In recent times there has been a proliferation of ominous news stories and opinion articles warning of the crippling job prospects faced by new law graduates.
While statistics have revealed a job market that is overflowing with career hopefuls, what happens next for the high number of law graduates who anxiously wait for the congestion to ease?
I know from experience the difficulties of finding graduate employment. I have experienced the angst and frustration over the seeming futility of lodging job applications when I know I’ll be competing with 100+ candidates.
Fortunately, I have managed to transcend the anguish and am now actually enjoying this post-education, pre-career limbo. This is because I have discovered there are productive things to do while I wait in line.
For starters, graduating university does not mean that we should stop learning. In fact, now is the best time to build upon the framework we developed during law school. Subscribing to law journals and attending CPD training sessions are great ways to continue to educate ourselves and to stay up-to-date with legal developments. This also gives a potential employer confidence knowing that their new employees are coming into the job with up-to-date skills and legal knowledge.
It is also important not to exile yourself from the legal profession. Stay connected by volunteering and attending networking functions. This can be a great way to discover future job opportunities and start building your networks.
For those truly passionate about the law, my greatest piece of advice is to be patient. An opportunity will present itself eventually. Just be ready to recognise it, pursue it and seize it. Do do not surrender to the doom and gloom stories. Stay positive and remain determined. It’s only a matter of time.
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