How to Market Your JD Post-Graduation Strategies

Congratulations! You should be proud of earning your JD! You should be proud of earning your JD! Now what? Now what?

Take Control of Your Career Destiny Be pro-active Be pro-active Prepare Now – Be Your Best Self Advocate Prepare Now – Be Your Best Self Advocate Transferable Skills Transferable Skills Professional Tool Kit Professional Tool Kit Resources Resources Build Your Network Build Your Network

Tough Economy It will happen again… It will happen again… To practice or not to practice law? To practice or not to practice law? What you do now will not be your “forever” career opportunity. What you do now will not be your “forever” career opportunity. What can you do now? What can you do now? Market your strengths! Market your strengths!

Be Organized Set up reasonable job search goals during bar prep. Set up reasonable job search goals during bar prep. “Finding a job is a full-time job!” “Finding a job is a full-time job!” Give yourself action steps and deadlines. Give yourself action steps and deadlines. If you are not sitting for the bar you can start now. If you are not sitting for the bar you can start now.

Self Reflection What do you want? What do you want? What are your strengths? What are your strengths? What are your values? What are your values? The more clarity you have, the better you will empower your network to assist you. The more clarity you have, the better you will empower your network to assist you.

Assessments Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Strong Interest Inventory Strong Interest Inventory You can take these online $20/per assessment. You can take these online $20/per assessment. You can schedule a personal results interpretation with Caroline. You can schedule a personal results interpretation with Caroline. These can help you establish what you are interested in and how your personality plays a role in your career satisfaction and success. These can help you establish what you are interested in and how your personality plays a role in your career satisfaction and success.

Your To-Do List Network with alumni Network with alumni –Join the IUAA –Are you a member of the alumni association at your undergrad (Masters, PhD) school? –Local bar associations –Job shadow –Informational interview –Volunteer

Personal Newsletter Send a newsletter via post or Send a newsletter via post or Your pitch Your pitch –I earned my law degree. –What are you looking for? –What do you do well? –Can you introduce me to others? –Ask for help. –You may get graduation gifts!

Business Cards Vista Print online Vista Print online Kinkos, Word template Kinkos, Word template Name, JD, phone, Name, JD, phone, Keep it professional Keep it professional Important tool Important tool

Job Research What else is out there? What else is out there? Symplicity Symplicity OCPD staff OCPD staff Alumni Alumni Lawyers in your network Lawyers in your network Friends & family Friends & family Publications: IBJ, Indiana Lawyer, etc. Publications: IBJ, Indiana Lawyer, etc.

Transferable Skills Legal – research, writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, mediation, analysis, contracts, etc. Legal – research, writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, mediation, analysis, contracts, etc. Adaptive – professionalism, work ethic, time management, multi-tasking, etc. Adaptive – professionalism, work ethic, time management, multi-tasking, etc. Technical – computer proficiency, foreign language, web development, etc. Technical – computer proficiency, foreign language, web development, etc.

Have you considered… Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane –Contract Specialists –Environmental –Logistics –

Earn Money Now Contract Law Firms Contract Law Firms See OCPD Online Resources for a list See OCPD Online Resources for a list Register for multiple temp firms Register for multiple temp firms Other temporary options… Other temporary options…

Beyond Law Firms Higher education Higher education IU, Ivy Tech, Community Colleges IU, Ivy Tech, Community Colleges Chronicle of Higher Education Chronicle of Higher Education Private high schools and college prep schools Private high schools and college prep schools

Health Care Arena Human Resources Human Resources Administration Administration Contracts Contracts Procurement Procurement Logistics Logistics Compliance Compliance

Think Locally Volunteering could lead to contract work and full-time employment. Volunteering could lead to contract work and full-time employment. What’s in your area? What’s in your area? Go to the local Chamber of Commerce. Go to the local Chamber of Commerce. Attend Chamber events. Attend Chamber events.

Non-Profits Fundraising is hot right now! Fundraising is hot right now! Think like a lawyer: Think like a lawyer: –Building relationships –Negotiation –Contracts –Wills, estates, trusts –Tax

Advice Let OCPD help you! Let OCPD help you! Don’t be a well-kept secret. Don’t be a well-kept secret. Get out there and meet people. Get out there and meet people. Think about what you want. Think about what you want. Know what you do well. Know what you do well. Be persistent. Be persistent.

Remember No matter how well you plan…you don’t always have control. No matter how well you plan…you don’t always have control. Think Strengths Not Weaknesses. Think Strengths Not Weaknesses. It’s not always about You when you don’t get a job. It’s not always about You when you don’t get a job. Persistence trumps talent. Persistence trumps talent. Make excellent mistakes. Make excellent mistakes. Leave an imprint. Leave an imprint. Have courage. Have courage. Change your mind…it’s OK. Change your mind…it’s OK.