Getting a Job
Unlike law schools that gave a neutral to positive review of prior work experience, we found no employers who didn't rate prior work experience as important.
Given some of the topics that we've discussed around lack of empathy and experience, having any work experience looks good on a resume.
If you survived or thrived other professional ecosystems, it's one less risk factor for an employer to consider. Particularly, service industry jobs are valued, as being a lawyer is a service industry job as we've mentioned before.Besides the experience, we learned that some employers prefer older employees as they believe they are less likely to turnover having more life experience and perhaps obligations like supporting families, etc. Those life “handcuffs” can keep you tied to the desk.
When asked if deciding between identical candidates on paper with one having work experience and one not, the universal answer was to take the person with more experience.
If you are reading this while in law school and have no prior work experience, please don't freak out. Our advice to you is the following:
1. Get great grades in law school.
2. Get out of the law school and do something like volunteer work to show good character.
3. Sign up for clinics and seminars to gain real-life legal experience.