Lawyer Launcher - Behind the Bar

What if nobody tells you that you're not on track to get hired back?

In Part 2 of this Behind the Bar series, Susan Van Dyke explores two more invisible warning signs that law students and summer students often miss.

You may still be getting assignments. People may still be friendly. Nobody may have given you negative feedback.

But behind the scenes, partners are making decisions.

Are they coming back to you for more work?

Are they confident in your work product?

Do they trust you with their files?

Drawing on decades of experience working inside and alongside law firms, Susan explains what these signals really mean, why students often miss them, and most importantly, how to course correct before it becomes a bigger problem.

You'll learn:

• Why lawyers stop returning with additional assignments
• What repeated corrections to your work may be telling you
• How trust is built inside a law firm
• Why visibility and responsiveness matter more than you think
• Practical ways to improve your reputation immediately
• How to recover when you sense confidence is slipping

If you're a summer student, articling student, law student, or junior associate, this episode may help you spot issues early and take action before opportunities disappear.

Lawyer Launcher links:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters

00:05 - Introduction and Part 2 Overview
01:22 - Welcome to the Lawyer Launcher Podcast
01:57 - Mindset Shift: From a 9-to-5 to Legal Professionalism
02:51 - Support the Show: Subscribe and Share
03:24 - Understanding Subtle Signals in Law Firms
04:00 - Invisible Sign #3: Past Assigning Lawyers Aren't Coming Back to You
09:58 - How to Fix Sign #3: Re-engaging and Building a New Pipeline
12:57 - Office Visibility vs. Remote Work Strategy
15:42 - Invisible Sign #4: Misinterpreting Too Much Feedback
18:21 - How to Fix Sign #4: Managing Up and Getting Better Instructions
20:34 - Utilizing Internal Resources and Law Librarians
21:36 - Collaborating with Paralegals and Assistants
23:07 - The Final Pass: Ensuring Work Accuracy and Quality
27:38 - Summary of the 4 Invisible Signals and Final Takeaways

How do you actually know if you’re on track to get hired back at your law firm?

The answer isn’t obvious. Firms rarely tell you directly. But they do signal it — quietly, consistently, and early.

In this episode, I walk you through the subtle signs that law students miss, including how your work is evolving, how feedback is being given, and what lawyers are really thinking when they decide who to invest in.

More importantly, I show you exactly what to do if you start seeing these signals — how to course correct, how to ask for feedback, and how to position yourself as someone lawyers want to work with again.

If you’re starting your first law firm role, this is essential listening.

Lawyer Launcher links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:45 Why firms don’t tell you directly
03:30 This is your career, not just a job
05:40 Sign 1: Your work isn’t evolving
08:30 How to fix it and earn better work
11:30 Sign 2: You’re not getting real feedback
14:30 How to ask for feedback properly
17:15 What to do if work is drying up
20:30 The email that gets you feedback
22:50 What lawyers are really evaluating
25:00 You’re not a top candidate — now what
27:30 How to make feedback easy for lawyers
29:10 What to say in a feedback meeting
30:00 Final thoughts

In this episode of Lawyer Launcher, Behind the Bar, Susan speaks with Claudio Klaus, a Brazilian trained lawyer now articling in Ontario and host of Studying Law Around the World. Claudio shares what he learned from speaking with more than 75 University of Toronto Law alumni as part of the school’s 75th anniversary project, including the two themes that came up again and again: there is no single legal career path, and networking is not optional.

This conversation is especially useful for law students who are trying to figure out recruitment, articling, coffee chats, LinkedIn, international pathways, and the invisible job market. Claudio explains why credentials matter, but not as much as students think, and why communication, curiosity, generosity, and genuine relationships often create the opportunities that job boards never show you.

It is a practical, encouraging conversation for any law student feeling behind, uncertain, or discouraged about their path into the profession. Claudio’s 75 conversations project is also featured by the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, which notes that he spoke with more than 75 lawyers and found recurring advice around staying open, taking risks, building genuine relationships, and staying curious.

Show notes:
Guest: Claudio Klaus
Podcast website: https://law-learn-link.base44.app/
Podcast link: https://pod.link/1547616885
75 Lawyers, 75 Stories: https://jackmanlaw.utoronto.ca/news/75-years-75-stories
Claudio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudioklaus/

Lawyer Launcher links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lawyerlauncher/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke/

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Chapters
 01:50 Why Claudio interviewed 75 lawyers
 03:40 Two themes from 75 lawyer conversations
 06:51 The harder than expected path to being called
 08:41 Building an international legal career
 14:52 What is your legal career pathway
 19:03 Why networking and communication matter
 21:28 Coffee chats with law students
 27:35 What matters more than credentials
 30:09 Why interpersonal skills matter in law firms
 39:00 If LinkedIn was a law student
 39:35 Seeds law students can plant now
 41:08 Encouragement for discouraged law students
 42:46 The invisible legal job market
 43:56 What is next for Claudio’s podcast

Most law students think networking means being charming, confident, and effortlessly good at small talk.

It doesn’t.

It means not knowing what to say.
It means standing in a room full of lawyers and wondering how to enter a conversation.
It means overthinking every word and then replaying it later like a bad exam answer.

And here is the problem.

The students who figure this out early build relationships … and get hired back.
The ones who avoid it stay invisible.

Susan Van Dyke breaks down what networking in a law firm actually looks like, why most students are getting it wrong and how to engage more comfortably.

This is not about being outgoing or “good with people.”
It’s about understanding how trust is built in a professional environment and how small, consistent interactions shape how lawyers see you.

Susan covers:
- how to start conversations without sounding awkward
- what to say at firm events, coffee chats, and hallway run-ins
- why listening is more powerful than talking
- how to follow up in a way that actually builds relationships
- why being quiet and invisible is not a strategy
- how to show up at firm socials without hurting your reputation

If networking makes you uncomfortable, this episode will help you stop avoiding it and start approaching it in a way that feels natural, thoughtful, and effective.

Because in a law firm, relationships are not optional.

They are how your career actually moves forward.

Lawyer Launcher links
Instagram: instagram.com/lawyerlauncher
TikTok: tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher
YouTube: youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke

Starting at your first law firm can feel exciting, awkward, intimidating, and strangely high stakes, all at the same time.

In this solo episode of Lawyer Launcher, I break down what orientation is really about, what law firms are actually paying attention to in your first few days, and how law students can build trust, confidence, and credibility from day one.

This is not fluff. It is practical advice about what to do when you arrive, how to engage during orientation, what invisible mistakes to avoid, how to interact with lawyers and staff, and how to manage the discomfort of being new without disappearing into the wallpaper.

If you are a summer student, articling student, or law student about to start in a firm, this episode will help you look more prepared, feel less lost, and understand what your first week is really doing to shape your reputation.

Show notes

Episode topic:
What orientation is really about, what firms notice immediately, and how law students can make smart, practical moves in their first week.

Guest
This is a solo episode, so there are no guest links for this one.

Lawyer Launcher links
Instagram: instagram.com/lawyerlauncher
TikTok: tiktok.com/@lawyerlauncher
YouTube: youtube.com/@LawyerLauncher-BTB
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/susanpvandyke

This episode breaks down what actually determines whether law students get hired back after a summer, articling, or internship position.
Susan cuts through three persistent myths that mislead students from day one: that good work is enough, that mentorship will be structured and consistent, and that someone else is responsible for your development.
Instead, she explains how law firms really operate. Time is scarce, expectations are implicit, and the students who succeed are the ones who take ownership early. This episode gives you a practical framework for standing out in an environment that can feel unstructured and unpredictable.
If you are heading into a law firm role or trying to secure a return offer, this is essential listening.

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In this episode of Lawyer Launcher: Behind the Bar, Susan Van Dyke sits down with leadership coach and former Big Law professional Megan Mallister to unpack one of the most misunderstood success factors in law firms: emotional intelligence.

Law school teaches you how to think. It does not teach you how to navigate personalities, manage pressure, receive feedback, or build trust inside a firm.

Megan reframes “soft skills” as power skills — the capabilities that differentiate lawyers who simply survive from those who thrive.

They discuss:

• What emotional intelligence really means in a law firm environment
  
  
• Why stress is where EQ actually gets tested
  
  
• How to “manage up” and clarify expectations with partners
  
  
• The right way to receive constructive feedback
  
  
• How to create your own development plan as a summer or articling student
  
  
• Why you need an internal “board of directors” instead of just one mentor
  
  
• How to zoom out when early-career pressure feels overwhelming
  
  

If you are preparing to enter your first firm — or trying to stand out in a competitive environment — this episode offers practical tools, scripts, and mindset shifts that will serve you for your entire career.

These are not soft skills.
They are career-defining skills.

EPISODE NOTES:

Megan McAllister Consulting and Coaching: https://www.meganmcallister.ca/ 

Megan’s LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-mcallister/ 

In this episode of Lawyer Launcher, mediator Mark Tweedy, K.C,  discusses the rapid growth of mediation across Canada and the U.S., particularly since 2020, and why it has become central to modern dispute resolution.

He explains that mediation is no longer a last-minute procedural step before trial—it is increasingly a strategic inflection point in litigation. Court backlogs, cost pressures, and client expectations have pushed lawyers to pursue resolution earlier and more deliberately.

Key themes include:

• Mediation as strategy, not compromise. Effective lawyers use mediation to shape risk, manage psychology, and test leverage—not simply “split the difference.”
• The psychology of settlement. Ego, perception of fairness, and emotional drivers often matter more than pure legal strength.
• What makes a strong mediation advocate. Preparation, credible risk analysis, and disciplined communication outperform theatrics.
• Common lawyer mistakes. Overconfidence, positional bargaining, and failing to understand the opposing party’s interests undermine resolution.
• Opportunities for junior lawyers. Observing negotiation dynamics and preparing strong briefs can significantly elevate their value in practice.

The episode ultimately reframes mediation as a core litigation competency and a sophisticated discipline requiring strategic judgment and interpersonal skill.

EPISODE NOTES:

Mark’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-tweedy-kc-9172941/ 

Mark Tweedy Mediation + Arbitration: https://marktweedy.com/ 

This episode is not about résumés.

It’s about how you run your job search — and who you become in the process.

In this solo episode of Lawyer Launcher - Behind the Bar, I’m speaking directly to law students and junior lawyers navigating the transition from law school to their first firm role.

After decades working inside and alongside law firms, advising leadership teams, recruiting lawyers, and mentoring students, I’ve seen one consistent truth:

Careers don’t happen by accident. They’re built deliberately.

In this episode, we go beyond recruitment tactics and focus on the structure, mindset, and professional habits that separate reactive candidates from strategic ones. We cover:

• Why searching for a job is a job
• How to normalize (and use) discomfort
• The reality of imposter syndrome at every level
• Why silence from firms isn’t personal
• How hiring actually works inside firms
• Why every interaction is part of your application
• Social media and LinkedIn — what firms really see
• How to build a networking system (not random coffee chats)
• Finding mentors who accelerate your growth
• Narrowing your focus without locking yourself in
• Why comparison will quietly sabotage you

This is about taking ownership early — not waiting for clarity, permission, or perfect timing.

If you’re in OCIs, articling recruitment, internships, or preparing for your first associate role, this episode gives you a practical roadmap you can implement immediately.

In this episode of the Lawyer Launcher podcast, Susan Van Dyke and Johanna Mills sit down with Marketta Jokinen, former national-firm lawyer, law firm recruiter, and career coach, to unpack what law students really need to know about law firm recruitment. Marketta is the Founder of Legal Talent Consultant and Career Coach at Current Talent.

With experience spanning private practice, a labour relations board, and national-firm recruitment and talent management, Marketta brings a rare 360-degree insider perspective on how firms assess candidates—and how students can stand out.

This conversation is essential listening for law students preparing for OCIs, in-firms, summer student applications, and articles, particularly at larger firms.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why mindset matters just as much as grades in law firm recruitment
  
  
• How being “curious” can reduce anxiety and improve interviews
  
  
• Why firms struggle with “I’m open to everything” candidates—and what to say instead
  
  
• How to narrow your focus without pigeonholing yourself
  
  
• What recruiters actually notice when reviewing hundreds of résumés
  
  
• How to turn your résumé from a list of duties into compelling accomplishments
  
  
• The role of storytelling in interviews—and how to avoid sounding over-rehearsed
  
  
• How preparation builds confidence and makes the process more enjoyable
  
  
• Choosing between boutique, mid-size, and large firms—and why applying broadly matters
  
  
• Finding “your people” and assessing firm fit beyond rankings and perks
  
  

Marketta also shares practical, immediately usable tips for:

• Writing stronger cover letters
  
  
• Preparing interview stories
  
  
• Understanding what firms are really hiring for
  
  
• Approaching recruitment as the first step in a long, successful legal career

 Episode notes:

Marketta Jokinen’s website is www.currenttalent.ca 

Markett’s LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/markettajokinen/