Mary Kate Driscoll
312.321.4200
Cover Letter Tips
Resume Tips
Interview Tips
Summer Associate Tips
COVER LETTER TIPS
Overall Presentation of Cover Letter
- Include a cover letter, if possible.
- Keep it short (one page maximum).
- Do not repeat your resume within your letter.
RESUME TIPS
Overall Presentation of Resume
- Conservative is best.
- Use black ink on a good quality paper.
- Limit the number of fonts.
- Steer clear of adding pictures or graphics to your resume.
- Avoid overuse of emphasis (bold, italics, etc.).
- Limit your resume to one (preferable) or two pages.
- Use proper grammar and spelling (especially for technical terms).
- Keep contact information up to date.
- Include your current and permanent addresses.
- Provide your grade point average.
- List relevant technical and legal experiences, as well as publications you have authored.
- Give clear and concise descriptions of experiences along with the corresponding time period for each experience.
- Provide details of intellectual property experience, if any
- List additional experiences if space permits.
- Make certain your resume is a truthful reflection of your background and skills.
- Do not pad or embellish.
- Be aware that everything on your resume is open to inquiry.
INTERVIEW TIPS
Before the Interview
- Research the firm.
- Check for published cases.
- Search third party resources for published cases.
- Note attorneys who worked on the cases.
- Understand the factual backgrounds and legal arguments for each case.
- Know the history of the firm.
- Look into the firm's practice to see if the firm practices primarily litigation, prosecution or both.
- Attempt to determine the firm's major cases and clients.
- Utilize websites.
- Look up the bios of the attorneys with whom you are meeting, using the firm's website and third party resources.
- Search for press releases about the firm.
- Research trade journals.
- Ask those who work within the intellectual property field.
- Anticipate potential questions.
- Are there gaps in your resume? If so, why are they there?
- What do you have to offer the organization in terms of your greatest strengths?
- How did you overcome particular challenges in the past?
- How much contact will I get with clients?
- How does an intellectual property specialty firm differ from a general practice firm?
- Where do you see this organization going in the next year?
- Dress in a conservative suit.
- Arrive on time (or early).
- Be yourself (show your sense of humor), but keep it professional.
- Remember, lunch is part of the interview.
- Demonstrate your social skills by engaging the interviewer.
- Ask questions and listen to the answers.
- Ask follow-up questions.
- Ask questions of everyone who interviews you.
- Respond to the question being asked.
- If it's a vague question, ask the interviewer to be more specific
- If the interviewer remains vague, use the opportunity to highlight your strengths as they relate to the position.
- Do not talk excessively.
- Do not fidget or squirm.
- Do not state everything you have learned about the firm.
- Do not say anything negative about past employers.
- Do not ask about money or benefits on your first interview.
- Do not dwell on your negative qualities or experiences.
- Promptly send personalized thank you notes to key interviewers.
- Make sure to spell the firm and all interviewers' names correctly.
- Do not excessively contact the recruiting coordinator.
SUMMER ASSOCIATE TIPS
First Day Advice
- Pay attention to the recruiting coordinator.
- Realize that available resources (third party websites, copying, word processing, etc.) will be reviewed.
- Expect important staff to be introduced.
- Be aware that the coordinator controls work flow and feedback to the hiring committee.
- Meet your co-interns.
- Multiple heads are better than one, from remembering where the copier is to getting help on an assignment.
- The ability to work successfully in a group is a key factor in hiring decisions.
- Write the assignment down.
- Be knowledgeable about the assignment before you leave.
- Understand that only the assigning attorney really knows what he or she wants.
- Do not be afraid to ask questions.
- Go back for clarification, if necessary.
- Understand how much time you should spend and what resources you are able to use.
- Identify the applicable authorities.
- Obtain an example if possible.
- Know the deadline.
- If you are going to miss the deadline, inform the attorney ASAP.
- Do not miss a deadline to attend a social event.
- Do not try to juggle more projects than you can handle.
- Follow the rule of IRAC: Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion.
- Reread for logical analysis.
- Shepardize.
- Edit, edit and edit.
- Make sure the attorney obtains the completed assignment.
- Follow up with the attorney to make sure that he or she is satisfied and nothing else is needed.
- Get feedback from the attorney and respond to any criticism professionally.
- In the event of having made a mistake, apologize and volunteer to redo the project in whole or part.
- Work during business hours.
- Dress and act professionally at all times (including social events, when applicable).
- Act mature and do not gossip.
- Treat the staff better than the attorneys.
- Meet mid-level and senior associates as well as members of the hiring committee.
- Volunteer for projects.
- Report to the assigning attorney, unless otherwise directed.
- If you have a misunderstanding with an attorney, seek advice from the recruiting coordinator rather than talking about it to others.
- Would you be comfortable working long-term with the people you have interacted with thus far?
- How happy are the associates? The shareholders?
- Do you enjoy the work?
- What training and mentoring does the firm offer?
- Are there pro bono opportunities?
- Will you get the responsibility you are seeking?
- Can you and your family live happily where the firm is located?
- Can you afford the cost of living?
