Give Yourself the Competitive Edge

The Skills You Need to Be Competitive in Today’s Workplace

By Dawn Rosenberg McKay:

Today’s work place is very competitive. You will need to have a variety of skills that will give you the competitive edge you need to succeed.

To be competitive in today’s work place you must be able to:

• Listen Well: Good listening skills make you more productive, help you get along better with others, and allow you to work better in a team-based environment.
• Know How to Use a Computer: No matter what your job is, it’s likely you will need to use a computer. It’s important to make sure your computer skills are up-to-date as most work is done online these days.

• Write Effectively: Whether your job requires you to write short memos or lengthy reports, you must be able to communicate well in writing.
• Deal With Crises at Work Being able to solve problems quickly and seamlessly can set you apart from others.
• Manage Your Time: Learning how to manage your time effectively will allow you to complete projects in a timely fashion.

One can look for tips online at forums such as Watercooler at legalforce, msn groups and yahoo! answers.

9 Hot Legal Careers for Non-Lawyers

When most people consider a career in the legal field, they think of lawyers. However, a number of satisfying, lucrative legal career opportunities exist that do not require a time-consuming, expensive legal education.

The legal market is thriving no matter what the recent trends indicate from sites such as Legalforce, and Findlaw. New regulations, economic growth, advances in technology and rising caseloads have fueled the demand for a growing range of talented legal professionals. Below is an overview of several rewarding legal career opportunities.

1. E-Discovery Professional

Electronic discovery (“e-discovery”) is a $2 billion industry and e-discovery professionals are at the heart of it. These tech-savvy legal professionals help identify, preserve and manage electronically stored information (ESI) in litigation. Recent changes in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and growing volumes of ESI have given rise to this new profession to address the electronic realities of a digital age. The field is predicted to reach $21.8 billion by the year 2011, creating an unprecedented demand for e-discovery skills and pushing salaries to new levels.

2. Legal Nurse Consultant

Nurses seeking to expand their career opportunities beyond traditional clinical roles can apply their expertise to the growing and lucrative field of legal nurse consulting. According to CareerBuilder.com, legal nurse consulting is one of the ten hottest careers today. Legal nurse consultants advise attorneys in medically-related issues of the law and earn up to $200 an hour.

3. Litigation Support Professional

The increased automation of legal processes in the last decade has spawned a new occupation in the legal field: the litigation support professional (LSP). This cutting-edge profession combines the legal knowledge of paralegals with the technical skills of IT professionals. They are head hunted online on sites such as Legalforce etc…

4. Paralegal

Paralegals (also called legal assistants) rank among one of the fastest growing professions in todays’ economy as overburdened attorneys delegate an ever-widening scope of tasks. Voted as one of the 20 top jobs in America by CNN. Money, opportunities in the paralegal field are expanding as clients seek to reduce the cost of legal services. Paralegal compensation is also rising as paralegals assume higher-level responsibilities, assume larger management roles and operate with greater professional autonomy.

5. Trial Consultant

As technology continues to re-shape todays’ legal landscape, a new profession has evolved to assist attorneys with their technology needs at trial to give them an advantage in the courtroom. Drawing on the fields of psychology, sociology and the law, trial consultants employ legal technology to help a jury understand complex concepts and help attorneys communicate important themes.

6. Mediator

With litigation costs skyrocketing, more individuals and corporations are turning to mediators (also known as an arbitrators or conciliators) to settle their legal disputes outside the courtroom. As the field of alternative dispute resolution expands, mediators are growing in number and popularity.

7. Legal Secretary

Increased demand for legal services has sparked opportunities for legal secretaries (also called administrative assistants) in law firms and corporate legal departments across the country. Advances in law office technology and organizational restructuring have allowed legal secretaries to assume greater responsibilities.

8. Compliance Specialist

With the recent passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which prompted the enactment of a host of new regulations, regulatory compliance is one of the hottest legal career options today. Compliance specialists work for corporations and consulting firms, coordinating and monitoring the myriad of governmental, regulatory and compliance documents required by new changes in federal law.

9. Court Reporter

Court reporters, also known as stenographers, record court testimony, speeches, statements and legal proceedings to create a verbatim written transcript of the spoken word. Using special stenographic equipment, court reporters transcribe at rates exceeding 200 words per minute. Court reporters also perform broadcast captioning and real-time reporting for webcasts. Fewer people are entering the profession, creating a court reporter shortage and boosting salaries. Some court reporters earn over six figures, according to Forbes.com.

8 Ways to Jump Start a Legal Career

So, you are considering a legal career but don’t know where to begin. The legal services industry is exploding and legal employers are willing to pay top-dollar for competent professionals with in-demand skill sets.

Below are eight tips for jump starting a career in the legal field, whether you are a student evaluating career opportunities or an experienced professional transitioning into the legal field.

1. Educate Yourself

One of the best ways to put your legal career in drive is to advance your education. To get ahead in some specialty areas you may need an advanced degree or professional certification. For example, paralegals and legal nurse consultants are obtaining certifications in their field to demonstrate a commitment to the profession and enhance their professional credibility. For lawyers employed in certain niche fields such as tax, an LL.M. from a law school might enhance employability. Legal secretaries with bachelors’ degrees may have an edge over those without a college education. More information of law schools and ratings can be had from LegalForce and other sites.

2. Leverage Your Expertise

If you have experience or background in another field such as accounting, nursing, engineering or the physical sciences, you can leverage your expertise into new career opportunities in the law, either through consulting or through specialization in your niche area. For example, a strong foundation in engineering or the physical sciences may give you an edge in the field of intellectual property, a background in nursing may open opportunities to work as a legal nurse consultant, and a CPA or accounting degree may open doors in the area of tax law.

3. Perform a Self-Assessment

Before embarking on a career path in the law, it is important to conduct an honest self-assessment to determine if a career in the law is a good fit for you. Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses and objectively review your experience and credentials to determine if a career in the law is for you. Skills required for all legal professionals include strong writing and communication skills, strict adherence to deadlines, organizational ability, attention to detail and strong technology skills.

4. Research The Field

Career disillusionment is not uncommon in the legal profession, particularly among lawyers and paralegals. Therefore, it is wise to read literature and explore websites for information relating to the qualifications, duties, educational requirements, salaries and job outlook relating to the legal position in which you are interested. You might also visit the career center of a local law school to learn more about law school and the legal field. Talking to lawyers, law students and other legal professionals about the nature of the profession will also increase your knowledge base.

5. Cultivate Professional Contacts

One of the best ways to learn about the legal profession in general and job opportunities in particular is through word of mouth. You should network feverously to gain professional contacts and learn about the profession. Contact area law firms, corporate legal departments and legal staffing agencies. Attend local chapter meetings, conferences, seminars, and luncheons and talk to people who work in the field to learn more about the profession and available job openings.

6. Become Tech-Savvy

As technological advancements revolutionize the legal industry, it is important to become adept at the technology applications pertinent to the field you wish to enter. Tech-savvy lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries, litigation support personnel and other legal professionals have a significant advantage in todays’ legal marketplace.

7. Locate a Mentor

Finding a mentor with experience in the legal profession you would like to enter is a great way to jump-start a career in that area. A mentor can educate you regarding the benefits, pitfalls, job prospects, employment outlook, salary and daily tasks of the profession. A mentor can also guide you through the transition to a legal career, arm you with knowledge about the field, refer you new clients and point you toward new opportunities. To find a mentor, contact your local bar association. Many mid-size and large law firms also have established mentoring programs which assign summer interns, law clerks and junior associates to an experienced associate or partner.

8. Shadow a Legal Professional

Job shadowing is a useful career tool that involves following in the footsteps of another professional for a short period of time, usually one or two days. Job shadowing allows you to learn more about the realities of the legal field by observing a professional on the job. Shadowing gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the job, gain a glimpse of a typical work day and make connections in the field. Shadowing also benefits the employer, allowing them to scout out new talent. To find a job shadowing position near you, visit job shadowing websites such as Career Connector or LegalForce or LawCrossing. Some legal career schools also offer job shadowing programs.

20 Tips for Advancing Your Legal Career

By Sally Kane, About.com:

Want to take your career to the next level?

Here are 20 tips to advance your legal career.

1. Proactively seek new assignments and challenges.

2. Contribute to the company’s bottom line.

3. Avoid placing limits on the scope of your position.

4. Cultivate relationships with people in power.

5. Develop and implement more efficient work processes.

6. Become technologically proficient.

7. Raise your company profile through networkingin seminars and online via Linkedin, LegalForce and others, committees & outside assignments.

8. Become the go-to person in a niche area of expertise.

9. Advance your education and/or obtain specialty certification.

10. Become a top producer, no matter what the yardstick (quotas, billable hours).

These are just a few tips to help you get started the rest is up to you!

Why Should I Hire You? Critical Job-Hunting Strategies

by Mariette Durack Edwards The other day I was speaking with a young fellow who had been laid off from his job at a large consulting firm. His education from a top law school and work experience were exceptional so I was surprised to learn he had been out of work for eight months. “Why so long?” I asked him. He launched into a list of things he couldn’t do, experience he didn’t have, and technology he didn’t know. All of these deficiencies plus “the economy” were why he was still looking for a job. It wasn’t until I asked him what he wanted to do in his next job that a glimmer of passion entered his voice.

Being out of work for an extended period is certain to erode even the most confident job-seeker. That’s why it’s so important that you stay focused on your strengths and how your special qualities, skills and abilities can benefit a potential employer. Remember you are the only person in the world who knows everything about what you know!

Here are a few suggestions to help you stay on track with your job-search.These suggestions shall help you out should you need to seek online employment at sites such as Findlaw and LegalForce.

Never argue for your limitations
It’s easy to start thinking in terms of what’s missing if you’ve been out of work for a long time but arguing for your limitations will never bring you the work you seek. Focus instead on how you can position your unique skills and abilities to support a potential employer’s goals. Pay particular attention to the things that are so easy for you that they seem unimportant.

Fill in the gaps
Brag about your efforts instead of shining a spotlight on what you don’t have.

Think of yourself in terms of results
People buy solutions. A client who is a voice-over talent left this message recently for a customer she wanted to win back. “Hello, Bill. This is Jane Doe. I was the voice of Top Notch News during the three or four years when the network had its highest ratings. How can I help you regain that position? Call me at …” She got a request to submit her demo reel the next day. How will hiring you move others closer to their goals?

Ask good questions
Craft a series of questions that are open ended, thought provoking and position you in terms of results. Avoid directive questions that signal the answer you are looking for or require a yes/no response. Ask yourself, “What are the biggest questions I can ask in response to this opportunity?” For example, “What are the organization’s most important goals?” “How do you see this position impacting on the achievement of those goals?” “If I were offered the opportunity to work with your organization, what would you like me to accomplish in my first 90 days?”

Learn the art of selling
True selling is actually a wonderful process of learning about others and listening for an opportunity to serve through what you offer. It is the single most important tool in your job-search kit.

A Recession May Be a Time to Go Back to School

Q. You’ve been laid off and are having trouble finding another job. Should you consider applying to graduate school?

A. That depends on several things, including your industry, your long-term career goals and your financial situation.

If a graduate degree makes sense generally for your career, this period of unemployment could be seen as a window of opportunity, said Jeffrey A. Heath, a managing director of the Landstone Group in Manhattan, an affiliate of the recruitment firm MRINetwork.

“Let’s say you’ve spent 10 years in law and you want to stay in this career,” Mr. Heath said. “In a couple of years the market will be healthier and you will have your master’s degree,” he said.

Being unemployed for a prolonged period can take a psychological toll, Mr. Heath said. “People begin questioning their value, often for the first time in their lives. Knowing you’re working toward something will make you feel better.”

Graduate school can also be a way to reinvent yourself. If you have previously thought of going in another direction, now may be the time to do so, said Sean O’Neil, a principal of One to One Leadership, a recruiting and leadership training firm in Pelham, N.Y.

You will need contacts in any new profession, and graduate programs can help connect you with alumni working in that field, said Eileen Kohan, executive director of the career planning and placement center at the University of Southern California.

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