Preface

• Author: Wendy Griesdorf
• Pages: 5-7

Preface v

Preface

This book is based on my experiences as an Onta rio lawyer, conversations I have had with law f‌irm re-

cruiters across Canada, comments from law students, and lectures I gave and advice I provided while

I was director of Career Services at Osgoode Hall Law School from 2001 to 2003. The book aims to

demystify law f‌irm recr uitment and help Canadian law students and associates, primar ily those who

intend to practise in common law jurisdictions, in their job searches.

Pursuing a summer, art icling, or associate position is similar to working on a f‌ile as a lawyer.

First, written advocacy is required for your resumé and cover letter, and oral advocacy is required for

your interview. Second, you must research your potential employers in much the same way as you will

one day research the law for a client. Third, there are recruitment ru les that function in a manner that

is similar to statutory regul ations. If you do not adhere to recruitment rules, you will almost cert ainly

run into signif‌icant roadblocks. And four th, the networking you will need to do in the course of your

job search is much like a series of interlocutory motions. Although interlocutory motions sometimes

seem like time-consuming distractions, they can enable you to accomplish your client’s goals, just as

networking can help you to achieve your goal for f‌inding a job.

To continue the analogy, when you begin to form your career plan, you ought to start with the

equivalent of an initial client interv iew. In other words, you should begin by interviewi ng yourself in

the manner of a lawyer interview ing a client. The purpose of this self-interview is to better under-

stand your values and your short- and long-term goals. Ask yourself where you want to be next year,

and where you want to be f‌ive years from now. A good lawyer never pursues a client’s case without

meeting with the c lient f‌irst in order to ascertain the client’s objectives. The lawyer w ill have several

more meetings of this nature with t he client as the f‌ile evolves. Students go through a similar process

when developing their personal career f‌ile.

In addition to providing advice on the recruitment process, this book aims to help the student

develop a better understanding of her career preferences and work ethic. A good job for one student

may not be a good job for another. This may sound like a truism, but it is worth remembering. Each

student is responsible for understanding, and steadfastly pursuing, his personal goals. The strengt h