Internet Presence – for Better or Worse

As a law student you are probably part of a social networking site such as Myspace or Facebook. As good as these sites are for keeping in touch with friends and sharing photos, they can be dangerous as you hunt for a job. All those favorite quotes, inside jokes, and photos that your friends enjoy and find funny can rub a potential employer the wrong way. A profile with too many references or photos about partying can make a law firm question your professionalism. So what can you do?

● Set your profile on private
● If that isn’t good enough shut it down while you look for a
job
● Be sure your friends use privacy filters too
● Ask friends to use a nickname for you in their postings,
not your actual name
● Ensure your personal webpage(s) exude professionalism
● Don’t put your website/blog address on your resume if the
content isn’t appropriate for employers
● Blog about a legal topic, become an expert

There are professional networking sites that are “user friendly”; these can be helpful in networking with friends of friends who are in the practice area you are interested in or in the geographic location of interest to you. The information in these profiles is basic i.e.: job and education.

When you become an attorney and join a firm it is likely that the firm will put you on their webpage. Typically, a brief biography or a resume summary is posted. You want to be sure the posted information is accurate and to update.