Allen Matkins Careers’ Post

We are officially in 2L recruiting season - many firms have already started receiving direct applications for 2L summer programs, and many others are opening their portals this week. It is common for firms to conduct screener interviews virtually, or offer it as an option for students -- this comes with its own considerations. So, if you're a rising 2L (or any law student, or even a lateral for that matter), I hope these tips are helpful as you prepare for virtual interviews this summer This video is also featured on our Summer Associate Hub platform, alongside other top-notch advice to navigate the recruiting process and learn about BigLaw practice areas. #lawfirms #lawstudents #lawschool #biglaw

Navigate the tricky question of 'Why I Don't Want to Return to My Summer Firm' with confidence!  Get expert advice on crafting a strategic response to ensure a positive impact on your legal career. Read more! https://lnkd.in/gtVUf9pR #CareerAdvice #LegalJobSearch #InterviewTips #LawFirm #ProfessionalDevelopment

Your career goals will change, and what you thought was important often becomes insignificant. During law school, my wife and I kept a folder of every internship, clerkship, and baby-lawyer rejection letter we received. Allegedly, a local tavern would give students a free pint of beer for every rejection letter. I could have hosted an entire happy hour with our stack. There was a firm or two I really coveted - one of which was a labor and employment firm. My undergraduate degree was in business, and I thought that would be an exciting fit. I remember going to a presentation by one of the firm's partners - sweating with legitimate fever from a cold/flu - just so I could shake his hand and introduce myself. That firm sent me another rejection letter to add to the stack. Today, I am grateful I didn't get any of those positions. The ones I wanted would have been a bad fit. Instead, I got a job I did not expect from a firm I didn't know about before the interview. The folks at that firm mentored me and made me into the lawyer I am today. There's a lot to be said for the Yiddish expression “Der Mensch Tracht, Un Gott Lacht," which means "man plans and God laughs." To the younger lawyers, don't get hung up on what could have been. Make the best of your blessings today, and the more fitting opportunities to advance will find you tomorrow. #litigation #Louisiana #insurance

Law students, Yesterday I had an impromptu plea hearing. This is common in the busy world of criminal court. And it presented a wonderful learning opportunity for one of our nonrule interns. First, I made sure to get him up at counsel table for the change of plea. This allowed him to go over some of the documents that we were going to discuss at the change of plea hearing. It also gave him a chance to listen to the conversation between counsel. When the Court turned to the State to recite the terms and conditions of the Plea Agreement, I asked the Court if it was ok if the intern stood with me. Why? Because I want the intern to be acknowledged by the Court and I want the intern to mimic what I do. The intern was standing to my right and was able to see what I was reading and referencing during the time I addressed the Court. This is important because the intern needs to see what we do in Court before he does it. And the intern needs to get used to standing up when addressing the Court. Next year, our nonrule interns will be a rule interns. We have two such interns. And they will come into next summer knowing how to do many of the fundamental things we do as part of the job. This is important. They will have a full school year to decide if they want to continue down the path they are on, and if so, they will have real skills for the following summer. If not, they still have the skills as much of what they learned is transferable. Summer internships come to an end sooner rather than later. Our interns have crammed so much court time into their schedule and in the process have grown exponentially. #lawstudents

Curious about the differences between a 1L Judicial Externship and a 1L Diversity Summer Associate position?  Join our forum discussion to gain insights and make informed decisions about your legal career path. https://lnkd.in/eBDdYwWe #LawStudents #LegalInternships

It’s Summer Clerkship interviewing season! This is always an exciting time of year, when we get to meet with wonderful talent. Having been on the interviewing panels for many years I have seen a lot of young aspiring lawyers. Someone recently asked what tips I have for candidates. Here are my top 5: 🔴 Be your true, authentic self - don’t give answers to questions that you think we want to hear 🔴 Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable - it’s more likely to lead to genuine connection and leave a lasting impression 🔴 Ask the questions you actually want answers to (not the ones you think we want you to ask) - it will give you the information you need to help you make decisions 🔴 Give answers that enable us to get to know you - this is the whole point of the process! 🔴 Don’t forget to have clarity as to why you want to come to our firm (giving every firm you interview with the same answer will be seen for what it is - a rehearsed answer) Best of luck to all the candidates going through the process and just remember, there are many different pathways to a fulfilling legal career which are not contingent on a Summer Clerkship ⚖️

It's no secret that law student recruiting is continuing to move earlier and earlier each year. When I did OCI in 2015, it all happened in August. Then, some firms recruiting in June and July. Now, some firms were taking 2L applications in March of 1L. Some students had offers for 2L summer jobs before even securing a 1L summer job (true story). (This is the main reason Summer Associate Hub exists, to help students navigate this process, get educated earlier, and make genuine connections with firms.) So here is our prediction of what law firm student outreach is going to sound like in future years.... This one was fun to put together. #lawyers #lawfirms #lawschool #biglaw

Hiring lawyers is the biggest challenge that any law firm looking to grow will face. Here’s what to do: ✅ Accept that the challenge isn’t going away. The demographics are the demographics. You have an aging bar and fewer new lawyers being admitted. ✅ Invest in spending time at your local law schools. Go to career fairs, do workshops, bring donuts or volunteer to judge moot court. Get out of your office and onto campus. ✅ It’s vital for even small law firms to develop summer associate programs. Finding, identifying, and training law students is essential to building talent density in your firm. ✅ Build workplaces where younger lawyers want to work. ✅ Leverage technology to allow your lawyers to do more. ✅ Recruit, recruit, recruit. If you know someone is a good fit for your team go out and try and sign them. Don’t put it on someone else. You are the best ambassador for your firm. ✅ Like the housing market right now, you are probably going to have to pay above market to get what you want. The firms that can attract and retain talent are the ones that will win. Law firm leaders have to be intentional about prioritizing talent acquisition if they wish to survive.

Well this made my day yesterday... Got this message out of the blue from a 2L. No better feeling when building a business. Our content hub was made from the perspective of former law students - we saw a need for more engaging and informative content, and we created it. If you are a 1L, Summer Associate Hub should be a key part of your preparation for the 2L recruiting process starting in a few months. And if you are at a law school career services offices, join dozens of other schools who are sharing our *free* resources and programming with your students! #lawstudents #lawschool #lawfirms