The law school recruitment process is broken. Law schools don’t do enough to prepare law students for their dream jobs, and they continue to push Big Law as the safe choice. However, this is misguided, and law students need to take off their blinders once and for all.

In Non-Compliant Podcast Episode 27, Host Jay Edelson, nationally recognized plaintiff’s attorney and founder of Edelson PC, and Guest Kelsey McCann, the firm’s Chief of Staff and recruiting director, Big Law’s Big Lie, and how law students can do a better job of getting their dream summer associate position.

Jay and Kelsey first discuss how law schools aren’t preparing their students enough for the rigors of the summer associate recruitment process (4:18). Kelsey explains that law schools continue to push students to big law and do little to prepare them to apply for the jobs they want.

Next, Jay and Kelsey dive into why Big Law is no longer the safe choice for law students entering the legal profession (7:27). Amid the pandemic, Big Law cut summer programs, associate salaries, or even pulled offers to come to their firms. Students should focus their efforts on finding the job they want because the plaintiff’s bar and public interest can be just as safe and more rewarding (9:01).

The discussion turns to best practices for law students applying for their dream summer placement (15:37). Kelsey gives her insight into why many qualified applicants are often rejected due to not having substantive experience or because they didn’t do enough research into the firm. Law firms want creative and motivated associates, so putting in the extra work during the recruitment stage will pay dividends (19:34).

Later in the show, Kelsey gives her tips for law students applying to Edelson PC and to plaintiff’s firms overall (22:20). Law students can’t approach interviews like a Big Law recruitment pitch and need to know exactly the kinds of cases and work a firm does on a daily basis (24:55). Students that spend time reviewing the firm website, doing legal news searches, checking dockets, and what awards a firm has won will be leaps and bounds ahead of their peers.

To wrap the show, Jay and Kelsey talk about law firm diversity efforts and why the whole industry needs to do a better job at recruiting more women and BIPOC law students (27:36). Diversity and Inclusion are no longer efforts, but mandatory to operate in the legal industry.

Check out the show to hear more tips on how to land your dream summer associate position.

If you liked the show, please subscribe and leave a review. You can also send us an email at podcast@edelson.com with any questions or for guest booking.

Connect with us:
Website: https://www.edelsoncreative.com/#podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edelsonlaw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdelsonCreative
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edelson-pc

Connect with Kelsey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-mccann-b45938159/
Edelson PC Bio: https://edelson.com/team/chief-of-staff/

Check out Kelsey’s Op-ed “Big Law Refuted,” which further explores Big Law’s Big Lie, law schools, legal recruiting, and how the whole system needs to change: https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2021/02/03/big-law-refuted-plaintiffs-firms-offer-a-less-traveled-route-to-success/

Check out Edelson Creative’s companion animated video “Big Law Refuted” which exposes the issue with Big Law recruitment efforts through a parody of Hamilton’s “Farmer Refuted”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmAx68EoWXE&t=1s

Also check out Edelson Creatives other videos:
“Raise The Bar”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDGA4IM3TLM
“I Am Not a Donut”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1aAD9beqII
“Non-Compliant”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paPmaUUhJ8I