Is it impossible to find work as an attorney right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your responses everyone. I am trying to network more and have expanded my search beyond law firms. I guess I just feel beaten down because all of my friends were able to secure jobs right after graduation. It's good to know that others struggled at first but eventually landed on their feet. Do you think working as an unpaid "law clerk" for a state court judge would be valuable experience, or would law firms see it as a waste because it isn't an official "clerkship"?

I've been out of the law world for a while, so take my advice with the grain of salt it deserves:

I think you should take whatever opportunity you can get right now and not worry about what law firms are going to think. The likelihood of being hired by a top law firm, right now, is virtually nil - if you didn't get hired on as a summer associate, nor right out of law school, you are already out of the regular track. You could come back to that if you get some valuable experience that lets you come in as a more senior attorney, but you aren't going to a big firm as of now.

Look at everything that is available to you. If you clerk for a state court judge, that makes you valuable to the firms and lawyers that practice before that court. It means you know how that judge thinks. If you go take on some project work for a solo practitioner, that means you are learning the nuts and bolts of being that kind of lawyer. Go get some experience, go get some contacts. Not networking in the abstract sense, but networking in the sense of you actually learn how to practice.

That would be my advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your responses everyone. I am trying to network more and have expanded my search beyond law firms. I guess I just feel beaten down because all of my friends were able to secure jobs right after graduation. It's good to know that others struggled at first but eventually landed on their feet. Do you think working as an unpaid "law clerk" for a state court judge would be valuable experience, or would law firms see it as a waste because it isn't an official "clerkship"?

It would be great experience. There is a LOT out there besides law firms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your responses everyone. I am trying to network more and have expanded my search beyond law firms. I guess I just feel beaten down because all of my friends were able to secure jobs right after graduation. It's good to know that others struggled at first but eventually landed on their feet. Do you think working as an unpaid "law clerk" for a state court judge would be valuable experience, or would law firms see it as a waste because it isn't an official "clerkship"?

I think working as a law clerk would be a valuable experience. I had an official "clerkship" but the things you learn are the same. I also wouldn't be averse to contract reviewing. I think a lot of the advice about what is and is not a career killer is a bit outdated at this point. Lots of good lawyers have been laid off from biglaw in the past 8 years, and I imagine the same is true of mid-sized and smaller firms on down. Those people need to pay their bills and take the jobs they can get. This is atypical, but my old firm did once or twice promote contract reviewers and non-associate reviewers with JDs to associate positions.

But I echo the advice to talk to your career services people, to network, to expand your range of places to apply to (lots of smaller cities within Virginia). Look for unpaid legal work where you can do real work (though I didn't disparage contract review work, more substantive work would be better) and learn about how to practice law. It may take time and hustle, but if you are a good lawyer you will succeed eventually. However, graduating from law school and studying for the bar doesn't teach you much about being a good lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked into contract doc review?

OP - I've been told that this can be a career killer, is that true?

Yes. Avoid this at all costs. Take unpaid positions anywhere (if you can afford it) to gain experience that you can turn around and apply to a real job.

Signed,
Doc Review lifer

[Anonymous]

OP, giving you this link in case you want to apply:

http://www.nhmc.org/jobs/nhmc-policy-counsel-washington-dc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, giving you this link in case you want to apply:

http://www.nhmc.org/jobs/nhmc-policy-counsel-washington-dc/

Also, have you contacted a recruiter? When we hire associates, we generally go through an agency.

[Anonymous]

I am in the law firm world and I agree with most of the advice you are getting. Nothing is going to be worse for your resume than having a big gap of doing nothing law related. Get something, even an unpaid internship, going as soon as you can. What did you do during your summers that you ended up with no connection for a post graduation job? I would be concerned that you need to work on your presentation/delivery if you have never successfully interviewed for a legal job. If you did have legal/law firm jobs during the summer, what happened and do you at least have good references from those?

[Anonymous]

I have a couple thoughts.

First, CIA, JAG and FBI (agent and analyst) are all hiring. Particularly if you have any international experience.

Second, the trade associations, but more importantly the small D.C. shops that represent smaller trade associations. These firms are small (fewer than 15 lawyers) but profitable and always busy. They frequently are panelists for ASAE, so look there for names. They go through lots of associates. The work isn't bad or grueling, just not glamorous and people move on quickly.

I met a young woman recently who had been in the same boat. She got a job at a title insurance company and 2 years of that she started her own firm doing real estate closing. She got her first business from going to real estate agent's events and open houses (first one in in the morning). 3 years later she has a thriving little practice with 2 full-time associates. Not glamorous, but she does take in a fair amount of cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the law firm world and I agree with most of the advice you are getting. Nothing is going to be worse for your resume than having a big gap of doing nothing law related. Get something, even an unpaid internship, going as soon as you can. What did you do during your summers that you ended up with no connection for a post graduation job? I would be concerned that you need to work on your presentation/delivery if you have never successfully interviewed for a legal job. If you did have legal/law firm jobs during the summer, what happened and do you at least have good references from those?

OP - I worked in-house both summers and unfortunately neither company was hiring baby attorneys. My experience there was mostly research and writing with occasional contract drafting. I came away with great references from the general counsel at both companies so I guess that is something. I've done several mock interviews through my school's career services office and received positive feedback. I agree that I need to start doing something law related to avoid a gap on my resume, but it is hard to take the plunge on an unpaid job. I suppose the worst case scenario is I take the unpaid position with the judge and continue applying elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, giving you this link in case you want to apply:

http://www.nhmc.org/jobs/nhmc-policy-counsel-washington-dc/

Also, have you contacted a recruiter? When we hire associates, we generally go through an agency.

OP - Thank you to the pp who posted the job.

I contacted a legal recruiter but she only had temp positions for someone with my level of experience.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm a college career director. You really need to lean on your law school career office for names of alums w ho are willing to meet with fellow alums. You need to be doing informational interviews every day. I went to a 3rd tier law school and have had great jobs. Try Capitol Hill and trade associations, non-profits, and colleges. You may have to take a research job where a law degree is preferred and not required. Try jobs with local city councilmen.

You may find a law firm job, but based on my experience, I believe it is more likely you will land a non-law firm job.

Good luck! It is hard out there but if you continue to meet with people, something will hit.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered working on Capitol Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered working on Capitol Hill?

This is easier said than done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:tough at the entry level for the bottom half of a middling law school, but plenty of people get jobs. sending in resumes blindly to places you don't know anyone is the least likely way to get a job. network, network, network. take advantage of your law school's career services. and your alumni network. ask people to have coffee and/or an informational interview. keep an eye out for small firms that might be interested in hiring someone they know. volunteer if you have time/inclination. if nothing, nothing, nothing is panning out, pay your way with contract or temp work at least for the short term. or title work. A friend of mine got hired as a "clerk" at a title company after law school, and eventually got promoted to counsel. Neither lucrative nor prestigious but the hours are ace.

I know a couple of guys who tired of trying to find jobs and hung out their shingle, operating a "law firm" out of one's basement. it paid the bills for awhile (barely), and eventually they got hired on by a small firm. That's tough to do without any meaningful experience. but I've always admired their moxie.

NP:. Great post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, giving you this link in case you want to apply:

http://www.nhmc.org/jobs/nhmc-policy-counsel-washington-dc/

Also, have you contacted a recruiter? When we hire associates, we generally go through an agency.

OP - Thank you to the pp who posted the job.

I contacted a legal recruiter but she only had temp positions for someone with my level of experience.

Temp can lead to full time and you get to meet people. Nobody knows too many people.