Law Student Lawyer Career Planning & Development Evaluation Tool

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Samson Pope
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1 David W. Tate, Esq. San Francisco These materials are updated periodically this version is dated May 23, 2013 The following primary steps outline a law student lawyer career planning and development evaluation tool. These materials are intended to assist law students, lawyers and the people who are mentoring or helping them to: (1) Evaluate and organize the law student or lawyer s background, interests, qualifications and goals; (2) Prepare a career plan; and (3) Outline future development or steps in development to achieve the career plan. These materials are a work in progress as law student and lawyer career planning and development and the opportunities and resources that might be available are constantly changing. Please note that this is an early partial version of this tool actually it is the first version but I decided to make it available anyway. Later versions will be more fully developed as I add new provisions and augment the existing materials to reflect new developments and resources. Below I have also included text fields which should allow you to insert comments and information. If you insert text you should save the modified form under a different file name. I anticipate that you may want to refer to or modify your comments and information from time to time. Of course you can also type or record your comments and information on a separate document. You will also note that I have tried to make this tool useful for both law students and existing lawyers not all of the steps or questions will be applicable for everyone who is using these materials. You should pick and chose the steps or questions that are applicable. You might also find that some of your comments and information that you input may overlap or be somewhat duplicative in response to some of the steps or questions. I recommend that you input the overlapping or duplicative comments and information anyway. And, as you consider the future while answering some of the following questions I encourage you to consider short-, mid-, and longer-term viewpoints such as 1-3 years, 5-7 years, and longer-term. David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 1 of 7

2 1. Please describe the primary reasons why you decided to attend law school and pursue a career as a lawyer. 2. Please describe why you decided to attend the (name) School of Law. 3. Have you completed one of the self-assessment tools such as Myers-Briggs, Highlands Ability, or other tool in the past 1 to 4 years? If so, what results did the assessment reach? Do you agree with those results, and if not, why not? 4. In what cities and states have you lived? 5. Where and when have you attended schools other than law school, and what were your primary areas of study? David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 2 of 7

3 6. What law school classes have you completed and what were your grades or how well did you do in each class? 7. What law related classes, seminars, conferences, training or other similar things have you completed outside of law school? 8. What law-related classes are you currently taking or will you take next or in the future? 9. What outside-of-classroom law school or career development activities have you done or are you planning on doing? 10. What do you like about law school or being a lawyer? David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 3 of 7

4 11. What do you not like or wish was different about law school or being a lawyer? 12. If you are a lawyer or have worked in the legal or law practice environment, in what practice areas have you practiced including when and where, and in which practice areas are you currently practicing? 13. Please describe the jobs or other positions, paid or not paid, that you have had that you believe are important or relevant to your legal education, development and career. 14. Describe as best as you can your current career plan, including but not limited to the areas of legal and non-legal practice or work in which you believe that you would like to be involved. 15. Please discuss how your law profession related career plans have changed over time (if in fact they have changed), when they have changed, and why they have changed. David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 4 of 7

5 16. Geographically where would you like to live and work in the future? 17. Have you considered the availability of jobs and employment now and in the future in the work or practice areas that interest you? If so, what have you found or concluded? 18. Have you considered the amount of money that you will need or would like to earn, and the likely pay in your work or practice areas of interest? If so, what have you found or concluded? 19. In what type of work environment would you like to work? This is a broad question that might for example take into consideration the number of hours and days per week that you want to work, your outside interests, the kind or type of people with whom you would like to work, family and other people in your life, workplace congeniality or support, whether you will be required to be a rainmaker, contingency v. hourly pay cases, client types, case types, etc. 20. What questions and issues are you currently concerned about and/or would like to discuss? David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 5 of 7

6 21. Do you have a current resume and typical cover letter, or multiple resumes and cover letters? Please provide them, and let s discuss the wording and possible options or alternatives. 22. Please discuss and let s explore specific things for you to do or complete so that you have the qualifications that you will need to accomplish your career plans and goals including but not limited to obtaining your desired work, employer or employment, client(s), and living situation. 23. Please discuss and let s explore the actions that you can take to develop your reputation and meet the people who could help you to achieve your career plans and goals. 24. Please discuss and let s explore the lawyer career, job search, and development resources that are available, and that you have used or know about or are considering using. David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 6 of 7

7 25. A few comments about risk and uncertainty management. You might find it worthwhile to record some of your thoughts about possible significant uncertainties or changes in situation that could develop relating to your career and development plans and goals, and the options for dealing with those risks and uncertainties if they do arise. Changes do occur in the law and legal services marketplace; different and better opportunities do arise; and sometimes people just decide that they want a different work or living situation. I hope that you have found these materials helpful. Regards, David Tate, Esq. David W. Tate, Esq., , Page 7 of 7

Lake Forest College. The Student Intern Guide What all Students Need to Know. Career Advancement Center

Lake Forest College. The Student Intern Guide What all Students Need to Know. Career Advancement Center The Student Intern Guide What all Students Need to Know Connect with the Career Advancement Center for career guidance and support. Lake Forest College Career Advancement Center www.lakeforest.edu/careers