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What is something I can do or pursue that will help me bolster my CV?
2. Start freelancing (secretly, basically, moonlighting – you can always write it off in your CV as "Pro-Bono" projects when, in reality, you are being paid for it).
3. Judge competitions (national and international ones – and post about it on LinkedIn. Reach out to the OC via e-mail in the starting. Once you gain traction on LinkedIn, you will automatically get invites).
4. Deliver talks + lectures at conferences (in the starting, you will have to post about it on LinkedIn to gain traction. Once you do, same logic as point 3).
5. Do diploma courses. Or, if you can afford it, try for a foreign LLM. That will give you the most exposure/level-up in your CV.
6. Have some sort of accreditation – like an accredited mediator, arbitration, CS, CPA, etc. that is relevant to your field. That adds a lot of value.
7. Offer to write book chapters with esteemed advocates, professors, etc. Mail them. Use connections if any. Go leaps and beyond.
Mind you, these tips are coming from a final-year law student (me). The reason why I feel I am qualified to give these tips is because I have been doing independent freelancing work for the past 11 months now. And, as a (freelancing) professional, I know these are some things I'd do. Already do most of them. And none of them are opportunities I get from my law school. They are all things I did on my own. :)
But note: Despite doing "anything and everything" to bump my CV, i still haven't landed a job in a T-1 law firm. You generally need connections/privilege like being an NLU or a fancy private law school (facing this first-hand now). If you are in any tiered firm, I genuinely suggest you to increase the diversity of your work experience, i.e., quality and quantity of your matters + years of experience. It will help you laterally shift to better jobs, and this lateral shift, in and of itself, is the biggest "bump" on your CV.
Wishing you the best! If you do get into a T-1 Law firm, keep me in mind and give me a job haha!