Fadzayi Mahere Offers Career Guidance to Newly Graduated Lawyers
Popular lawyer and activist Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has given recent law graduates career advice.
Graduation season is upon us, with university and polytechnic students graduating after years of sleepless nights, assignments and exams.
As new graduates approach the job market, several are curious about what to do and what not to do. Taking to her X account, Mahere revealed that several Bachelor of Laws graduates had approached her seeking advice on how to approach the job market.
This is what she wrote:
Some newly minted law graduates darkened my door, seeking advice on how to approach the legal job market. Here are a few pointers that I shared:
1. Avoid the internship trap. Once you qualify to be registered as a legal practitioner, you must be able to make a case for a proper employment contract. Intern when you are a student. Once you graduate, close the deal. Yes, the market is brutal but that means you must exploit any opportunity you get to shine. Stand out.
2. Make sure you are a good fit. Conduct detailed research on the firms you apply to for employment. Understand their focus. Know the partners. Look up what cases the firm has taken on. Gather intelligence on what they do not like. Have a strong sense of their portfolio, values and philosophy. This will help you articulate why they must hire you.
3. You will be judged by your application letter. Address it to the senior or managing partner. Adopt a professional tone. Be concise. Format it properly. Include a line personal to that firm that summarizes your motivation for applying. Never send a blanket, impersonal email to all law firms. It will be ignored.
4. If possible, deliver your letter by hand in a white envelope. Type the addressee’s name onto the envelope. Ask the receptionist if you can make a 5-minute courtesy call to the managing partner to hand him or her the letter directly. Wear your best black suit and a crisp white shirt.
5. Prepare a one-page CV. Highlight skills relevant to the practice of law. Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
6. Be ready to demonstrate a strong grasp of the law, procedure and the mechanics of legal practice. You must show you are willing to learn but equally demonstrate that you have a steady foundation that they can build on.
7. Network as you search but don’t be annoying. Go to places where you are likely to meet potential employers like Rotary, Law Society gatherings, society clubs, the gym and church. In these settings, keep a constant eye out for opportunities to make a good professional impression. People tend to hire people they like.
All the best!
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The post Fadzayi Mahere Offers Career Guidance to New University Graduates appeared first on iHarare News.
