Virginia Lawyers Weekly

And what impact has the down economy had on lawyers just entering the market, or law students who are on the interview trail this fall?

Not surprisingly, anyone looking for that first job can expect a tighter market, according to law school placement officers around the state. The key to success, they said, may be how well a candidate presents him- or herself.

“Medium to large firms are ratcheting back,” said Laurie Neff, assistant director at the career services office at George Mason University’s law school. “They’ve all come out and said, ‘we’re just not hiring as we used to.’”

But that doesn’t mean the well is dry altogether. Rob Kaplan, associate dean at William & Mary’s law school, said he hasn’t seen a total hiring freeze. “We have not noticed any difference in the number of employers recruiting this fall, but the number of offers extended is clearly lower,” Kaplan said.

The effect of the tighter market is a premium on job interview skills, according to Kaplan. “Firms have raised the bar about what they expect to see in the interview process,” he said.

In a different market, a candidate with a lackluster presentation might be given the benefit of the doubt based on academic credentials. Not so today, said Kaplan. “My sense is that expectations have been ratcheted up.”

As the holiday season approaches, the medium and large firms are wrapping up their law school recruitment process, but smaller law offices have not weighed in yet. “Nobody knows how the economic downturn will impact small law firm hiring. Everybody assumes it will,” said Kaplan. “It’s too soon to know.”
Kaplan sees no increase in the numbers of experienced attorneys having to knock on doors for new positions. He said that it is a tradition for the law school career office to help graduates search for second jobs, but his phone isn’t ringing any more than usual.

“I have to say at least right now the volume and profile of graduates seeking our assistance have not changed,” he said.

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