I met with an alumna from my law school today for an informational meeting. She's a down-to-earth, warm-hearted attorney (very hard to find in this profession) who's been in public interest and now government work for 20+ years. I love her practical tips about what questions not to ask: "What's your typical work day like?"
"What do you love most about your job?"
(B/c the person you're asking may not like her job, and the last thing she wants to talk about is her "typical workday.")
And what not to put in your cover letter: "I'm a 1L interested in _____ area of law. I've grown tremendously in the past year. I've honed my skills in law school...."
(B/c it's boring and not helpful to the employer. Tells nothing about you.)
As newbies, it's hard to know what pitfalls to avoid and how we should sell ourselves to the ones in hiring positions. I know I've definitely bored a few top-level attorneys with my "typical workday" question (undergrad career offices used to recommend this question!).
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