After college, what is the best way to get a job at a law firm?

I have a J.D. and I am married to a lawyer who worked at a very large prestigious law firm.
When you say work at a firm do you mean as an attorney or just in administration? There are many jobs in firms.

I am going to assume you mean as an attorney. First you must go to law school which takes 3 years and you must get VERY good grades, do clinics, and write for a journal to be hired at a very good law firm. Try to go to a law school that is in the 1st tier. These are usually the law schools ranked 1-50.
But If you go to a local law school in a city that you want to live in then the school does not have to be 1st tier as there will be many alumni in the city that will hire you if you have very good grades.

If you were referring to administrative positions in a law firm- you need admin experience. I suggest doing internships that give you admin experience. If you are interested in becoming a paralegal- there are certificates that you can get to prepare for that position. Also go to a large law firms website and look in their careers section- look at the qualifications. For example go to: Latham and Watkins and look at their careers section.

Also- Law schools like diverse experience. You do not have to work in a firm before law school- you can have any background and go to law school and become a lawyer. Your personal statement has to explain why you want to go you law school. Volunteering at a firm is helpful in that you can see what it's like to work in a firm.

Remember you do not have to work in a firm. Lawyers work for non-profits, the government, and as inside counsel for companies. For example- Google has a legal department as does MTV. Working in a large firm as an attorney will give you great experience if you want to work for a company later.

I hope you find this helpful.

Find a law firm where you can do volunteer hours and ask as many questions as you can. Also take a lot of notes. Also go to the law libraries and research related cases that you might be allowed to volunteer to research

I would definitely suggest you do some research on any law firms in your area and contact them about a potential internship position, or volunteer hours you can do. Although they might not be asking upfront for interns or volunteers, many firms welcome students who have an interest in the profession! Once you find a few from your searching, contact them via email, then follow up with a phone call to ensure their receipt of your message.

I just recently worked with a student who plans on becoming a lawyer, and sought out the opportunity to volunteer at a firm himself. While he was stuck doing some of the administrative work, it still got him to be in the environment he has hopes working in, in the near future. Also, remember... the answer will always be "no" if you never ask. If you show initiative and the desire to learn, I'm sure you'll be all over the office. It'll look great on your resume as well.

Best Regards!