Law Practice Magazine released a report on what's "sizzling and fizzling" in the legal profession. Below are a few of the top legal trends shaping today's legal industry.

• Offshoring – The transfer of legal work to low-wage markets overseas is beoming more prevalent.
• De-Equitization – More firms are demoting equity lawyers to boost law firm revenues.
• Bankruptcy Law – The economic slowdown has led to an increase in bankruptcy work.
• Legal Recruiting – Smaller law school classes have led to increased competition for top talent among the AM Law 100.
• Billable Hour Reform – Many industry insiders are advocating the elimination of the billable hour in favor of alternative billing methods.
• Work-Life Balance – An increasing number of law firms are implementing new policies to promote a better work/life balance in the profession.
• Flexible Partnership Tracks – Law firms are creating new tiers of associates and partners to promote more flexibility in the workplace.
• Labor and Employment Law - New EEOC rulings and a rise in employment discrimination claims has made labor and employment a hot practice area.
• Family Law - Family law, particularly fertility law, is a hot area due to rising surrogacy rates and infertility issues.

For the past seven years, the legal industry has experienced double-digit growth and, despite the economic slowdown, the legal profession is thriving. Hundreds of career options exist in the legal profession and many do not require an expensive, time-consuming legal education. A legal career offers many personal, intellectual and financial rewards. Review these top 10 reasons to choose a career in the legal profession and learn why there is no better time than the present to embark on a legal career.

Want to boost your career? Step outside your comfort zone to learn new skills and broaden your knowledge base. Here are 10 tips for going above and beyond the scope of your position:

1. Don’t wait for work to come to you. Proactively seek new assignments and responsibilities.
2. Take the initiative to complete the next step without being asked (for example, don't just perform the research, write the brief).
3. Assume responsibilities and assignments outside your job description to expand your knowledge and gain new skills.
4. Volunteer for a committee within your organization that is outside your job function.
5. Think outside the box to find ways to streamline work processes.
6. Attend CLE’s and educational seminars outside your practice area.
7. Learn new technology skills that will enhance your job function.
8. Volunteer for projects in another department or practice group.
9. Challenge the status quo by suggesting areas of improvement or new ways to boost the bottom line.
10. Assume new roles - mentor, leader, tutor, go-to person - to add value to your organization.

An article in The American Lawyer paints an optimistic picture of the future of the legal profession, at least for the nation’s largest law firms. Based on various forecasting techniques, including historical performance, the article makes the following projections for the year 2025:

• A 1,000-lawyer firm will be considered midsize.
• Profits per partner will approach $20 million in some firms.
• Projected revenues of some firms will total nearly $23 billion.
• Firms will be larger, more complex and more geographically dispersed.

The author concludes that “the projections make it clear that U.S. corporate law firms of the future will be wealthier, larger and more international than they were in the past.” While this forecast is promising, only time will tell if the Am Law 100 will truly be a “land of enormous opportunity and wealth.”

When many people think of careers in the law, they think of lawyers. However, the legal industry holds hundreds of legal career options. What's more, many legal careers do not require an expensive law degree or a time-consuming education. From e-discovery professionals, mediators and trial consultants to paralegals, compliance specialists and court reporters, the legal field encompasses a diverse range of skills and experience. Learn about the many legal career opportunities that exist in today's thriving legal industry.

Stellar grades and work experience do not guarantee a job offer. You must be able to interview well. Interviewing is a skill that can be refined through practice and preparation. Although preparing for an interview seems like a no-brainer, it is surprising how many job candidates I’ve interviewed that were not prepared. Here are a few ways you can prepare for your next interview.

Research the Employer

In preparing for an interview, it is important to research the firm or company as well as the people you will be meeting with, if you have their names. There are many simple ways to research legal employers and learn valuable information such as business history, practice areas, clients, work culture, hiring practices and more. Since research skills are vital to the legal profession, coming to an interview with no knowledge of the employer can defeat your chance of winning the job.

Prepare Your Pitch

The purpose of an interview is to sell yourself. Think about the skills, experience and unique talents you have to offer and prepare a two to five-minute pitch that highlights that information. You can inject this information into conversations with interviewers or in response to open-ended questions such as “Tell me about yourself” or “Why did you go into law?” Considering your skills and talents beforehand will also help you formulate answers under pressure.

Prepare Questions for the Interviewer

Most employers believe it is extremely important for job candidates to ask questions during an interview. It’s often helpful to prepare a list of questions before the interview. If you don’t have any questions following an interview, fake it and ask a few questions anyway in order to demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for the job.

The legal landscape has changed in recent years and so have legal resumes. An effective resume is more than a litany of job titles and responsibilities, it highlights your accomplishments in concrete and specific terms. A stand-out resume is short, concise and crafted so every word contributes to your marketing message. Review these 10 legal resume mistakes to learn what not to include in your resume.

The federal government mailed tax rebate checks to nearly 8 million taxpayers in the past week. The rebate program, part of an economic stimulus package aimed at boosting a sluggish economy, will only succeed if Americans actually spend their rebate cash, according to CNN. However, some of you may want to use this newfound money to pay down hefty law school debt or build up your savings. How do you plan to spend your rebate cash?

The key to landing a job after graduation is legal work experience. Many legal employers today don’t want to train lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries and other professionals. They seek to hire employees who can hit the ground running.

How do you find a job in the legal field without any work experience? One way is through volunteer work. Legal volunteer opportunities abound in law firms, corporations, public interest firms and other venues. You can locate volunteer opportunities through your local bar association, legal aid office or your school’s career services office.

Volunteering is only one of many ways to gain work experience. Review "6 Ways to Gain Legal Work Experience" to learn other ways to get your foot in the door.

Want to nail your next interview? Check out what hiring managers and employees are saying in Vault's new Interview Etiquette Survey. Here are a few highlights:

What Are Hiring Managers Saying?

• 80% of employers surveyed believe sending a thank-you note after an interview is important.
• 98% believe that e-mail is an appropriate way to send a thank-you note.
• 82% of hiring managers believe it is important to ask questions during an interview.
• The most common interview faux pas is inappropriate dress.
• Nearly half of employers surveyed have rescinded a job offer.

What’s Your Competition Doing?

• 60% of employees surveyed spend 2 or more hours preparing for a job interview.
• Over three quarters have never been late to an interview.
• 72% send thank you notes after a job interview most or almost all of the time.
• 96% come to an interview with questions prepared.
• Almost half have contacted an interviewer to find out why they didn’t get the job.

To learn how to shine in an interview, check out Interview Strategies for Legal Professionals.