Sankey Diagram of My Articling Job Hunt / My Cold Application Strategy

[canuckfanatic]

I got a ton of positive feedback when I posted this on lawstudents.ca. It seemed to have helped a number of people, so I'm reposting it here (with revisions).

This diagram indicates the total number of applications (starting from the left), which is divided into categories, with final results shown on the right.

Full disclosure: I would have sent ~20 fewer applications if not for the global pandemic. I had an articling opportunity lined up and had all but received the formal offer before that firm put a freeze on hiring. While waiting for that freeze to be lifted, I accepted an offer elsewhere. For the sake of simplicity, I counted that first firm as a "rejection" on the diagram.

My cold application strategy:

I made a spreadsheet of every firm that practiced areas of law that interested me and were located in cities I was willing to commute to/live in. I used Google Maps and searched terms like "business law" and "real estate law" and "civil litigation" and just clicked through neighbourhoods. I then arranged the firms in order of my preferences.

I picked 5 firms off that list every week and drafted cover letters for them. This involved researching the firm (firm website, LinkedIn, news articles, etc.) and picking the right person to address the letters to (in priority order: hiring manager, managing partner, name partner, partner, etc.).

I sent each firm a brief email that highlighted the 2-3 most notable things about me. I included my application materials in ever email (cover letter, resume, law school transcript). Some people don't recommend attaching your materials right away, but in my opinion attaching your material makes you harder to dismiss/ignore.

I received more responses through cold application than when I applied to active job postings. Most firms said they weren't hiring, but one firm started emailing me every time they heard of a job opening elsewhere.

Most of the responses I received thanked me for having actually researched their firm before emailing.

The firm that hired me after my cold application said they liked a few things about my application. In particular they liked that I was from the area, that I was a member of the local Board of Trade, and that I was actively involved in the community.

[TobyFlenderson]

I'm really glad to see this has made a reappearance. I thought about your post a lot during my articling hunt. I would also emphasize your last paragraph to those who will see this in the future. Most of my articling interviews discussed my community involvement, and the firms liked that I knew about their involvement too and could name a couple of partnerships they had with prominent community organizations. 

I was also from the area. The firm I'll be articling at is in my hometown, and I'd only left to go to law school, and knew I wanted to live in/around the area in the future. My commitment to the area in both time, personal network, and community involvement helped to demonstrate that I'm not a flight risk post articling (apparently this is a problem in places like Ottawa), and there are business benefits to hiring local. The firm is full service, and while I'm articling I have no doubt that I'll be able to pull in business from my friends/family/connections, which I've been told makes applicants incredibly attractive.

Thanks again for posting this. Really great graphic for those who are looking for articles and having a difficult time. 

[LMP]

This graphic always spooks me a little. Far too much red for my naïve 0L eyes. 

[Chief Keef]

7 hours ago, LMP said:

This graphic always spooks me a little. Far too much red for my naïve 0L eyes. 

Honestly you get pretty used to the rejection and learn to not get your hopes up really quickly.

[erin otoole]

On 6/6/2021 at 2:01 AM, LMP said:

This graphic always spooks me a little. Far too much red for my naïve 0L eyes. 

The graphic is not intended to spook you, its just a realistic outlook, far too often 1Ls and 2Ls only see the "successful" outcome of the recruits. If you look at my linkedin you see I am summering at a "good firm" but you don't see the 115 applications and only four Toronto OCIs. It only takes one offer and you are in the game with the big boys, you'll make it. 

[canuckfanatic]

Bumping this thread for anyone feeling down about the most recent OCI results.