How Law Firms Really Hire: A Recruiter’s Insider Guide for Law Students with Marketta Jokinen

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 recruitmentHow being “curious” can reduce anxiety and improve interviewsWhy firms struggle with “I’m open to everything” candidates—and what to say insteadHow to narrow your focus without pigeonholing yourselfWhat recruiters actually notice when reviewing hundreds of résumésHow to turn your résumé from a list of duties into compelling accomplishmentsThe role of storytelling in interviews—and how to avoid sounding over-rehearsedHow preparation builds confidence and makes the process more enjoyableChoosing between boutique, mid-size, and large firms—and why applying broadly mattersFinding “your people” and assessing firm fit beyond rankings and perksMarketta also shares practical, immediately usable tips for:Writing stronger cover lettersPreparing interview storiesUnderstanding what firms are really hiring forApproaching 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/