Job
candidates are always looking for a way to stand out, especially when the
competition is fierce. For
experienced attorneys and even for some with only a couple of years experience,
becoming an expert in their field can be the one thing that helps them get an
edge over the competition when applying for limited legal jobs. Now, make no mistake, being an expert
doesn’t require that you know everything about your field; but it does require
that you know more than most. So
how does an attorney become an expert?
- Remain
in the public eye. No, that
doesn’t mean appearing on reality TV shows or writing about your personal life
on a personal blog; but it could mean publishing an article in a local paper or
writing a column that appears on an online blog or network that targets people
in your field or even consumers of legal services.
- Publish
a book. Have you worked in your
field for an extended period of time? If so, you may have enough experience to
share some of your knowledge with the public. We’re not saying to give legal advice through a book,
because that would be a no-no; but you may be able to help the public
understand the rights they have under the law. And that’s just one example.
- Get
to the front of the room at conferences and workshops. Find out how you can volunteer to speak
or teach at conferences that tackle legal issues you understand.
The above
suggestions are just a few of the ways attorneys can create expert status for
themselves and increase their chances of landing a job. By engaging in these activities many
employers may have an increased respect for you and your work compared with
your peers and by extension may be more willing to offer you the job.