Young law school graduates can never start too early in positioning themselves as authoritative voices in their field.  Becoming a successful and sought after attorney isn’t just about your law school grades and activities; it is also about how your peers view you.  Below are few suggestions on how you can begin to manage your reputation and mold your professional image, even if you are still struggling to land your first job:

Get accomplished and involved in the bigger world using your attorney skills and knowledge and then let others know about it.  Even if you are still struggling to land your first official job outside of law school, consider volunteering your time as an attorney to non-profits in your local area.  Don’t just look at the big non-profits, take a look at the grassroots organizations and find out how you can use your skills to help them. 

Start blogging and writing articles about your profession.  Got an opinion about the latest developments in the legal industry, take the time to write about it from a young attorney’s perspective.  Keep it professional and interesting and you could grow quite a following.

Get plugged into social media as a young professional attorney.  Online connections aren’t just about staying in touch with family and friends; take the time to begin to build an online network with others in your profession. Don’t forget to connect your blog and tweets to your online accounts such as LinkedIn.

Gain exposure the old-fashioned way…via print.  Consider submitting articles to print publications that target other attorneys.  Remember, many people still get their news from offline sources, make sure you make your presence known in those offline mediums.