Take that information and syndicate it to the other networks you use - Twitter or Facebook or whatever - but use one as the base to work from. It saves a lot of energy and not only avoids having you look completely different on each network but confusing people.Narrow your focus, and your sourcesThe general job boards are full of junk, so you have to find the ones that filter some of that out, according to Schmidt, who uses MktgLadder and follows several Twitter feeds to find job leads.One problem is that Twitter - with its tweets and retweets and tweetups - is alien-sounding and overwhelming to the uninitiated, said Rick Stomphorst, a director of operations and development at Econstruction.com who is highly rated by the LinkedIn community as an expert on the use of social networks.A huge number of new jobs are posted through Twitter, but the number of feeds is so enormous that its hard to find them, he said.One option is to identify a small number of companies you want to work with or recruiters who work in your industry, search for the Twitter feeds of executives from those companies, and follow them. You learn a lot about their priorities and methods, often hear about their job postings first, and get yourself instant credibility as a longtime follower of their tweets.Corporate social networksFinding job listings is one thing finding them credible is another, said Kate Lukach, director of marketing for SelectMinds, which develops software that companies use to create their own social networks.SelectMinds has become one of the leading software providers for social networks ow ned and controlled by specific companies and organizations, like alumni associations and industry groups.When a company implements this closed network software, job seekers get a good source of job leads at a company where theyre already a known commodity, so it improves their chances of landing a job. And it drastically cuts the cost of recruiting, vetting and training new employees, Lukach said.Internal, corporate social networks compete with less controlled, sometimes less focused alumni networks or social networks such as LinkedIn, Ning.com and others. But theyre qualitatively different, Lukach said. Each users real name (not a made-up user name) and work history is accessible via hyperlink when they comment within the closed network. This all but guarantees members behave as if theyre in a company conference room, not on the jagdbeute Web, she said.Too many optionsUsing Twitter, LinkedIn, video, e-mail, IM and a host of tools, aggregation sites and other information-gathering m echanisms can jump-start a job search, but each one also comes with a cost, according to Schmidt.Some of the new services and techniques are more effective than others. And each one comes with a learning curve.Its still the Wild West out there, but the resources you can find are getting so deep and rich you can do amazing things, Schmidt said. The challenge becomes which ones are worth the time to invest, because you cant ignore personal contacts and phone calls and just sit in front of the computer all day.

Untold Stories About Free Online Resume Templates You Need to Read

Untold Stories About Free Online Resume Templates You Need to Read The Battle Over Free Online Resume Templates and How to Win It You may also read more on the ideal approach to use our resume samples here. A resume builder can provide you a document that looks generic. Free resume schablones abound on the web. You will see free resume templates with various fonts. The Advantages of Free Online Resume Templates Therefore, its important to keep up a professional social networking profile. Resume templates exist to create your life simpler. You ought to go with an absolutely free printable resume template that satisfies the requirements of your resume and offers the maximum quantity of features and flexibility. Each one of our creative style templates provide a perfectly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and a little style. The free resume template gets you started, but youll need to do the job. The resume template is thought to be a guide to fill in pertine nt data in your resume. Employing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for numerous reasons. Project Manager Resume templates are extremely handy document templates which can be utilised at many moments if youre a project manager. When you choose a template youll be shown a dialog box that shows you a bigger view of the template. For those reasons listed above, youre want to begin with a resume template. Its possible to use any template you download as-is, or you are able to customize it to fulfill your wants. After you choose the absolutely free printable resume template that fulfills your requirements, be certain to fill it with positive and meaningful details. Free Online Resume Templates and Free Online Resume Templates - The Perfect Combination Whats more, you can customize the CV as you desire. Resumes do not need to take so much of your time but still shouldnt be neglected. There are lots of free creative resume templates youre able to us e, permitting you to focus your energy on everything else you should do. 1 additional benefit of Monster is that, being international, you can use it in order to locate decent quality resume advice on destinations beyond the USA. When youre crafting your resume, you will want to ensure youre including the correct info. Then it may be time to bring some style to your resume Writing a resume is a significant chore. 1 way to stop from making your resume ugly is to make certain which you arent cramming your information on the page (such as the example below). Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that could assist you with your work search. Zetys resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. When youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. Provided that you use the perfect in fo, you will wind up with a professional document that will impress any hiring manager. You likely have plenty of personal and expert information you wish to share to your upcoming employer. Thus the use ofA Construction Resume TemplatesA is extremely beneficial for all applicants who would like to be employed. Career profiles supply an overview of your subject of specialization and useful skills giving employers a general idea about what you can actually do. First off, its necessary for you to understand what job youre applying for, so you can incorporate all the essential data that you demand. You ought to tailor your resume to the work description with the addition of keywords and abilities from the offer. The overview of skills will provide the reviewer a glimpse at you, rather than having to devote a great deal of time. Also be certain to tailor the document to the job youre applying for. CV templates offer space for common areas like education, work experience, and abili ties.

How to Help Your New Teachers Get Adjusted - Spark Hire

How to Help Your New Teachers Get Adjusted - Spark HireRegardless of experience, taking a position in a new school can be overwhelming for any educator. In order to ensure that the transition is as seamless as possible, its important to put measures in place to help make the new teacher feel welcome and included. Such steps could includeEstablishing a mentoring programIf youve got veteran teachers in the building, try having them serve as mentors to newbies who are trying to get settled. Just knowing that they have someone to turn to with questions or concerns is often a huge relief for a new educator, who may be feeling totally overwhelmed.Dont forget the basicsIt may seem like second nature, but taking time to go over the very basics of your school (Where is the bathroom? How about the cafeteria?) can help to prevent your new hire from feeling like theyve stepped off the plane in a foreign country without knowing the language. Talk to them about how your school handles early dismis sals, and clue them in on some of the cultural quirks that exist within the institution. Is there slang that they should know? What about abbreviations or acronyms? Even these tiny details can make the transition much easier to navigate.Keep lines of communication openNew teachers need resources, and should feel like they have a support system to lean on should they require assistance. Talk to your new hires about where they can go if they need help. Is there information online that they may find useful? How about handbooks or other materials? If you dont have a mentoring program in place, are there certain teachers who know the ropes and would be willing to chat if necessary? Providing this kind of information can help a new teacher to feel significantly less lost.Lastly, its important to check in on new teachers regularly. The school day is busy and flies by, and its easy to let a new hire get swept away in the rush of the day. But make it a point to check in, answer any questions that may have come up, and provide reassurance and support. This is extremely helpful, particularly for someone who may not have much experience in the field.What do you do to help new teachers get comfortable? Let us know in the commentsImage monkeybusinessimages/Bigstock.com