Legal Career

Harvard Law School is the prince among higher learning institutions of the world. Few lawyers don’t dream of displaying a Harvard diploma on their walls. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is the country’s second oldest law school in the country. Not only that, but it also houses the largest law library in the world, says A. Harrison Barnes, attorney and LegalAuthority.com founder. Let’s take a look at the breakdown that makes up this prestigious learning institute.

First things first, says the LegalAuthority.com founder. If you want to submit an application, be sure to send the fee, which is $75 for each application, along with your package. This, of course, is likely the lowest fee you’ll spend after acceptance and for many, it’s a real bargain. Harvard’s an expensive school, and rightfully so. The private ABA Accredited school was founded in 1817 and defined the standards in first year curriculums for the country’s other law schools to follow. These include contracts, property, torts, criminal law and civil procedures. This, by the way, has been in place since 1870 when Dean Christopher Columbus Langdell defined it. It’s still in practice in current day, too.

In 2009, Harvard Law School received 6,630 applications and admitted a mere 834, which averages out to around 13%. 558 matriculated, as well. Think you want to pursue your legal degree on a part time basis? If so, knock Harvard off your list; it offers no part time JD programs and likely never will. A. Harrison Barnes says there are approximately 127 full time faculty on board and 28 part timers. The student to faculty ratio in 2007 was 10.5. Those are quite the numbers, no doubt.

Clearly, there’s a reason Harvard grads can write their own fate as they apply to various law firms around the world. They, as potential students, are carefully chosen from pools of many potential candidates. They’re also quickly pursued the closer they get to graduation. Wasting the opportunity is simply not an option. Just as the parents who are footing the bill, says the LegalAuthority.com founder. Speaking of tuition, not quite 40% are receiving grant aid and tuition for one year is around $40,000. Living expenses run close to $20,000 per year. Cambridge is, after all, one of the more costly places to live in the U.S. Nearly 14% are receiving half tuition rates, 25% are attending on scholarships and 1.3% are attending without having to pay the tuition rates.

The college does offer on campus housing, law school dorms and other graduate dorms and a fully 96% of the graduates from 2005 went to work after graduation.

Sounds impressive, yes? It’s a realistic goal if you’re considering applying to Harvard. Difficult, overwhelming – but as Barnes says, always a possibility.

No one was surprised to see bankruptcy, unemployment and even divorce lawyers grow their practices in the past few years. In the midst of all of the emotional decisions brought on by strained divorces and job losses, another sector of the law profession was quietly growing, too. Animal rights lawyers have been seeing steady increases in the number of clients who wish to do everything from include their precious animals in their wills to eviction issues about pets between landlord and tenants.

Some attorneys are become quite familiar with First Amendment rights, too, says A. Harrison Barnes, lawyer and LegalAuthority.com founder. Usually, these are activists who wish to voice their opinions on animal abuse and are facing efforts to quell their voices. Some lawyers are reporting a growing number of lawsuits against dog owners whose pets attacked or bit a neighbor or visitor.

It’s also not uncommon for environmental law to combine with animal rights. Whether it’s protecting endangered species or the growing wildlife problem on the Gulf Coast related to the BP oil spill, the lines are blurring between these two specialties.

Clearly, there are many facets to this interesting specialty. In early 2010, Swiss voters rejected a proposal that would allow appointment of lawyers to represent abused animals in court. This vote, had it passed, would have been applicable to every region of that country. More than 70% of voters chose not to pay for more than 25 attorneys to be on call to protect abused and neglected animals, including dogs and cats. Unfortunately, one lawyer had recently represented a dead fish, which might have had something to do with voters declining to pass the proposal. The case revolved around a Zurich fisherman who was accused of torture for wrestling with a pike for ten minutes before finally being able to reel it in. One expert said voters took the stance that their lunch did not need legal representation.

Regardless of what’s going on in Switzerland, in the U.S., the field continues to grow as more animal abuse and torture cases are making their way into mainstream media. One Memphis attorney said animals are vulnerable and have no voice. A passionate animal lawyer who also happens to have a degree in law ensures they do and levels the playing field against animal abusers.

A. Harrison Barnes agrees, “It’s a growing specialty for a reason; people are growing weary of seeing the devastating images of abuse against animals.” Not only that, but he says recent interest on LegalAuthority.com also indicates the growth potential of this sector of law. He says trends are easily identified simply by observing the real time aggregate of openings for lawyers, paralegals and legal secretaries.

Sadly, it appears the need will continue to rise as more abuse is uncovered; whether it’s dog fighting or neglect.

All that hard work paid off and now, you’re gearing up for a summer internship with the law firm of your dreams. Before you get too settled, says A. Harrison Barnes, attorney, career coach and founder of LegalAuthority.com, you need to start thinking about how you’re going to land a full time job next year. And in order to do that, you need to have a good idea of what your partners are noticing about you. It’s never too early, but it’s up to you to decide if you leave a good impression or if they can’t wait for your internship to wrap up so they can bid you a final goodbye.

Long before you ever garner any interest from the head honchoes in your skills as a legal contender, you’re going to want to make a good impression with your people skills. This means you need to have the ability to get along with your co-workers and the firm’s clients. You need to have filters and the common sense to understand that just because it’s on your mind, it doesn’t have to be on your tongue. Yes – that counts. And yes – it makes a huge difference; a firm would rather have a recent law school graduate with a 3.8 GPA and manners than one who graduates at the top of his class but has no concept of biting his tongue, says A. Harrison Barnes.

Another important “must have”, says the LegalAuthority.com founder, is the ability of an intern to know partying all night and showing up the next morning with the stamped ink on your hand and smelling of stale cigarettes and booze is not acceptable. Before you think to yourself, “Duh…that’s common sense”, that’s what we thought too. You’d be amazed, though, at how many approach their internships with the “I’m here on time…my mission is completed”. That’s one sure fire way of not receiving a job offer.

Barnes says the best interns are those who want to know everything. They take nothing for granted. They want to know why a partner chose a particular strategy, they want to know where the ink cartridges are and they want to know how the filing system works.  “That’s the difference in an exceptional young attorney and one who leaves no evidence of his ever having interned at a firm”.

Finally, Barnes says all legal firms appreciate those who believe they represent their employer at all times. For some firms, the intern who remains aware of how his actions affect other aspects of his life are the ones who will be solid leaders in the legal sector they ultimately choose – and those are the ones who will always remain in big demand, recession or no.

Earlier this month, BP announced its plans to amp up efforts of paying claims to those residents along the five coastal states who have suffered financial losses as a result of the Gulf oil spill. With billions set aside strictly for the use of paying out these claims, there is a need for those who are familiar with this specific job description. While the goal is to give first choice for filling these jobs to those living in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, it’s clear this effort is huge and will likely require an effort unlike anything else we’ve seen. Further, in an effort to maintain transparency in the process, there’s a fine line the oil giant must walk in terms of hiring only those who are affected and who may have family members being affected as well. A. Harrison Barnes, career coach and founder of Hound.com agrees the spotlight, already shining brightly on the oil company, will certainly be present during what is sure to be a very long process.

So what kind of skills are needed for these jobs? As mentioned, those with a background in handling claims processes will be at an advantage, says the Hound.com founder. Further, he says that while this is catastrophic and the need is urgent, the oil company has one shot at getting it right. It will require the services of outside placement efforts. This is only one of the many good reasons for considering job aggregate sites such as Hound.com. Other skills that will put candidates at an advantage:

“    Detail oriented

“    Those who work well under stress will be a big benefit not only for the company, but for the millions who found themselves without their source of income

“    Ability to remain organized, focused and with a desire to see each claim through to its conclusion

“    Computer skills will be a necessity

There will be various orientation phases and those chosen for these positions will be required to remain cool under pressure. To be sure, tensions will run high, says A. Harrison Barnes. Another important consideration for those who might be thinking about any of these positions is the fact you’ll likely need to relocate, at least on a temporary basis. Still, this is a great opportunity for anyone who plays a role in bringing this disaster to its end.

Finally, while these jobs are currently being created and defined, it’s unknown what the salaries will look like. As BP continues its efforts of stopping the still-flowing oil spill, it simultaneously is working to keep the bases covered from the financial aspect.

Now’s the time to get your resume together. Don’t forget Hound.com and its team of professionals that can ensure yours is the best it can be; remember, there likely will be a lot of competition for these positions. You have one chance to make your good impression – and it comes in the form of your resume.

Before you start searching for a law job, you need to consider certain basic things. These include your compensation, your profile, your career growth and your willingness to relocate. Are you ready to relocate for your legal career? You need to give it a serious thought. Carefully weigh the advantages of such relocation and the pitfalls of the same as well. Once you have decided on moving to another city to boost your legal career you have the dual option of looking for opportunities in your current city and also beyond the state boundaries.

A. Harrison Barnes’s LegalAuthority.com is one such job search engine where you can search for and apply for jobs from all over the world. They have a huge database which consists of jobs not only from the United States of America but also from around the world. This makes Legal Authority one of the best sources for law job seekers who are ready to relocate for their legal careers.

Legal Authority works on a motive of providing the best job to its members that they deserves and till date they have been successful in achieving their goal. The clients have been very satisfied by the services that are provided to them. The team of Legal Authority.com analyses the needs of the client and help them with information about jobs thus satisfying their needs. A. Harrison Barnes’s Legal Authority is the best way to search for jobs at different geographical location.

One of the advantages of relocation is that you can look for jobs in a larger job market. This will allow you access to jobs that are beyond your current boundaries. It is a beneficial change for a lawyer as it adds value to his experience says A. Harrison Barnes, the proud owner and creator of the one of the best legal job placement board LegalAuthority.com. There is a sense of excitement in living and working in a new place. It gives you an opportunity to meet new people.

During your interview the decision to relocate will raise questions over why are you willing to relocate in the first place. You need to have a genuine and convincing answer to this question. The challenges faced during and after relocation have often resulted in lawyers not adjusting to their new surroundings. Thus, legal firms are extremely careful during an interview where a candidate wants to relocate. A. Harrison Barnes believes that if you can convince the firm that you are a stable employee looking for growth, the firm can take the decision in your favor.

Always check the readiness of the market to accept your services. Ensure that the kind of service which you can offer to a firm and to your clients should have a base in that region. A. Harrison Barnes says to ensure success you need to see your specialization in the field of law. Litigators have their clients and are despite any economic conditions are always in demand. However after relocation, a litigator may need to start from scratch and build a new client base. However, if your field of law is highly specialized, then a law firm may look at you to help them expand their portfolio of services.

The patent prosecutors are having the highest demand than any other lawyer practicing in any law field. It is so because they are few in number and even their work is very easily transferable, thus they take lesser time to adjust to a new market. Corporate attorneys can also relocate and secure a new job easily but they are not always marketable and heavily depends on the economic condition of the market they are relocating to says A. Harrison Barnes. But most attorneys are marketable as attorneys specialized in different areas of law will ultimately find a requirement in some market.

Thus you need to see if your field is transferable and is in equal demand in other markets. These are some of the key points which you need to keep in mind before relocating to a new market. Always remember to do your research and only then you should go ahead with your relocation. It can definitely add a boost to your career provided you take the right decisions.

Wondering where the best jobs that don’t require a college degree are? So were we. We’ve pulled together a list of the highest paying jobs that don’t require secondary educations. A. Harrison Barnes, founder of EmploymentCrossing.com says these jobs are proof that success does not have to be synonymous with “college degree”:

• Air Traffic Controller – You might not be able to travel the globe, but you can sure direct the big birds filled with people who do. And what can you earn? How about $100 thousand a year?
• Sales Managers – More specifically, a non-retail sales manager can expect to earn around $60,000 annually.
• Fire Marshals or Fire Fighting Prevention Supervisors – One of the most noble and admirable careers, these firefighters net around $60,000 a year, depending on where they’re located. With state certifications usually the only educational requirements needed, these are rewarding careers, says A. Harrison Barnes.
• Elevator Installers and Repairers – Imagine the panic of being caught on an elevator between floors. Become the hero that saves the day – and a well paid one – by learning to get folks to safety. And while you’re at it, earn close to $59,000 each year.
• Dental Hygienists – Usually a two year course is required, but each state varies. Once you’re certified, you can easily bring in $58,000 if you’re good at helping patients put their best smiles forward.
• Child Support Enforcement Officers – If you can keep your cool after hearing nine million excuses as to why that new Harley was more of a priority than paying child support, you can earn around $54,000 a year for helping kids get what they deserve.
• Immigrations and Customs Inspectors – These federal jobs offer annual salaries of around $54,000.
• Nursing Jobs – There’s always been a great need for those willing to help those who can’t help themselves. Nursing is not for the faint-hearted, but if you can do your job well, expect to earn between $54k and up to $215,000 each year.
• Truck Driver Jobs – Become a part of America’s resources for moving goods and commodities and be rewarded handsomely with salaries of up to $300,000 each year. Keep in mind, you’ll generally start with a more conservative salary of around $35,000. Check with your home state for licensing requirements
• Real Estate Brokers – Know how to read an appraisal and what LTV means? Then you have the makings for becoming an excellent real estate broker. Your income potential starts at close to $63,000 in a year’s time. And by the way, LTV means “loan to value”.

And there you have it! The better news is the availability of many jobs as those mentioned above right now on EmploymentCrossing.com. Need help compiling the right resume? Let your staff help. We offer a resume service that can you help you put your best foot forward as you seek to land one of the best career opportunities available.

Do you wish to be as successful as the people who have reached the peaks of their career and life? Do you want to know what the characteristic traits of such people are? Successful people possess excellent managerial skills which help them reach the top. However, the fact is not every person in this world has leadership qualities. Many are either born with such qualities and others learn from others and handle situations as required.

When people follow you willingly, you are defined as a leader– the ultimate person at the work place. Leaders do wonders for their organization by taking on challenges and ultimately take their positions to great heights. According to A. Harrison Barnes, a leader can be identified by the qualities he or she possesses. Following are the characteristics of a leader mentioned by A. Harrison Barnes.

Courage to Take on Difficult Tasks

You must have noticed that your superiors and few of your colleagues have the courage to perform any given task. These people do not fear the outcome of their tasks. They execute their assigned responsibilities regardless of every risk involved. Such individuals are known as leaders. Courage is the basic characteristic of a person in charge. They will do the right thing when required even it involves taking risks.

Integrity Attracts Others Automatically

A. Harrison Barnes views integrity as a combination of inner values and outward actions of a person. An individual with integrity is the most reliable person for he or she is the one on whom others can depend. People will only follow a person who can be trusted. They believe that their leader will never change the statements made. Therefore, people who handle projects have integrity along with courage which presents them as an icon before others. You can recognize integrity in a person through the way he or she deals with situations. Some of them are– honest dealings while executing a task, conventional reactions at work, having control over emotions, and reasonably good behavior.

Vision to Move Forward

The most important ability of a leader is to have a clear view of the objectives that are to be achieved within a certain period of time. The aims or the targets can be of the team he or she is working with or can be of the organization. The leaders are aware of the job, they know where to go and thus perform accordingly, says A. Harrison Barnes. They even ensure that the view they keep in order to complete a task is conveyed clearly as well as passionately to his or her team members. The leaders have the ability to look at success even before they have achieved it. This is possible only because they are aware of what is to be done and how it is to be done. Such a trait makes people follow him.

Humility is What Everyone Appreciates

Being humble in nature is very important for every leader. This attitude allows them to recognize them at the same position as other members of their team. A humble leader, according to A. Harrison Barnes, makes his followers understand that he is not like god rather he belongs to the same platform as others. The leader with such a characteristic is not full of self-pride; in fact he tries to raise others around him.

Inspire Others to Perform

A successful leader has the capability to inspire others to perform the way he does. The vision that the leader possesses is passed on to the coworkers so that they can even execute the tasks with full efficiency as him. He makes the followers realize their potential and skills and make them give better performance at work. The objectives he has aimed for are passed on to the fellow members so that even they work for achieving the goals set by their organization. A. Harrison Barnes says that a good leader will always persuade his or her team to perform their best for both their own careers and the organization.

Commitment Helps in Performing Well

The leader has to dedicate him completely to the task in order to inspire his followers. He has to give his complete energy and time to accomplish the given task. If he is successful in showing full enthusiasm at work, the other members will try their best to achieve what the leader is wishing for. They will learn to achieve great things in life if they can inspire themselves through leader’s devotion. If you think you posses the above mentioned features, you are surely a leader. You will not only help the organization with your efforts but will also inspire other coworkers to be the same.

One should be aware of the fact that the job market has many things in store for you. Whether you are a fresher or an experienced person you should always have the knowledge of making your search fruitful. You should not think that either you or anybody knows everything. Only the people related to legal employment can offer you with correct advice. But every person has a different advice to give. You just need to keep an open mind while searching for a job; this will help you not to make mistakes that are made by most.

A. Harrison Barnes, the CEO of LegalAuthority.com, suggests that one must avoid seven legal job search mistakes in order to get the best legal jobs out there. Firstly, often the legal job seekers do not look for the appropriate job search based on the areas of specialization such as cyber crime, intellectual property rights, or patents. If one conducts a search that is not focused then one will not find a suitable job opening resulting in disappointment. You may also be forced to relocate to a different place or even have to practice at the area you do not enjoy working in. You can also end up being in a firm with less pay and no advancement at all. Hence this can be avoided with Legal Authority.

Secondly, the legal job applicants often do not have much to choose from while they are conducting a job search. Every city has many law firms and corporations with legal departments that are looking for employees. There are thousands of them – both small and big firms. Most of these legal law firms are always hiring. But if you think that the right employer for you is the one who has posted a job opening on any of the legal job boards then you are definitely wrong.

A. Harrison Barnes says that if there are 1,000 law firms, then out of it, at least 25-50% of them will be hiring at the same time. But one will be able to find only 2-5% of these positions even after doing their homework well. It is here that the problem lies. Here, the LegalAuthority.com comes in. They give access to the other huge percentage of the market. The clients using this website are amazed with the results when they tap into this market. Access to this market through their website will bring a change into the life of the clients.

Thirdly, the legal job applicants do not take time to prepare the professional application material. One cannot simply send the resume with few words written in it, while seeking for a job that would pay you thousands of dollars. One should realize that he/she are not applying for any normal job but to be an attorney in a firm. While judging the application, the employer looks at every single detail – how well one writes, the formatting and the way the language is used. Thus, LegalAuthority.com by A. Harrison Barnes helps prepare resumes for their clients. The ones who prepare the resume are highly qualified. This will help in giving a good impact on the people judging your resume and legal cover letter.

Fourthly, legal job applicants do not follow appropriate legal job marketing strategies for which experience and knowledge are required. One can get the knowledge from the employment advocates of LegalAuthority.com. In an hour of conversation with the employment advocate one may gain enough knowledge and they will lay you with enough experience. This conversation will be very effective for most of the attorneys do not have enough idea of how to strategically market themselves.

Fifthly, the legal job seekers have this fear of being rejected according to A. Harrison Barnes. Most of the attorneys who are practicing law live with a fear that they will be rejected. Thus, they apply to only those organizations which they think won’t reject them. But one has to come out of the fear or else on e will lose many better opportunities. If one is vulnerable LegalAuthority.com will help get the person the best job he/she deserves.

Sixthly, the legal job seekers have to understand that the legal employer is running a business. Like any other business they aim at profits. So while applying in the firm one has to understand that the employer is going to use them to increase their own assets.

Finally, relying on family and friends is not advisable for it may sometimes lead to problems. Thus, one should ask for advice from an experienced individual or professional. Legal Authority makes the job hunt easy for you by providing you with good career advice to help the candidate.