INDIANAPOLIS—Employers have scaled back from law school recruitment, making it the most difficult it’s been in decades for students to secure post-graduation jobs.

“When compared with years past, recent law graduates have their work cut out for them when it comes to finding a job, whether it’s due to smaller entering associate classes or more cost-conscious clients,” according to Ursula Furi-Perry, author of the recently released guide Your First Year as a Lawyer Revealed. “That means law grads must be proactive about their job search, present a professional image, set themselves apart from other candidates, and employ smart networking techniques.”

In her book, Furi-Perry shares several strategies to help law grads achieve these goals. Her advice includes the following tips:

• Join a professional association. You’ll keep up with news and trends in your profession, get the chance to attend continuing legal education and professional and social events, meet others in your field and get the opportunity to network. Plus, many professional associations maintain their own job boards, job listings and other career resources for members.
• Consider nontraditional legal employers. Interested in practicing criminal law, for example? Don’t just send your resume to criminal defense firms; check out career options in prosecution, public defense or other social justice employers.
• Align yourself with a trusted partner who can help you pinpoint potential leads that may be a good fit for your skill set. A career coach, counselor or recruiter who specializes in the legal field may be able to offer you valuable insights and advice and introduce you to potential employers who are hiring.

• Project a professional and polished image—in person, in writing and online. Clients, supervisors and potential employers alike are impressed by confidence, diligence and professionalism.

• Be proactive about your job search. Don’t expect your first job to fall into your lap: network, highlight your marketable skills and treat job-hunting as you would treat a job itself.

Additional guidance and information about legal careers can be found in Your First Year as a Lawyer Revealed, which published this month. It is available at Amazon.com, in all major bookstores and from the publisher (www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST).

The author, Ursula Furi-Perry, is a nationally published legal writer, attorney and Director of Academic Support at the Massachusetts School of Law. She is the author of eight books, including Law School Revealed. To schedule an interview with Furi-Perry, contact Selena Dehne.

JIST, America’s Career Publisher, is a division of EMC/Paradigm Publishing. As the leading publisher of job search, career and occupational information, JIST empowers today’s workforce and students to achieve long-lasting rewards in their careers.