totallylegal

Published by Google Inc

In the spirit of new blogs and in honour of the ongoing ‘to pay or not to pay’ debate surrounding online content, it got me thinking about the value of web publishing.

The law has undoubtedly encountered difficulties processing the concept of such publishing; namely, what counts as ‘published’ in the true sense? Does it solely apply to printed material represented by books, newspapers and journals?

Well, no, unless you’ve been living on a desert island for the past decade (and even that probably has Wi-Fi access). A publisher is a provider of written information to an audience; the internet has borne the largest global audience ever. No arguments there.

Consider Google Inc. With an estimated market cap at around $170 billion, it’s probably the most valuable portal to online content. But is it a publisher?

New trends for a new decade

Fireworks are standing by to signal the dawning of a new decade. It’s a time for both reflection and New Year’s resolutions. It’s also hopefully the start of a return to a more prosperous time for the whole of the legal profession.

It’s fair to say that 2009 has been a year of highs and lows. As a seasoned recruiter, the end of a year is time to predict what will be hot or indeed will be not so hot in 2010.

One key observation on this turbulent year is of the practitioner who could readily be identified as the client’s primary contact and key worker, and who became invaluable to the firm. This was certainly the person successfully surviving the dreaded 3Rs of the recession: restructuring, reorganisations and redundancies.

The risky business of blogging

A few years ago, there was a blogging boom. Bloggers caught on to the fact that, by placing a journal entry online, they would have an instant audience. The allure of self-publishing has since attracted many people to join the global blogosphere.

The blogosphere encompasses all kinds of blogs – personal, professional, business and themed. It’s a largely informal, casual and instantaneous environment. However, a blog is still a type of publication and therefore it still has all the legal implications, risks and potential liabilities that you would expect.

Interview preparation

First, the good news. The fact that you have an interview means you are almost there. You may be feeling anxious and nervous. It's only natural. But the important things to keep in mind are:

• Interviewers do not waste their time. An interviewer's time is expensive. You deserve to be on the shortlist. You have a realistic chance of getting the job.
• By being on the shortlist the odds of winning the job have been significantly reduced in your favour.
• An interview is a golden opportunity to illustrate your enthusiasm and passion for the role.
• Be positive!

CV Guidelines

Make an impression and win an interview

Imagine the scene. Your CV hits the desk of a potential employer or recruiter and you have exactly two minutes (if you’re lucky) to create that all-important, interview-winning impression.

That is what a CV is all about – getting your name on the interview shortlist. This is the only part of the job-seeking process that you can control, so give it your best shot. Make sure your CV is accurate, easy to read and has no spelling mistakes. Present a clear and concise document that encourages the reader to take a closer look at your skills, experience and key achievements, and paints you in the best possible light.

Sample CV for a qualified lawyer

A LAWYER

Personal

Address:	2 Tree Court, London, NW4 5PT
Telephone:	020 8634 2780
Email:	alawyer@yahoo.com
Nationality:	British

Education and qualifications

College of Law, Store Street London CPE with commendation), LPC (with merit)

University of Manchester BA (Hons) History 2:1

Tree Secondary School, Manchester 3 A Levels: History (A), English (B), French (B)

Employment history

Current Employment

Leadinglaw & Partners
Assistant Solicitor – Construction (contentious and non-contentious)

Experience includes:

Contentious

• Acted on a £10 million claim defending the main contractor regarding payment for additional works and a counterclaim for over-payment. Advised on settlement negotiation strategy and drafted the security for costs application.
• Acted on a £6 million claim in arbitration for the main contractor concerning additional works in respect of a leisure centre. Advised on the presentation of the claim and settlement negotiation. Managed the disclosure and discovery process and instructed senior and junior counsel. Assisted with preparation of witness statements and experts' reports and attended the arbitration. Advised on the final settlement negotiation.
• Acted on a £5 million claim for additional works regarding construction of a major road. Led disclosure and discovery and assisted with the preparation of witness statements and experts' reports. Attended the arbitration and advised the client on the final settlement negotiations.
• Acted for a number of sub-contractors in several adjudications. Prepared claims and managed all the procedural steps to award.

Non-contentious

• Drafted construction contracts for a variety of clients. Advised on collateral warranties, performance bonds and parent company guarantees.
• Advised the owner on a waste to energy project in the UK including the drafting of construction contracts.
• Drafted construction contracts for a series of cybercentres to be built throughout western Europe.
• Advised the lenders to a retail development.

Interests

• Cross-country skiing
• Photography
• Theatre
• Entertaining

Sample CV for a legal secretary

JANET JOBSEEKER

Personal

Address:	987 Elmtree Avenue, Bucks
Telephone:	01923 9830978
Email:	jjobseeker@anemaildomain.com
Nationality:	British

Education and qualifications

RSA I and II Secretarial Course, Manchester

Janet School, Manchester 8 GCSEs including English and Mathematics at Grade C and above.

A Levels: History B; English C; French D

Employment History

The Law Firm, City of London
Working in close partnership with two partners within this top ten City firm.

• Providing a confidential, highly responsive PA service, involving the organisation and planning of busy global schedules.
• Co-ordinating weekly business meetings including international video-conferencing.
• Managing extensive international travel itineraries including the planning of an annual global conference for over 200 delegates.
• Extensive liaising with partners and senior management throughout the UK and Europe, promoting positive relations at every level.
• Continually meeting tight deadlines while maintaining quality and accuracy.
• Supervising three secretaries within the department; delivering 1:1 induction training and meeting ongoing development needs.

London Law, West End, London
Legal Secretary

• Supporting a team of three senior managers in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Ensuring timely and accurate production of all legal documentation.
• Collating detailed case reports involving extensive cross-departmental communication.
• Managing complicated diary planning across the team.

Interests

• Sailing
• Theatre, particularly musicals
• Entertaining

Performance

The interview is the forum within which you will need to answer three questions:

    * Do you have the technical skills and experience to do the job?
    * Will you have the right attitude and commitment to do the job?
    * Will you fit in?

Skills and experience

The fact that you've been asked for interview shows your potential employer believes the answer to this question is 'yes'. However, the majority of the interview will probably be spent confirming this. Avoid monosyllabic responses and volunteer supporting information whenever possible.

Frequently asked interview questions

Questions you could be asked

    * Tell me something about yourself.
    * What brings you to the job market at this point in your career?
    * Why would you like to work for this company in particular?
    * What attracts you to this role?
    * What are your key strengths and weaknesses?
    * Describe two major achievements in your career.
    * If you could change anything about your career so far, what would it be?
    * How would members of your team describe you?
    * What important points came out of your last appraisal?
    * Describe your management style.
    * What do you look for in a manager?
    * Describe your toughest client.
    * What do you want from your next role?
    * What does success mean to you?
    * What are the key things that drive or motivate you?
    * What really winds you up in the workplace?
    * Describe your greatest challenge so far.
    * Describe a difficult work scenario and how you managed it.
    * Where do you see yourself in two to five year's time?
    * What are your career aspirations?
    * What would you say about your current and last employers?
    * Describe your preferred company culture.
    * If you could have your time again, what career would you choose?

Questions to ask the interviewer

    * How has this vacancy arisen?
    * How would you describe the firm/company culture?
    * What do you see as the key challenges of this role?
    * How do you differentiate yourselves from your competitors?
    * What are the organisation's major business objectives in the coming year?
    * How are employees measured in terms of performance?
    * What processes exist to support employees in their career development?
    * How would you describe the firm/company's values?
    * What key issues currently face the organisation?
    * What can I expect to be involved in during my first six months of joining?
    * What are the department's priorities during the next six months?

Opportunities post qualification

If you are about to come to the end of your training contract, you may be asking yourself ‘What happens now?’. If you are due to qualify shortly, you’re about to come to a major point in your career. Qualification is the first of the big "career watersheds" and it may be a worrying time.

While it’s natural to be apprehensive - in fact, we’d be a bit surprised if you weren’t – it is also time to give yourself huge congratulations! Right now, you should feel good about where you are. You’re about to qualify as a solicitor and there is absolutely no doubt that whatever you decide to do in your professional life, this achievement will open doors for you.

Sometimes the amount of information a newly qualified solicitor has to consider can be so overwhelming you may feel like you don’t know where to start. So, we’re going to start the ball rolling for you with a list of things you could, and probably should, be thinking about.

Moving post qualification

So, you’ve decided to move – what should you be thinking about?

As you come to the end of your training, you’ll probably have lots of questions and concerns about the choices available to you. Questions such as:

• Can I specialise in an area that I haven’t worked in during my training contract?
• What are firms looking for? How can I best sell myself when considering the type and breadth of my training?
• Should I go in-house?
• Do I settle for the firm where I’ve been offered a position, or do I hold out for the job I want?

Climbing the ladder

Entering or progressing in the legal sector, particularly in the current economic climate, may seem like a daunting task for some. With the recession impacting employment prospects in numerous industries across the country, it could seem like the first step onto the law employment ladder is out of reach at the present time. However, for those who are willing to put in hard work and go beyond what may have previously been necessary, there are always opportunities available.

The first option is taking a work experience place at a legal firm. This may be particularly appealing to students on a law course or those who have recently graduated from university, as there is a strong chance they are struggling to find employment and these schemes can offer valuable experience that will be useful when it comes to moving into a legal carrier a few months down the line.

Elspeth Farrar, vice president of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, explained that taking a work experience placement is an excellent way of getting ahead in "some of the very competitive areas" - of which the legal sector is most certainly one.

Becoming a Legal Secretary or Legal Executive

Legal secretaries often play an essential role within a law practice, almost as if they are the glue holding the organisation together. Although no formal legal training is required to become one, those taking up positions in the sector must have a firm grounding in secretarial-based occupations, from a relatively junior level to more responsible administrative work.

The position also involves a wide range of legal and business issues, meaning that those employed in such roles should possess not only strong secretarial skills but also a working knowledge of the law and the procedures comprising everyday practice. Such things as attending court, preparing forms and statements, liaising with clients and typing legal documents are an integral part of a legal secretary's responsibilities.
 
Courses on the subject, which are taught at many higher education institutions across the UK, aim to ensure that candidates have the necessary skills in place to be able to cope within a legal environment. For example, alongside City and Guilds, the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) provides a range of qualifications for legal secretaries, among other professions, which are designed to create a national standard for people working within the legal industry. No entry requirements are demanded in order to gain a place on the course - although a GCSE in English Language at grade C or above is considered desirable - and the content is judged on various assignments throughout its duration.

Welcome to the totallylegal blog

The legal profession is changing. The internet has breathed new life into what was once considered a predominantly bureaucratic job. Savvy lawyers are switching on to an international community of blogs, news feeds, social media, e-discovery, and even law journal e-zines.

Welcome to the new-look totallylegal – where we’ve taken inspiration from digital technology and used it to upgrade our technology platform to bring you our new blog.
 

General Counsel

We know that there is a difference between working for an in-house team and becoming the General Counsel of a company. To find out what really matters, we’ve spoken to Helen Fletcher Rogers and have obtained a comprehensive list of issues to think about and questions to ask when considering a General Counsel role.

Helen is very familiar with this, having been European General Counsel for Eastman Kodak Company. Helen is now a Consultant with Lawyers in Business, an organisation dedicated to ensuring in-house lawyers are able to make a real contribution to their businesses. For further information, you may like to visit their website - www.lawyers-in-business.co.uk. Lawyers in Business run a series of workshops from lunchtime networking seminars to morning and afternoon classes. You can view their future events on their website or in our own legal events diary.

Why work in-house?

A job ‘in-house’ or a job ‘in industry’ involves working as a solicitor for a company or organisation which is not a law firm.

While a career path to partnership in a law firm is a familiar role, some of you may feel like trying something different. For those of you who feel you are not suited to follow the path to partnership, a position in-house may be worth exploring.

In-house jobs were once considered ‘alternative’ career paths for people who couldn’t handle the pressures of private practice – this is no longer the case. Indeed, in-house jobs are now highly sought after.

Australia: An Introduction

Australia: Relocation Timetable

Australia: Salaries

Australia: Visas