Introduction
This is an article in a series of articles called Your Ultimate Guide to Law Student Recruitment. Don’t forget to read the previous article here: Do Grades Matter for the Law Student Recruit?
Okay. You participated in the law student recruit and, after all your hard work, didn’t get a single interview. I get it. It’s incredibly disappointing. I’ve been there too. In my 1L year, not one firm offered me an interview, and I felt crushed. If you’re in the same situation, know that you’re not alone.
What do you do now? First, take a moment to process. If you need to cry it out, treat yourself to something nice, or bury yourself in schoolwork, that’s okay. Allow yourself to feel disappointed. Once you’ve processed it, take a deep breath and remind yourself that this doesn’t define you or your future in law.
For those of you participating in the 1L or 2L recruit, remember that with only a handful of positions and hundreds of candidates, it’s not surprising that most of you won’t get a spot or even an interview. If you’re participating in the articling recruit, know that there are plenty of other chances for you down the road. A lot of students, including some of my friends, secured articling positions at the end of 3L or after graduation. So don’t give up. Dust yourself off and get to work. Here’s what to focus on after missing out on interviews:
Review Your Resume and Cover Letter
If you didn’t land an interview, start by reviewing your resume and cover letter (and other application materials) to see if there’s anything you can improve. Check for any red flags like addressing the wrong firm, grammatical errors, or typos. Then, look at readability: Are your documents clear and easy to navigate? Are you using strong, active verbs to showcase your skills and experiences?
It can also be helpful to have a friend or a lawyer review your documents. Fresh eyes may catch things you missed and offer a new perspective on how to make your application stronger.
Work on Your Grades
If you read my blog on “Do Grades Matter in the Law Student Recruit?” then you’ll know that grades matter in the early stages of the recruit because some firms use them as an initial filter to manage the volume of applications they receive. If your grades are holding you back, invest time in improving them. Start paying close attention in class, do the optional research papers/assignments, and consider joining a study group to help you stay on top of things. Working on your grades now will benefit you in future recruits and set a solid foundation for the rest of law school.
Gain More Work or Volunteer Experience
Work and volunteer experiences help set you apart from your peers. While you may share similar classes, grades, and career goals, your experiences make you unique. If your resume could benefit from more work experience, think about jobs or volunteer roles you could pursue to make yourself more appealing to firms. Preferably, you’d want to choose work in something that’s law-related or law-adjacent. Here are a few ideas:
- Apply to work as a legal assistant at a law firm even if you can’t get a law student position.
- Volunteer at your school’s legal clinic.
- Get involved in student governance or work with a labour union.
- Apply to sit on a board or tribunal.
- Become a research assistant for a professor.
Get creative and keep an open mind. There are countless ways for you to gain relevant experience that will increase your chances of getting an interview in the recruit.
Step Up Your Networking Game
When all else fails…network, network, network! Not all firms participate in law student recruitment. For example, smaller firms. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t hiring. Sometimes a cold email or an invitation for coffee can lead to an interview.
Take advantage of networking events at your law school or events hosted by law firms. Invite summer students and lawyers to meet over coffee or lunch. In a small profession like law, connections are powerful. A good network can open doors for you, so start building one now. Even if it doesn’t immediately land you a job or an interview, those connections will serve you later on e.g. in the next recruit.
Get Excited for Summer
If you didn’t get interview offers, look on the bright side: you have an entire summer free! No document review, no research, no drafting…just time to recharge. You can work (no judgment), travel, spend time with friends, or rot in bed. Enjoy the freedom because, once you start working, free summers are a thing of the past.
I didn’t get a summer job in 1L or 2L, and that turned out to be a blessing because I got to enjoy my last few summers before diving into a full-time job. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those summers for anything. Once you’re working, you really only get 2 weeks of vacation (I cry) so make the most of this time.
Conclusion
Missing out on interviews can feel like a setback, but it’s really not. All it is, is a learning opportunity so use this time wisely. Take steps to strengthen your application, build new skills, and expand your network. This is your chance to grow, and every experience you build now will contribute to your future success as a lawyer. Keep pushing forward and don’t be discouraged. You’ve got this!
This is an article in a series of articles called Your Ultimate Guide to Law Student Recruitment.
Next article: Introduction to Law Firm Interviews
Previous article: Do Grades Matter for the Law Student Recruit?
Start at the beginning: Law Student Recruitment
