Many students are unsure where to begin when it comes to selecting their ideal legal practice. While several aspects must be considered, one thing is certain: it is not as simple as drawing names from a hat. Indeed, selecting the ideal legal firm requires persistent effort. The following are some of the processes that will assist you in making your decision:
- Step 1: Conduct research
Research is critical in law. The first step in selecting a legal firm is determining the field of law in which you are interested. Once you’ve established that, do a search on the internet or in readily accessible legal books for information on the practice areas of several law firm in saudi arabia. Even if you’re still undecided about which practice area to pursue, you can always study more on the various practice areas or speak with other senior students who have previously participated in holiday programs. Even better, you could always take an internship at a legal firm or even shadow a judge in your local court beforehand!
Even if you are still hesitant, be assured that many trainees at law firms are unclear about the field of law in which they want to practice—just maintain an open mind!
- Step 2: Establish a strategy
With your study in hand, you are one step ahead of your peers! The next stage is to attend as many legal fairs, open days, and networking events as possible. Attending these events just for the sake of obtaining free stuff (or free food!) can indicate to employers that you are uninterested in their company, which will give a negative impression. You should visit your top businesses prepared with a shortlist of questions to ask.
Having stated that, refrain from asking foolish questions! Several of these are negative, such as “Is it true that Firm X is awful at xxx?” or “What is it about Firm X that you despise?” Bear in mind that this personnel represent and promote their employer, and will never talk negatively of it! (Even if you are curious about the answer to that inquiry, consider phrasing it more subtly.) Consider the objective of the question as one technique to assist in the formulation of your queries. Always keep in mind that the purpose of these meetings/networking sessions should be to obtain something useful. For instance, to get a student’s viewpoint on the company, you may speak with a trainee about their training procedure or how they improved their CV.
- Step 3: Assemble
Engage with trainees or associates at your target firm(s) during open days or networking activities. This kind of events need you to be present (which means refrain from checking your phone every two minutes!). Additionally, you should have a notepad on hand to write down vital facts. When talking with trainees/associates, inquire about their hobbies; they like those who are enthusiastic about the tasks they are working on. Alternatively, you might ask them questions about the company to get further information, such as the following:
What changes has Firm X made in the previous six months?
What is ahead for Firm X?
What is the culture at Firm X?
- Step 4: Maintain contact
Following networking events, maintain contact with a trainee, associate, or anybody else from the company. Connect with them on LinkedIn or write down their email address if feasible. LinkedIn is an excellent tool for maintaining touch with employers; thus, you should update your profile as often as possible and keep it strictly professional. When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you may provide a brief note reminding them that you attended their Event X and intend to stay in contact in the future. If they react (through LinkedIn message or email), respond as quickly as possible.
These were some useful pointers for selecting the top lawyers and lawyers in saudi arabia.