Professional Identity & Skills

Ask CDO if you have any questions or concerns over professional identity (who you want to be) or professional etiquette or skills - it matters.  Are you communicating with your current or would-be employers in a timely and professional manner? How can you address being under-worked or over-committed?  How do you respond to feedback?

For a fresh view on your own professional development and formation as an attorney, read this article from a law professor as he reflects on his own career.  A Letter to Students on the Meaning of Work and Professional Formation. 

• Start with these tips on summer clerkships, which are also applicable to other clerkships as well:
  • Equal Justice Foundation webinar in "How to Stand Out During Your Remote Summer Internship."
  • Hear from Iowa employers as they share How to Have a Successful Summer (find previous recordings in the Symplicity Resources Library as well.)
  • Check out our entire Advice from the Experts series, especially Employer's Advice to You on Standing Out in Your Summer Clerkship. 
• What about e-mail and voicemail communications?
• Are you following best practices for communications during the application process?
• Are you comfortable managing job offers?
• How good are you at Maintaining Well Being in the Job Search Process?
• Have you worked on your Cultural Competence?
• Do you understand how law practices work, or the Business of Law?
• Have you taken an assessment of skills that employers are seeking?  
• Find out what skills and traits legal employers really want to see in new attorneys. 
• Living your life with purpose has positive effects throughout your career and beyond.
• Listen to the importance of civility and compassion from an Iowa judge.

Drake Law Attorney Skills Series  - Click on the session below to watch the recording.