Lawyer jobs that are just a job

[Anonymous]

DOT, FRA, FERC, HHS, HUD, VA, etc. Just jobs, not soul-crushing BIG LAW or high-stress DOJ.

[Anonymous]

http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/311979200

[Anonymous]

Love my agency counsel job. Mostly 40 hours per week, some travel, very interesting. Gs 15 nonsupervisory. Occasionally think about being a USAtty but then I get over, go home and live my life! Not always intellectually challenged but there are other ways to get that... Reading, art, culture, take a class... My agency is super competitive to get a job at. We had 45 positions open a year or so ago and over 2000 resumes from new attorneys to big firm partners. Those chosen had a range of skills and experience. The key is to apply! USA jobs has every job available in federal government. You have a lot of great experience and transferable skills, don't underestimate yourself. Good luck in your search.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am almost exactly like you. Been at a big firm for almost six years, was recently told that I am on partnership track, and am so miserable and get so little time with my kids that I am ready to jump ship. I've applied to nearly ten government jobs, though, and haven't even gotten an interview. Totally bummed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am almost exactly like you. Been at a big firm for almost six years, was recently told that I am on partnership track, and am so miserable and get so little time with my kids that I am ready to jump ship. I've applied to nearly ten government jobs, though, and haven't even gotten an interview. Totally bummed.

Keep applying. I think I probably applied to 30, and that was before the crash. Most advertised government jobs are already earmarked for someone, so you have to just keep applying and hope to strike an actual opening. At the same time, you should be networking; although I was able to get my job by sending in applications, most of my friends in similar positions ended up making it work through back channels, which of course results in a partially earmarked opening (as opposed to many which are actually earmarked for internal candidates).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am almost exactly like you. Been at a big firm for almost six years, was recently told that I am on partnership track, and am so miserable and get so little time with my kids that I am ready to jump ship. I've applied to nearly ten government jobs, though, and haven't even gotten an interview. Totally bummed.

Keep applying. It can take a while. I applied to 10-12 and wound up getting the second one .... 9 months after I applied!

[Anonymous]

here's the thing - a lot of folks who are at big law think that they will we welcomed with open arms into a govt job, but it's really, really competitive, my agency office is pretty much all big law refugees, top law schools with on point experience and we get hundreds of resumes for every opening

I wrote that a personal connection is gold, it's how you separate yourself from the pack and at least get an interview where you have a chance to knock someone's socks off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DOT, FRA, FERC, HHS, HUD, VA, etc. Just jobs, not soul-crushing BIG LAW or high-stress DOJ.

I work at one of the above-listed agencies. My job is definitely just a job, but it could be more if I wanted it to. My work is pretty boring and routine, but I've been there long enough that I get tons of vacation, telework, a flexible schedule and earn over $100k. I wouldn't trade my schedule and life balance for the most exciting legal career in the world.

[Anonymous]

Mine, in house lawyer work from home 3 or more days a week and 10 to 6 hours, 270k, routine work sometimes but occasionally work on cool cutting edge matters, opportunities to rotate in the large legal dept if interested

[Anonymous]

I recommend DOJ, EOIR, BIA - Board of Immigration Appeals. Can work from home much of the time, intellectually challenging, but very predictable workload/hours. I loved it there. I only left b/c we moved.

[Anonymous]

I was interested in working at the BIA but heard they are more of a rubber-stamp body nowadays, leaving staff lawyers with not nearly as much to do. Can anyone with knowledge of the BIA speak to this?

[Anonymous]

Woah, 22:36 you're CRAZY to recommend DOJ. I have a LOT of friends there (I can think of 8 off the top of my head) and they work way harder than me, and I head my practice group and work my ass off. They sleep in the office. No joke.

[Anonymous]

We've hired lawyers PT - including lawyers who are single or married without children and who had outside interests. For some reason, all of these lawyers are more successful today, and working full-time, than those who worked full-time 100% of the time. Maybe it has something to do with attitude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In-house jobs. You will be dealing employment law, etc., but it is closer to a job/job than being a lawyer at a firm as you would work normal business hours and such.

Posted by someone who doesn't work in house. My in house job certainly isn't like that. No way could I stick to working 40 hours only and get the work done.

I am an in house transactional lawyer and rarely ever work more than 40hrs...maybe one week a year when it is necessary. I am one of hundreds of mid level attys in my company so work is spread around so you can have good work life balance and we have legal assistants to lean on. I am the the one making 270k and working from home most of the week.

[Anonymous]

I have two friends who work for Social Security as attorneys up in Baltimore. They have great hours and are both GS13s. I have no idea what the actual work is like there, but both have been there for years, have kids, etc. One of them uses the daycare on site. But alas, that is in Baltimore.