General Career Information

Your Career Path | Making Appointments | Dress Code | Networking

Your Career Path

A JD can take you almost anywhere. Of course, there is the traditional route of joining a legal practice, but in today's diverse and fast-paced job market, there are a multitude of less conventional options available to you as well.

Your career path will unfold over time, beginning here at Law School. It is an evolving process, and you are likely to find it to be more enjoyable if you are well prepared and informed. Take time on a regular basis to work on your career: review our website and the resources available, keep notes of contacts and information about a law firm or recruitment activity, make decisions and develop a strategy based on your interests. Once you have enough information to make an informed decision, develop a strategy and focus on your area of interest (it is important to have a goal and target, but to also be flexible and have a back-up plan). Develop your application package and be ready for deadlines as they approach.


Personal choices to consider when deciding on your career path:

  • The type of career that would be most suited to you: traditional practice with a national, regional or boutique firm, or perhaps an alternate career choice in the civil service, or further academic pursuits
  • Your own personal interests including: the size of city or town where you want to live, lifestyle ideals
  • Type of firm you wish to join
  • Type of practice you are interested in pursuing


Your action list during law school:

  • Collect as much information as you can to make informed decisions about your career
  • Talk to lawyers and people who have a law degree
  • Build your network and networking skills
  • Learn about the various types of employment you can obtain with your law degree
  • Attend Law School events and receptions, especially those hosted by or co-organized by firms
  • Contact firms and speak to their recruiters or take firm tours
  • Meet with our alumni and articling students
  • Join various student organizations which will allow you to learn about the different areas of law and meet with potential future employers. 

Making Appointments with the Career Office

We would like to encourage you to consider booking an appointment with the Career Office.   We now have a new Career advisor, Reche McKeague to assist with appointments.  You might find it useful to draft your cover letter and resume and have it reviewed and ready for applications.  As well, you may wish to discuss career options, recruitment processes or have your general career questions answered.  To assist you please refer to the following links:

Application materials

Interview preparation

We encourage you to attend upcoming career events and reach out to upper year students who have been through the process. 

To book an appointment, please contact Jennifer Knorr (jennifer.knorr@usask.ca)  

Dress Code

What to wear? It is a personal choice based on your preference and personality. It is up to you to decide how far you go to dress in a manner that is comfortable to you or not. The following is a recommendation pertaining to the common understanding of business wear.

  • First Point - (it's easy...) it may not be a good idea to wear jeans!
  • Interviews - think Business Attire = Suits (see below)
  • Events - many are Business Casual (see Below)
  • You will want to think of professional, conservative dress in basic dark colours, nothing to tight, baggy, bright, or flashy
  • Polish your shoes
  • Ensure your clothing is not rumpled
  • Go light on the perfume or cologne
  • Jewellery should be kept to a minimum
  • You must be comfortable


We receive feedback from firms that are appreciative of students who take our Law School events seriously and dress in a manner appropriate for business. We encourage our students and volunteers to wear business attire at all events. Each individual must be comfortable with what they wear and it is an individual choice. However students often appreciate some information and guidance on the attire.

Women's Business Attire: It is suggested you wear a suit with matching jacket and pants or skirt. Skirts are preferred for more formal events. Nylons should be worn with a skirt and closed toe shoes are the most appropriate with comfortable heels.

Women's Business Casual: You may wear the same as above but be less formal. You can mix and match tops and bottoms. As well you may wear sweaters, sweater sets, shirts in place of suit jackets. For evening events you may consider dresses or skirts and usually think of dark colours.

Men's Business Attire: Dark or neutral suits with a tie and dark shoes and belt.

Men's Business Casual: Similar to business, but less formal.  Suit and tie are not necessary.  You may consider wearing pants (dress or cotton) with shirts and / or sweaters.

 

Networking

Networking. What is it? It is meeting people. It is thinking of who you know in the legal profession, reaching out and contacting them. It is about meeting new people. It is going to events where you will learn about potential employers and they will learn about you. It is up to you to approach and talk to people. You will gain a wealth of information from networking opportunities which provide you with the rare chance of learning about a potential employer, the environment at the firm and your level of comfort with members of the firm.

Throughout the academic year, the Career Office, in conjunction with various firms and organizations, will host several networking events for students and potential employers. Here are some helpful hints to help you prepare:

Personal Communication Tips:

  • Approach people and shake hands (practice a firm, not tight, comfortable handshake).
  • If you are sitting, stand up if you are meeting someone to shake their hand
  • Make eye contact
  • Remember names. State the greeters name when you meet. If you forget someone's name, try to find it and if this is not possible re-introduce yourself and say your name again to them.
  • Smile
  • Body language: face the person, hold your head up, shoulders down, stand with your weight on both legs, do not cross your arms, stand about arm's length apart, do not put your hands in your pockets; feel confident and comfortable, look friendly, open, interested and engaged
  • Listen: you are there to learn, so show you are listening by focusing on the person
  • Converse: have appropriate topics prepared to help ease your discomfort, ask open ended questions
  • Be confident, but do not brag
  • Try and be comfortable and take the opportunity to learn as much as you can
  • Professionalism: your reputation as a lawyer is critical to your practice, and begins as soon as you enter law school. You will interact with your fellow classmates who will also be lawyers some day. As well, you will have the opportunity to interact with staff, faculty, the law society and lawyers. How you interact will define how you are perceived.
  • In addition it is important to recognize the information that may be available to legal recruiters and fellow colleagues on accessible internet sites. We are very proud of our students and know you will be an excellent representative of our law school.


Other helpful Networking Ideas:

  • If you know a lawyer, student, or articling student, contact them to learn about the profession and the firm environment that they work in, or perhaps they may know something about a firm you are thinking of applying to
  • Consider joining the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and mentorship program
  • Attend student events
  • If you are interested in applying to firms outside of Saskatchewan and are unable to attend networking events hosted by that firm, contact the firm and request to meet the recruiter, alumni, articling student, junior lawyers and do a tour
  • Join extra-curricular activities and network with your fellow students.
  • Consider volunteer work that is beneficial to the community and will also provide you with insight and hone your skills in the legal professions


Prior to any networking event:

  • Research any potential employers that may be in attendance
  • Consider appropriate dress
  • Imagine appropriate topics of conversation
  • Think about what you want to learn and appropriate questions to ask
  • Practice talking about your personal interests
  • Reflect on what you would like a firm to learn about you, including your skills, hobbies, and the areas of law in which you are interested.


Have confidence in yourself. Employers are interested in you. Take time to think of your strengths, your experience and skills. Everyone has a story and your story will be of interest to firms. Employers will all have different skill sets and personalities they are looking for in their potential employees. Primarily they will be interested in finding a good match for their firm, and a student who will prosper and ultimately stay with their firm. You will want to find the firm that you are comfortable with and one where you will be able to achieve your career goals.

So, take a deep breath, go forward and approach a potential employer. You may be amazed at the results!