I was spending time with some young folks the other night. I heard a phrase which was new to me, but apparently not to the rest of the world. “C’s get degrees” has something to do with prioritizing the enjoyment of life, and physical and mental health, over stressing out to achieve high grades. Are the people who live by this adage low on ambition or high on life? I really don’t know. I suppose that it depends on your perspective.
At about the same time, I met a law student named Joe, who has a well-meaning mentor who I will call Dan. Dan gives Joe great advice from his perspective. Emphasis on the words “from his perspective.” Dan articled in Big Law and has always worked in Big Law. You know, the place where the “C’s get degrees” crowd does not hang out.
Dan tells Joe the following:
- It is vital that Joe article instead of going to the Law Practice Program (the “LPP”), because articling will look much better on his resume.
- If Joe qualifies through the LPP route, he will never be able to find a great job.
- He must article for a private practice firm, and not in-house or for the government.
- When it comes to choosing a firm to article with, the bigger the better, because once again, it will improve Joe’s resume.
All of Dan’s advice is excellent, especially if the goal is to become a Big Law lawyer, and it may even help Joe find a job in a smaller setting.
The problem is that Joe has been unable to find an articling position that Dan would consider suitable. None of the reasons for this reflect poorly on Joe, although some of them do not reflect that well on what many in the profession value. That leaves poor Joe convinced that the only way forward is to article with a certain type of firm, and unable to find a suitable job.
So, Joe called me. I told him that Dan’s is not the only perspective, and that if I were Joe, I would take the LPP program, qualify as a lawyer, and then worry about whether my resume would have looked better if I had articled at Big Law.
I also told him that he should build up his personal brand by writing, participating in professional organizations, and networking like crazy. Somewhere over the rainbow, there is a firm that will value what Joe has to bring to the table beyond a Big Law pedigree.
And finally, Joe should also think about whether Big Law is indeed the goal for him, and whether he needs to search out some perspectives other than Dan’s about what will constitute success for him.
This article was originally published by Law360 Canada, part of LexisNexis Canada Inc.