Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50903
So you've got those traits and are pre- pared to use them. Now what type of ques- tions are you likely to face from an inter- view panel? "Students should be prepared to answer questions related to anything that appears on their resume or support- ing materials," says Sutherland. "Th is may include specifi c questions about their grades, work experience, interests, and extra-curricular activities." Callon-McLean urges students to fi g- ure out why they want to work for the fi rm they're interviewing with. It's also important to be able to point out why you hope to work in a specifi c practice area, and what you have in mind for your sum- mer or articling term. "Anything you put on your resume that tends to be more per- sonal — like your interests," says Jackson, "oſt en interviewers will use that as a point of connection with you, so you should be prepared to talk about that." Taylor says it's also important to know how to answer the questions thrown your way. "If you want the interviewer to distin- guish you from other candidates, do more than simply answer the questions. Try to go in depth and give concrete illustrations to support your accomplishments," she says. Th at will let the recruiters better es- tablish your ability to communicate well. What about that point of the interview when the interviewer looks back at you and says, "So, is there anything you would like to ask us?" It's best to have a few We want to see that the students know how to balance their work and their play and are still able to do well at both. — Kelly Callon-McLean, Aird & Berlis LLP relevant queries in hand to shoot back with at this point. "Don't ask us what kind of car our fi rm would be if our fi rm were a car, or what our greatest weakness is as a fi rm," says Callon-McLean. It's also a good idea to avoid asking questions that could have been obtained though your own re- search. "Don't ask us for basic information that is on our web site or in our profi le in the Canadian Directory of Legal Em- ployers, although you can ask for further details or for clarifi cation on information contained there," she says. Sutherland recommends taking the time to consider your career objectives be- fore shaping what questions to ask. Th ings such as practice area, work environment, and fi rm culture are good areas for brain- storming, she says. "Students should not ask questions regarding information that is available on fi rms' web sites, but rather use the interviews as a means of determin- ing if the work experience being off ered aligns with their goals and personality," says Sutherland. Jackson suggests students ask about the type of work they will be assigned and the team they will end up with. "I think the questions should pertain to future orien- tation, and not just the articling student period. Law fi rms have a tendency to de- scribe themselves very similarly — you need to ask questions that make people give you individual examples of that." Th e recruiters off er a slew of other help- ful advice as you prepare for what could be Martin's Annual Criminal Code, 2010, Student Edition With annotations by Edward L. Greenspan, Q.C. and The Honourable Justice Marc Rosenberg Fully annotated by two of Canada's most respected criminal law experts, Edward L. Greenspan and Justice Marc Rosenberg, this annual resource is a force to be reckoned with in court. It continues to deliver the highest quality content, the best value and contains the largest number of important cases with more than 4,900 reported and unreported cases in the most practical and accessible format. Martin's Annual Criminal Code, 2010, Student Edition is portable and has unique features that make it an invaluable resource, including: • all Acts fully annotated with more significant cases analyzed than any other annotated Criminal Code • balanced analysis from a renowned lawyer and respected judge • practical and easy-to-use format • forms of charges for the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as an Offence Grid Hardbound • 2,374 pp. • Published August each year • $46 • P/C 0635060999 • ISSN 0527-7892 Also Available Martin's Pocket Criminal Code, 2010 The pocket-size edition that includes everything you need in a Criminal Code. Perfectbound • Published July each year • $34 • P/C 0638010999 • ISSN 0527-7892 For a 30-day, no-risk evaluation call: 1 800 263 2037 or 1 800 263 3269 www.canadalawbook.ca Canada Law Book is A Division of The Cartwright Group Ltd. • Prices subject to change without notice to applicable taxes and shipping & handling. 22 SEPTEMBER 2009 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS Martins Annual(CL 1-2h Student).indd 1 CL0709 7/8/09 2:09:17 PM