Law school is a mountainous endeavour for anyone courageous enough to brave both the academic and financial challenges.  Not only do you face stiff competition during the application process, but continued to excellence throughout school is imperative for a successful career. The current job market in the United States is slowly improving, but if you are about to graduate law school, keep these tips in mind when thinking about your first post-graduate job.

Keep your grades up

Even if it is your final semester and you have accepted that offer from your 2L, keep your grades up.  Your GPA will remain with you for the rest of your life, no matter how much experience you have.  Firms regularly request the transcripts of associate candidates at all levels, and occasionally even those of partners with decades in practice.  As unimportant as it may seem, those extra couple of hours at the bar with friends before finals may come back to haunt you down the road.

Stay in touch with your contacts

It is one of the most cliche statements when it comes to job searches and career development, but make the most of the network you have developed while in school.  Your classmates will go on to work in all branches of the legal world, and you never know when their connections will come in handy down the line.  Two years might have passed since your 1L, so it can be a great excercise to track down any associates or partners you might have been close to.  Chances are, at least a few of them will have moved to another firm or in-house by now.

Stay optimistic

While recent industry statistics are rather bleak when it comes to the economy, there is good news on the horizon. The Charlotte Observer noted that law school graduates in North Carolina were benefiting from a slight increase in hiring in 2012.  Trends are looking the same nationwide.  Just like doctors, soldiers and priests, the world will always need lawyers, so you will eventually find the position that is right for you.