Questions Older Lawyers Should Answer Before Beginning a Job Search
Older lawyers hitting the job market need to think about their goals and preferences and be ready to explain to employers why older workers may be better employees.
Older workers may face bias from potential employers who worry that they won’t adapt to new technologies or won’t be mentally sharp, legal search consultants Valerie Fontaine and Roberta Kass say in an article for Law.com.
The perception doesn’t square with the reality, the article says. Numerous studies have shown that older workers have better judgment and more realistic expectations, are more reliable and less likely to leave, have a good understanding of the big picture, and are more committed to quality. Older workers need to be prepared to tell interviewers about these benefits, according to Fontaine and Kass, of Seltzer Fontaine Beckwith.
But first, job seekers need to target jobs that are a good fit for them, Fontaine and Kass advise. Consider these questions before beginning your search:
• Preferences. What did you like and dislike about past jobs? What kind of job setting works best for you?
• Values. Does your work reflect your core values? Ask yourself whether the kinds of clients you represent and the cases you work on are consistent with your beliefs.
• Goals. Ask yourself about your goals in law school and whether you are headed on a path to accomplish them.
