Let’s face it. Law students from Hong Kong face fierce competition in securing a training contract, whether in Hong Kong or in London. You’ve worked hard to enter into a good law school, so have thousands of others. There aren't enough training contacts to go around. The offer rate at international law firms is notoriously low: they choose a few trainees out of hundreds of applicants (e.g. one US firm chooses 1 trainee out of the c. 600 applications it receives).
The bottom line is, you have no time to lose. We’ve had university counsellors tell us: “don’t worry, try everything out”. But that isn’t helpful. The legal job market has changed since 20 years ago, and we want someone who is effective in helping us land jobs and internships. Students deserve someone who’s observant, able to recognise your value and plan a career path that would work for you.
So... how does a specialised legal career coach add value?
1. Define your unique selling points (USPs)
We don’t shy away from sharing about “identify your USPs”, but very few students are able to do so. The #1 common problem is: you know that you need to identify your USPs, but you fail to actually identify them.
Why is that? You either don’t recognise your value, or you don’t know what’s unique about your skills set.
You become your own blindspot. We’ve spoken with a student who has an impressive CV, with a focus on sustainability and environmental law. When asked about her USPs, she said: teamwork, hardworking (because she’s done two internships each summer), and friendliness.
She doesn’t see it, but she has more experience in environmental law than anyone else of her age. Her blog on green finance is a great talking point, and the ability to write professionally translates into great communication skills. We don’t blame her -- she won’t know how others’ CVs look, and in turn, she won’t know what’s truly unique about her profile.
We help you recognise your value. You gain insight into the unique combination of skills and qualities that you (and no one else) bring to the table. With this, we help you develop strong resumes and cover letters that stand out from the crowd.
2. Learn and strengthen modern career skills
The legal job market is changing, and so should your job-seeking approach. Some tips from 20 years ago may still work, but many become outdated.
A specialised legal career coach understands how things are done now. You can learn modern job-seeking skills, such as interviewing via Zoom, using social media to find internship opportunities, and creating a professional online presence. Taking video interviews as an example: what equipment would set you up for success? Should you stay home or find a meeting room? Should you use a virtual background? You have all the reasons to doubt whether generalist advisers have real legal recruiting experience on this front.
3. University career advisers are out of touch with the legal job market and your needs
This brings us to our next point. It’s great that universities offer general job search tips to students. But studies have found that career centres are ineffective in helping students land jobs and are not teaching modern career skills (looking at findings from the College Career Center Study, 61% of the students say career centres are either never or rarely effective in helping them land a job, and 49% of the career centres either never or rarely teach students new professional skills like online networking or branding).
It’s not surprising that career centres are out of touch with law students’ needs. In fact, it’s understandable: they cater to many students and it’s impossible for them to navigate all sorts of industries.
4. Create an actionable roadmap
You know where you want to be in three years, but not sure how to get there? We help you create a roadmap for pursuing career-related goals while in university, including choosing electives, landing internships and networking as a student. We understand what it takes to get there because we've been in the same position.
What’s more, we help you make difficult decisions. A legal career coach understands the big picture and gives objective advice when you need it most.
5. Keep you motivated and accountable: one-to-one mentoring significantly improves learning and career success
Support does wonders. Career coaching can multiply your odds of career success: it makes you feel supported and excited about learning.
At Admittedly Legal, we want you to reach your full potential and attain your goals. We care about you as a person. We will be there to motivate you, track your progress, and check in on you to ensure that you’re focusing your efforts and working towards your goals. That accountability keeps you on track -- you’re not in this alone!
6. Build your confidence
You must be confident in yourself to get to where you want to be. Confidence isn’t something that can be taught. But by knowing and recognising your USPs, as well as having a clear understanding of how to achieve career success, that is the first step to being more confident. A good coach also identifies your strengths and helps you work on your weaknesses (both as a professional and an individual). Through career coaching, you will gain confidence in the process.
7. Help you establish a career path that aligns with your talents, values and interests
Our honest advice: you don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. You don’t need to work in commercial law if that doesn’t excite you. There are many practices out there, many firms out there, and lots of other career paths available.
We will get to know you as an individual and consider your personality and passions when guiding you through career development. A fulfilling career isn’t about who earns the most money. Consider future prospects, as well as alignment with your talents, values and interests. We don’t want you to be miserable and unfulfilled!
Let us help you identify your USPs and how they can shape your career path. Let us help you develop a strong profile that stands out from the crowd.
Email or DM us to schedule an appointment.
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