by Beverly Aarons
30. June 2009 08:26
Many attorneys are finding that the job search is taking longer than expected and they are facing some tough competition as they vie for the best positions out there. Even if you don't have a lot of experience or haven't worked at the "biggest and brightest" law firms there are strategies that you can give you an edge over the competition. One strategy is to increase your exposure and professional image by writing legal related articles. We're not talking about law reviews, but more mainstream articles that can be found in legal industry magazines, legal newspapers, business journals and legal webzines. Many law firms and other employers who may need to hire attorneys read the articles in these publications and might be impressed if you publish an article there. Here's what you should do:
1. Pick a topic that you're passionate about and that you have some knowledge and/or experience in. You don't need to be an expert; but you do need to do your homework and present the article with a unique slant. Make sure that the article requires that you interview respected experts in the legal industry.
2. Send a query letter to multiple publications, pitching the story you want to write about. You can find out how to write a query letter here http://www.poewar.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter/.
3. Once the publication approves your article it's time to contact important legal industry contacts to interview for the article. Make sure you pick people that you want to build a relationship with. When you contact them for an interview, mention which publication you're writing for and emphasize the fact that you want to receive their expert opinion for the article. Also, assure them that you won't take much of their time and make sure that the interview process doesn't take longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
By writing articles for several publications you can access powerful industry players and begin building relationships you can leverage to your advantage in the job market. Stay tuned for more blogs on how to make it in a tough job market.