Yesterday, my esteemed colleague William Peacock, Esq. gave you the “glass is half-empty” view of OCI. But we all know, where there is a glass half empty, there is also a glass half-full.

So, if you will bear with  us, here is another take on good old OCI.

Resume Tips WP Got Right As far as the resume tips go, William was spot on with some like avoiding typos, unnecessary objectives, pink paper and a freaky format. Regarding his “lame lists” I would take it a step further – in addition to writing them in plain English, try to drive descriptions by the results you’ve achieved. I Beg To Differ, Mr. Peacock WP writes that extraneous expertise has no place on a resume, and I couldn’t disagree more. At this point you probably don’t have much legal experience, and that’s ok – that’s why you are participating in OCI right? (And presumably BigLaw wants newbies so they can mold them). The only thing that will distinguish you is your personality, which will come through in your previous experiences and interests. Previous ProfessionFor some, law is a second profession. To not include previous non-law related work experience would be a huge disservice to yourself. First, your previous experience could steer you into a related practice area. Second, how else would you explain that huge gap of time on your resume? Third, you could talk about what made you want to change careers to become a lawyer. Intriguing InterestsLawyers have to be the most interesting people that I’ve ever met – every single lawyer I have met has another interest, but practicing law is the “safe” option. If you have non-lawyerly interests, don’t be afraid to include them on your resume. Here’s an example: a friend in law school was a college radio personality (DJ) and included that on his resume. Is that relevant to practicing law? No. Did he have amazing grades? Mediocre, at best. What did every single interviewer ask him about? Being a college radio DJ! Did he get a job? Yes, and ones far better than one would expect based on grades alone. OCI is not for everyone, but don’t be discouraged. You never know when the person reviewing resumes grew up in the same small town, was in the same organization or has a similar interest. All interviewers are looking for are personalities that they can tolerate for twelve hours a day. It can’t hurt to give it a try. Related Resources:

  • 2L Tips: Grades, Jobs, and Externships (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates Blog)
  • Desperate 2Ls Treat BigLaw Job Search Like a Full-Time Job (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates Blog)
  • OCI Tips for Law Students to Stand Out, Look Good (FindLaw’s Greedy Associates Blog)

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