Category Archives: Law and Literature

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October 18, 2011

Confession: I judge a book by its cover.

Judge a book by its cover

Photo Credit: Jane Mount of Ideal Bookshelf

I often judge a book by its cover. If the images on the cover don’t appeal to me I may not be the intended audience. The work above is the most perfect gift for me (hint hint). As an English major I read the classics and then fell in love with historical fiction. I have so many categories of favorite books the gorgeous work by artist Jane Mount as featured in In Style’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide is almost too overwhelming to imagine. Relax, calm down, they are “just” book covers! Yes, but the covers are the first introduction to the characters I’ve fallen in love with and grown up with. Nothing is just a book cover!

If the author doesn’t take ownership (personally, not legally) of the cover of their book their readers may not be the group they originally intended. Similarly, if you accept a client they undoubtedly know people like themselves and will refer more of the same. It is therefore important to focus on your ideal client to get more ideal clients. If your resume doesn’t target the job you want you won’t get the job you want.

You need to be the person you want to be in life, in appearance, online and on paper. It is important to be consistent everywhere so that others who make judgments based on the 1st handshake, the 1st glance, the 1st few lines of an email and the 1st few lines of your resume will judge you the way you intend to be judged. We all judge others even if we try to be fair and impartial. There goes the law, sneaking into everything!
February 25, 2010

Hey you, with the big Scarlet A on your shirt! Want a job?

Think The Scarlet Letter doesn’t apply in today’s modern society?

THINK AGAIN!

The Internet makes public branding and humiliation easier, faster and more global in scope.

There is a law that requires the “Oklahoma Department of Health to publish data online on all abortion patients — including the woman’s race, marital status, financial circumstances, years of education, number of previous pregnancies, and her reason for seeking the abortion. Doctors who fail to provide such information will be criminally penalized and stripped of their medical licenses.” http://tiny.cc/AttysCounsel178

This public punishment is also known as a Scarlet Letter Law. Even someone who only read the Cliffs Notes knows the humiliating public punishment Hester Prynne was forced to endure. Unfortunately, Hawthorne’s novel is as relevant today as it ever was.

When celebrities commit “indiscretions” their sins are made public by nature of their personas.  Those moments of carelessness stay with them, not only because of who they are, but also because the internet allows information to be recalled immediately and perpetually. Hester is able to rehabilitate herself in the eyes of her community, but when she finally removes her label, her scarlet letter, her daughter does not recognize her.  People become what they have done.  If you do something now and you are not famous and do not live in Puritan Massachusetts do you have anything to worry about?  YES!

Start acting like the person you want to be with the job you want to have.

The internet enables your community to brand you based on the information you provide them.  DO NOT GIVE YOUR COMMUNITY AN EXCUSE TO BRAND YOU!

Hester was burned by the “red-hot brand” of her punishment, but your personal brand, the one that you have worked hard to create (you should start doing that now…add it to your list), can be altered and damaged by others.

You must take control of your brand, of the you you want to become.  Review everything you put online. Set up privacy settings on your website, your blog, your Facebook page. Employers will search and use anything they find to continue their evaluation of you. They will not only use your resume, cover letter, interview and references to make hiring decisions.

If you create those professional marketing tools and then have even one thing online that is not professional or that can in any way damage the image you hope to portray you are doing yourself and your career a disservice.

February 11, 2010

Rule v. Standard – Always be YOU

There are plenty of style books out there. See the list to the right on this blog. Yes, In Style and the MLA Style Handbook both have a place on this list.  While most people do well in a LBD (Little Black Dress) or grey pin-stripe suit there are those people who do better, feel more themselves, in a red dress or a seersucker suit (one friend’s husband from Atlanta comes to mind).

Please, just as on your resume, you should be you at all times. Be authentically you, not the you you think they want you to be.

Be you, but know that there are rules and there are standards. My 1st class 1st year of law school was Legal Process. Our take-home exam (thank god) was all about rules versus standards. What was the purpose of the rule? Was it just an accepted standard?

No vehicles in the park. Discuss for the 1st grade of your legal career…

Turns out that in the exam question hypothetical the “vehicle” was a recumbent, hand-pedaled bike. Is that a vehicle? If so does it fall within the purpose of the rule? Is the purpose of the rule to keep the park safe or to avoid crowding the streets? Does a “vehicle” have to have a motor? As you can imagine, “IT DEPENDS.” and boy was I glad there was no time limit!

The same applies to resumes. The “it depends” part, there is definitely a time limit on resumes but that’s another topic for another post

RULE: You must include your name.

STANDARD: Reverse chronological order is preferred to a skills based resume.

RULE: Keep your font consistent throughout the document.

STANDARD: Avoid an objective at the top of your resume.

P.S. Did I mention my professor clerked for the Supreme Court? Yeah, he mentioned it about 100 times every class. Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Never be bashful when telling others about your success, but do not be conceited.