Just laid off at Biglaw - advice?

[Anonymous]

Just got the bad news that DH was laid off at Biglaw. I am a SAHM with 2 special needs kids. We rent, no huge pool of savings, no well to do relatives. Advice? I am terrified.

[Anonymous]

No real advice, but a big virtual hug. This will be hard on both of you, so be kind to one another.

[Anonymous]

Can he do doc review etc. while collecting unemployment/severance? Im so very sorry. I would reach out to his network as well. I work but make about 1/5 of what my husband does (I teach at private and he is Biglaw) and this is my nightmare. I would feel totally terrified as well, but he must have a great resume to have been working in big law so I am sure something will connect.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry! Does his firm offer outplacement? Many big firms in town pay for career transition counseling as part of their severance package. The best outplacement firm in town is Shannon & Manch. Their counselors/coaches know the legal market and help with everything from networking and job search to resumes, interviewing and negotiating offers. It's a lifesaver!

Beyond that, my advice is for him to NETWORK. Reach out to everyone he knows and use his law firm's alumni database to locate firm alums in other firms, in-house and in government. He should stay away from DC Bar networking events and the like. Do it one-on-one -- and don't hesitate to ask friends for introductions.

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Don't be afraid to look nationwide...the world will always need lawyers and you could have a great adventure!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Just paid the bills and we are down to about 3 months of tight living expenses in the bank. First grader has only heard "laid off" but has asked what will happen when we become homeless. Friends have offered a temporary spare room but we are a family of 4. I am not even sure that the terror has really hit yet. Not sure we can afford even subsidized COBRA, laid off friends have put their kids on DC Medicaid. This seems so unreal. With DH loans and the kids' therapies we lived so close to the bone, didn't save enough for emergencies. The firm does provide outplacement, I think it might be the group mentioned above. Any good thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Are there Headhunters for lawyers? I would think he'd be snapped up pretty quick around here.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear, OP. The good news is, he can get a job anywhere. Seriously. He is better off than most.
Most of us have no well to so relatives. Is THAT what people really think? Wow.

I am trying to be sympathetic, but your post sounds a bit entitled. As if everyone else is rich or something.

Anyway, if anywhere is equipped to handle a bunch of laid off lawyers, it should be D.C.

[Anonymous]

So sorry.

The above PPs have it right: (1) Network the hell out of every contact.

(2) Do doc review to make cash in the meantime. Actually this might be the 1st thing he should do.

(3) Cut any expenses you can; look at your bills to see if you can reduce phone expenses, etc.

[Anonymous]

Start the process of deferring student loans now. It sucks but it's better than not being able to cover rent. Contact legal temp agencies asap - I know that there are a ton of people trying to use them but if you're good you'll get a foot in the door and once a proven commodity it could keep some money coming in. I also agree with what PP's have said about networking - very important. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hear, OP. The good news is, he can get a job anywhere. Seriously. He is better off than most.
Most of us have no well to so relatives. Is THAT what people really think? Wow.

I am trying to be sympathetic, but your post sounds a bit entitled. As if everyone else is rich or something.

Anyway, if anywhere is equipped to handle a bunch of laid off lawyers, it should be D.C.

I didn't interpret her post as entitled, just that she was putting it out there to avoid the "can you ask a relative for help, can you turn to your parents?" type of posts.

And frankly if we got laid off, we COULD turn to my parents easily, and I know others in that situation as well. I wouldn't call them "well to do" but they could help, and OP was just saying hers are not in that position (that's how I read it).

[Anonymous]

Big hug. I know a lot of people who have gotten laid off from Big Law in the past couple years, and the hopeful part is that none of them stayed unemployed for very long. I don't think any of them have gone back to Big Law, but in the end they are happier for it (a little less money, a lot more life). I'm so sorry that this had to be forced upon your family though - this was my worst nightmare too before I jumped to government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just paid the bills and we are down to about 3 months of tight living expenses in the bank. First grader has only heard "laid off" but has asked what will happen when we become homeless. Friends have offered a temporary spare room but we are a family of 4. I am not even sure that the terror has really hit yet. Not sure we can afford even subsidized COBRA, laid off friends have put their kids on DC Medicaid. This seems so unreal. With DH loans and the kids' therapies we lived so close to the bone, didn't save enough for emergencies. The firm does provide outplacement, I think it might be the group mentioned above. Any good thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

Did he not get a severance package?

I'd really consider moving in with family. Cut everything you don't need.

[Anonymous]

The legal market isn't great right now, and even if her DH finds something it probably will not be enough to make ends meet if their budget is that tight (2 lawyer family here). I second the advice of moving in with family asap - a good friend of mine (she was the breadwinner) had to do that for 9 months and it was really tough to swallow but it was best for them. Also agree about immediately deferring student loans and anything else you can. Document review is a good place to start to at least get some income while he is networking and looking, but I understand that even document review jobs aren't so easy to come by, the headhunting firms are posting openings but it's more to build up their database for when the real work comes in. I know you have 2 special needs kids but can you go back to work and hire a sitter for them when your husband has interviews etc (not sure if your kids are in school FT and what your employment history is)?

[Anonymous]

DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

How old are your children? Are they in school most of the time? If so, you should find part-time work ASAP. What kind of field were you in before SAH?

Good luck, OP.