Resource Guide for New Law School Graduates

You've Got Your Degree, Now What?

This guide highlights some services, web sites, and resource materials that can help you make the transition from law student to practicing lawyer. Our intent was not to offer an exhaustive or definitive roadmap to entering the practice world, but to leave you with some thoughts to provoke further exploration as you start your journey. Take our best wishes along with you, as well!

First things first:  Let our Bar Exam Resource Guide help you get your credentials.

Take advantage of Cleveland-Marshall's services for alumni:

The Law School continues to support you after you graduate. Alumni services, CLE programs, reunions, and opportunities for you to contribute to the development of Cleveland-Marshall are described at this page.

Join the Cleveland-Marshall Alumni Association.

Get involved in the organized bar, and immediately discover opportunities to network and work for the betterment of the profession, the community, or your particular specialty.  Select the links below to find membership information and applications:

American Bar Association The largest voluntary professional association in the world, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.

Federal Bar Association Professional organization for private and government lawyers and judges involved in federal practice. The FBA gives its 16,000 members a chance to meet at regional and national conferences, become active in informed discussion of substantive law issues, assume leadership positions at the local and national level, and network with other professionals in the field of federal law.  The Northern District of Ohio Chapter  has nearly 350 members, drawn from private practice, government departments and agencies, military branches, law schools within the district, and members of the federal judiciary. The Chapter is committed to serving the needs of the federal courts of the Northern District of Ohio and Sixth Circuit, as well as the needs of federal practitioners within the district and circuit.

Ohio State Bar Association The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary professional association open to any person who has been admitted to the practice of law. Law school students and paralegals/legal assistants are eligible for membership in the OSBA as associate members. Mission Statement: Our core purpose: To advance the professional interests of members of the Ohio State Bar Association. Our core values : Member satisfaction, professionalism, foresight, and quality services and products. Our goal: To make membership in the Ohio State Bar Association indispensable to Ohio lawyers.

Cleveland Bar Association The mission of the Cleveland Bar Association is to serve as a center for legal professionalism in the region by educating the bar, by providing resources that enhance client service, and by promoting integrity and ethical behavior among lawyers; to improve the administration of justice on behalf of the public and the Cleveland legal community; to improve public understanding of the law and the justice system; and to foster an environment in which a diverse Association membership can experience excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law and service to the public.

Cuyahoga County Bar Association Members of the Cuyahoga County Bar Association are attorneys, judges, law students, paralegals, employees of government agencies, and other legal professionals working in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the surrounding regions.

Norman S. Minor Bar Association The largest organization of African-American lawyers in the state of Ohio:  formed in 1980 by the merger of four previously existing African-American professional organizations, to wit: John Harlan Law Club; Cleveland Lawyers' Association; The Black Women Lawyers' Association; and The National Conference of Black Lawyers, Cleveland Chapter. The association boasts a membership of approximately 100 lawyers, engaged in various aspects of legal practice throughout Cuyahoga and surrounding counties, and in all state and federal courts.

Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers  Mission Statement: To seek justice for all...To preserve the constitutional right to trial by jury...To champion the cause of those who deserve redress for injury to person or property...To promote the public good through concerted efforts to secure safe products, a safe workplace, a clean environment, and quality health care... To further the rule of law and the civil justice system, and to protect the rights of the accused... To inspire excellence in advocacy through training and education..To encourage cooperation among members... To advance the common law and finest traditions of jurisprudence..To uphold the honor and dignity of the legal profession and the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity.

Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys  The Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL), founded in 1986, is a professional association with over 525 members around the state. OACDL is an advocate of progressive criminal laws and policies that are consistent with constitutional principles, limited government intrusion into the lives of Americans, and a free society.

Ohio Women's Bar Association Purpose and goals: Fostering communications and networking among women attorneys; Promoting and advancing professional opportunities for women attorneys; Promoting the appointment and selection of women to various federal, state and local positions of influence; Promoting women as leaders; Promoting and providing continuing legal education targeting areas of particular interest to women attorneys; Monitoring and supporting government legislation policies and practices affecting women; Serving as a statewide resource representing perspectives of women in the legal profession

Other national, specialty and state and local bar associations can be located through such sources as  Findlaw's directory, the Hieros Gamos web site, and the ABA  web site.

Do you have a job?

Cleveland-Marshall's Office of Career Planning

FindLaw Career Center: Careers and Resources for the Legal Industry

Law.Com's  LawJobs.com - Legal Job Listings

LawGurus.com's  Legal Career Center

Ohio State Bar Association's  Career Center

Lawyer's Weekly newspaper's  Lawyers Weekly Jobs.com

Books at the Cleveland-Marshall Law Library which can help you with your job search include:

Gary A. Munneke, Careers in Law, 3d. ed. VGM Career Books, 2004 KF297 .M86 2004

Resumes for Law Careers, 2nd ed., VGM Career Books, 2002 KF 297 .Z9 R47

Anne MrKinney, ed. Real-Resumes for Legal & Paralegal Jobs, PREP Pub., 2004   HF5383 .R395867 2004 

Curtis Rose, The Resume.com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes, McGraw-Hill, 2004 

HF5383 .C87 2004

Brook Moshan, Vault Guide to Law Resumes, Vault, 2002 KF297.Z9 V39 2002

Elwood J. Murray, The Legal Career Guru's Guide to the Perfect Legal Resume, Kilfenora Press, 2000  KF297 .L44 2000

Valerie A. Fontaine, The Right Moves : Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers, NALP, 2006 KF297 .F668 2006

Kathy Morris, Ask the Career Counselors : Answers for Lawyers on their Lives and Life's Work, American Bar Association, 2003  KF297.Z9 M665 2003

Carl Horn, Lawyerlife : Finding a Life and a Higher Calling in the Practice of Law, American Bar Association, 2003 KF297.Z9 H67 2003

Gary A. Munneke, The Legal Career Guide: From Law Student to Lawyer,  4th ed., American Bar Association, 2002  KF297 .M86 2002

Susan Echaore-McDavid, Career Opportunities in Law and the Legal Industry, Facts On File, 2002 KF297 .E245 2002

Donna Gerson, Building Career Connections : Networking Tools for Law Students and New Lawyers, NALP 2007 HD69.S8 G38 2007

Donna Gerson,  Choosing Small, Choosing Smart: Job Search Strategies for Lawyers in the Small Firm Market, NALP, 2001 KF. 297 .G48

Christen Civiletto Carey, Full Disclosure: The New Lawyer's Must-Read Career Guide, 2nd ed.,  ALM Publishing, 2001 KF297 .C37 2001

Kathy Morris,  Objection Overruled: Overcoming Obstacles in the Lawyer Job Search, American Bar Association, 2000   KF 297 .Z9 M67

Lisa L. Abrams, The official guide to legal specialties : an insider's guide to every major practice area, National Association for Law Placement, 2000 KF297 .A758 2000

Kimm Alayne Walton, Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams, Harcourt Brace & Co., 1995 KF 297.W34 1995

Gary A. Munneke, Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers, 5^th ed.,  American Bar Association, 2006 KF297 .M862 2006  

Deborah Schneider, Should You Really be a Lawyer? : The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During & After Law School, DecisionBooks, 2005 KF297 .S36 2005 

Deborah L. Arron, What Can You Do With a Law Degree?  A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside, & Around the Law, 5 th ed., DecisionBooks, 2004 KF297.Z9 A722 2004

Learn about the Courts in the geographic area of your practice:  Find the courthouse location, locate local rules and local forms as proscribed by the court.

Ohio Supreme Court See the FAQ prepared by the Clerk's Office. The Public Information Office posts a list of phone numbers at the court for contact information by subject area.

Ohio Rules of Court  Includes the official and unannotated versions of rules promulgated by the Ohio Supreme Court and applicable to all the courts of Ohio. Opinions and Announcements, Specialized Dockets; Forms

Eighth District Court of Appeals Local Rules of the Eighth District Court of Appeals Local Forms, Opinions and weekly case lists Docket

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

               Local Rules of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
               Opinions

Civil Docket ;  Criminal Docket

               Domestic Relations Division
               Local Rules of the Domestic Relations Division  
               Forms and Guidelines

               Probate Court Division Docket Fiduciary Forms    
 
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
                Local Rules of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
                Forms and Notices pertaining to proceedings in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
                Opinions

United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio

                Local Rules of  the US District Court, Northern District of Ohio
                Forms

United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio
                Local Rules for the Court appear under the tab Filer Information, Code and Rules.
                Forms  Including official forms for all Bankruptcy Courts as well as local forms for the                             Northern District, appear under the tab Forms and Publications.

Other Court Records and Dockets:

PACER   (Federal Court dockets) Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and from the U.S. Party/Case Index.  Note: PACER requires registration and results are not free (currently $.08 page) A PACER login and password allows access to Federal case and docket information in all approved Federal Judiciary electronic public access programs including PACER, RACER, CM/ECF, and the U.S. Party/Case Index.

U.S. Courts: The Federal Judiciary The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts provides links to all federal courts web sites, PACER service center, and other federal court information.

LLRX Court Rules, Forms and Dockets Links to over 1,400 sources for state and federal court rules, forms and dockets.

Virtual Chase Research Guides include Civil Court Records  Criminal Records 

Learn the requirements of practice and ethical rules governing the profession in your jurisdiction:

The Continuing Legal Education requirements for Ohio Attorneys are set out on the web page of the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Continuing Legal Education, including a searchable and sortable index of CLE approved activities: View approved activities or approved self-study activities.

Check the rules for Attorney Registration in the jurisdictions where you plan to practice.

Know the rules of attorney ethics and conduct, as well as the disciplinary procedures in effect in the jurisdiction.  In Ohio, see:

Ohio Rules of Court: Code of Professional Responsibility

Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism:  See Gov. Bar. Rule XV. - Commission on Professionalism ; Professionalism CLE Guidelines ; Statement on Professionalism ; A lawyer's creed ; A lawyer's aspirational ideals ; A judicial creed

Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct (effective February 1, 2007)

Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law : The Board of Commissioners on the Unauthorized Practice of Law of the Supreme Court of Ohio is established by Rule VII of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio and consists of twelve members who are appointed to a three-year term by the Supreme Court. The Board conducts hearings, preserves the record, and makes findings and recommendations to the Supreme Court in cases involving the alleged unauthorized practice of law. The Board is also authorized to issue informal nonbinding advisory opinions on matters concerning the unauthorized practice of law.

Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline: The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline is a twenty-eight member commission appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court. The Board's Duties are as follows: issuing final recommendations to the Supreme Court on formal disciplinary charges against Ohio's lawyers and judges; monitoring and assisting the certified grievance committees in the regulation of the legal profession; and issuing advisory ethics opinions. In addition to the duties required by the Ohio constitution and Gov.Bar R.V, the Board serves as a facilitator and resource for upholding the highest principles of the legal profession. It is dedicated to furthering the goals of self-regulation of the bench and bar; enhancing the public's access to information and participation in the Supreme Court's regulation of the legal profession and the judiciary; and to assisting and encouraging Ohio attorneys and judges through advice, guidance and education, to observe the standards of professional responsibility so as to prevent ethical abuses and attendant harm to Ohio's citizens and its system of justice.

Cleveland Bar Association Ethics Inquiry Service: The Ethics Inquiry Service is a benefit that the Cleveland Bar Association provides to its members. The Service, administered through the Ethics and Professionalism Committee, is designed to assist members in making informed ethical decision about their own prospective conduct. The Service is not intended to give legal advice, opinions or conclusions of law. Rather, it is intended to provide our members with ethical information that may factor into their own analysis and independent decision-making process. Members are expected to exercise their own professional judgment in the matter into which they are inquiring.

Cleveland Bar Association: Filing a Complaint Against an Attorney

Cuyahoga County Bar Association: Grievance/fee Dispute ; Certified Grievance Committees

Ohio State Bar Association articles: Ohio Code of  Professional Responsibility Governs Attorneys' Actions;  How to File a Complaint ; Lawyer Ethics and Discipline Professionalism CLE Guidelines, of the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Professionalism, June 14, 2002

Other ethics and professional responsibility web resources include:

American Legal Ethics Library at Cornell University's Legal Information Institute, contains codes and rules setting standards for the professional conduct of lawyers and commentary on the law governing lawyers, organized on a state by state basis.

Legal Ethics Research Guide from the Virtual Chase: Provides comprehensive links to Federal Agencies and ethics related organizations, annotated list of web resources, and links to ethics resources for the fifty states.

LegalEthics.com, maintained by Internet Legal Services,  offers commentary and links to  ethics opinions, government agencies dealing with professional ethics issues, and other Web resources dealing with professional ethics.

Findlaw's Professional Responsibility Resources include links to lawyers and firms, witnesses, documents, briefs, articles and books, message boards, and other web based resources.

Selected ethics and professional responsibility titles available at  the Cleveland-Marshall Law Library:

Report of the Supreme Court Task Force on Rules of Professional Conduct. West Pub./Ohio State Bar Association, 2005 KFO76.5.A2 O352 2005

Jack A.Guttenberg and Lloyd B. Snyder, The Law of Professional Responsibility in Ohio, Anderson, 1992  RR KFO76.5.A2 G97 1992

ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct. Chicago : American Bar Association ; Washington, D.C. : Bureau of National Affairs, c1984-  KF305.A8 A116

Geoffrey C. Hazard, The Law of Lawyering, 3rd ed., Aspen, 2001 KF306 .H333

National Reporter on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility. University Publications of America, 1991-   KF308.A6 N382

ABA Compendium of Professional Responsibility Rules and Standards, Center for Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association, 1997-   KF305 .A2

Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 5th ed., Center for Professional Responsibility, American Bar Association, c2003  KF305.A16 A482 2003

Model Rules for Client Protection, American Bar Association, Center for Professional Responsibility, c2002  KF311.Z9 M62 2002

Restatement of the Law, the Law Governing Lawyers,  American Law Institute Publishers, 2000 - KF300 .R469

Ronald D. Rotunda, Professional Responsibility , 7th ed. West Group, c2004  KF306.Z9 R67 2004

Eugene P. Whetzel, Conflicts of Interest, Ohio State Bar Association, 1996 KFO76.5.A2 W48 1996

Do you need a refresher in legal research techniques?

The Virtual Chase research guides for legal professionals inform about research strategies for legal and factual research.

Cornell Law Library's Legal Research Encyclopedia is a topical and jurisdictional arrangement of legal resources in all available formats with access to research guides and links for countries worldwide.

Many resources in the Cleveland-Marshall Law Library collection can help you refine your legal research skills; among the best are:

Robert C. Berring, Finding the Law, 12th ed., West, 2005 KF240 .B45 2005

Morris L. Cohen & Kent C. Olson, Legal Research in a Nutshell, 8th ed., West, 2003 KF240 .C54 2003

J. Myron Jacobstein, Roy M. Mersky, & Donald J. Dunn, Fundamentals of Legal Research, 7th ed., Foundation Press, 1998 KF240 .J32 1998

Christina L. Kunz, The Process of Legal Research: Successful Strategies, 6th ed., Aspen, 2004  KF240 .P76 2004

Amy E. Sloan, Basic Legal Research : Tools and Strategies, 3d ed., Aspen, 2006 KF240 .S585 2006

Anne M. Stevens, Finding, Reading, and Using the Law, West/Thomson Learning, 2002  KF240 .S784 2002

Investigate all the alternative plans for accessing electronic legal resources:

Lexis and Westlaw each offer a variety of plans tailored for the different needs and types of legal practice.

Other online legal research services on a smaller scale include Fastcase ( Free to members of the Cleveland Bar Association ), Versuslaw, and Loislaw.  The Ohio State Bar Association offers its Casemaker online research service as a benefit of membership.


Topical online legal research providers include the Bureau of National Affairs, Commerce Clearinghouse, and Research Institute of America.


Legal resources on the Internet continue to proliferate.  Make the most of free resources at sites such as Findlaw and Lexisone.

Learn about the business of legal practice:

We list a few selections from the Law Library's collection of law practice guides:

James A Durham and Deborah McMurray, eds., The Lawyer's Guide to Marketing Your Practice, American Bar Association, 2004 KF316.5 .L38 2004 

Thomas C, Grella, The Lawyer's Guide to Strategic Planning : Defining, Setting, and Achieving Your Firm's Goals,  ABA Law Practice Management Section, 2004  KF318.Z9 G745 2004

Edward Poll, Collecting Your Fee : Getting Paid From Intake to Invoice. American Bar Association, 2003 KF316 .P65 2003

Stefan H. Krieger, Essential lawyering skills : interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and persuasive fact analysis. 2nd. ed.  Aspen, 2003 KF300 .E84 2003

Edward Poll,  Attorney and Law Firm Guide to the Business of Law: Planning and Operating for Survival and Growth, 2002 KF315.Z9 P64 2002

John R. Sapp, Making Partner : a Guide for Law Firm Associates, 3rd ed. American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section, 2006 KF300.Z9 G74 2006

Henry W. Ewalt, Through the Client's Eyes : New Approaches to Get Clients to Hire You Again and Again , 2nd. ed. ABA Law Practice Management Section, 2002 KF311 .E92 2002

K. William Gibson, ed., Flying Solo: A Survival Guide for the Solo and Small Firm Lawyer, 4th. ed.,  American Bar Association, 2005  KF300.Z9 F53 2005

Achieving Excellence in the Practice of Law : the Lawyer's Guide with Practice Checklists, 2d. ed. American Law Institute-American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education, 2000 KF300 .P72 2000

Gerald M. Singer, How to Go Directly Into Your Own Solo Law Practice and Succeed into the New Millennium and Beyond, West Group, 2000  KF300 .S56 2000

Kimm Alayne Walton,  What Law School Doesn't Teach You - But You Really Need to Know: Expert Tips & Strategies for Making Your Legal Career a Huge Success, Harcourt Legal & Professional Publications, 2000 KF 297 .W344

Robert C. Wert and Howard I Hatoff, ed., Law Office Policy & Procedures Manual, rev. 5th ed., American Bar Association, 2006 KF318 .R64 2006

Demetrios Dimitriou, Law Office Procedures Manual for Solos and Small Firms,  3d. ed., American Bar Association, 2005 KF318 .D55 2005

Jay G. Foonberg, How to Start and Build a Law Practice, 5th rev. ed.  American Bar Association, 2004 KF300.Z9 F66 2004 

Schuyler M. Moore, What They Don't Teach You in Law School, F.B. Rothman, 2001 KF300 .M66 2001

Learn about Library resources available to you:

Wherever you practice, get to know the libraries in your area and what services they offer. At Cleveland-Marshall, we offer special services to alumni, including access to an alumni computer room, and a special borrowing card.   In order to obtain a Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Library alumni borrower's card fill out an application and return it to the Library's Information Services desk or fax it to (216)687-5098.   Once your application has been processed, we will send your borrower's card to you through the mail. 

Your firm librarian can be a valuable research assistant. The local public library, county or subscription law library, as well as university law libraries all provide different kinds of collections and service structures which may enhance your legal practice.

You'll also want to get some essentials for your own office library.  See our list of Selected Publishers for contact information and web sites of the major legal publishers and vendors.