part-time lawyer out of ideas for full-time work

[Anonymous]

Two years ago I was fired from my small firm (after working there for five years) for not bringing in enough business. I started my own practice doing what is apparently referred to now as shit-law (thanks Above the Law) which includes lots of criminal defense, much of it court appointed. I'm respected in my community by other lawyers and judges but I HATE my work. I just think the criminal justice system is so screwed up and I'm tired of participating in it. There are so many lawyers right now that it is hard to get enough business to keep up a full-time practice anyway.

I've had some experience lobbying informally at the state level and am really interested in the policy side of things. I've volunteered at policy organizations now for about 18 months to learn more about policy reform and really enjoy feeling like I'm doing something productive. Unfortunately, there is no staff turn over at the places where I volunteer. I've applied to a bunch of non-profits that do criminal justice or drug reform and I've had no luck whatsoever. I even hired a career counselor to make sure I wasn't sending out crappy resumes and cover letters or applying to jobs for which I was totally unqualified--I wasn't.

I am at my wit's end. I don't know what else to do. My husband could care less if I work and says he wants me to be happy. I miss doing something I enjoy and that is intellectually stimulating; I want to work. I know I am lucky to have a supportive husband and that I have time to spend with my girls, but I miss working. Should I go back to school and get a Masters of Public Policy? I hate to take on more educational debt.

I am so angry too. I know the work I do is considered bottom feeder type lawyering, but I work really hard for my clients and I am good at what I do. I have good research and writing skills and I am a capable public speaker. Shouldn't the fact that I can do a jury trial (and win sometimes!) be even a little bit impressive to potential employers? Isn't anyone impressed that I take the time to volunteer to learn new skills?

I know I am privileged, but it is hard not to feel demoralized when you get rejected over and over for jobs at which I know I'd be good. Even if I'm not the smartest person, I always work hard. Does anyone have any suggestions before I throw myself out a window? What else should I do? What has worked for you all?

[Anonymous]

OP. I get where you are coming from. The problem is that the fact that you can win a jury trial says that you are good at doing criminal defense jury trials. But that isn't what you want to do, and for the jobs you want, that doesn't easily sound transferrable. It is just an incredibly tough market. All you can do is to keep applying to things you are interested in, play up your volunteer experience, and eventually something will come through.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered legal services positions? They do civil work for low income people (landlord tenant, family law, etc.). I think your courtroom experience would be helpful for a job like that even if you'd be playing catch up to learn some of the substantive law.

[Anonymous]

If you don't need the income, could you do more probono work? Possibly for a population you care about - like battered women etc.?

[Anonymous]

Can you get a job as a government lawyer? Or work on the hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you get a job as a government lawyer? Or work on the hill?

unfortunately, neither of these is a realistic option for a shitlawyer. it's hard enough for biglawyers to make this transition.

[Anonymous]

What about working in a Legal Aid office? I'm a paralegal and volunteered at the county legal aid office. The staff attorneys are underpaid and overworked, but some of them really seemed to enjoy their work.

[Anonymous]

I am a former "biglaw" lawyer and I really dislike the terms "biglaw" and "shitlaw." Since when is representing the accused in our criminal justice system and protecting their constitutional rights- especially as a court appointed lawyer to those who cannot afford one- something to look down on?

OP, I think your trial skills will be very valuable. Don't give up. It's a numbers game. Apply widely. Something will open up.

[Anonymous]

I am a criminal defense attorney and I do not consider what I do to be bottom feeder anything or shitlaw. I am really proud of the work I do. I am also very thankful that I like this practice area and am good at it because I work for myself and largely make my own schedule. I win jury trials too and if anything the civil attorneys, who are in court far less than I am, are respectful of my in court experience and the institutional knowledge I have from being in court so much. The stuff that happens in court is often hilarious. I work on some awesome cases and I work on some boring cases.

The attorneys I know who have left the practice area have gone on to work for IP firms, small general practice firms, real estate title firms, state and federal government offices, and legal software sales.

Maybe Westlaw is hiring.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel like part of your worry is how others will view what you do - too much focus on "shitlaw" or the fact that it is considered "bottom-feeder lawyering." If you don't like it (which you say you don't) that is the issue and you need to get out of it for that reason. Don't worry about how it is viewed.

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't the fact that I can do a jury trial (and win sometimes!) be even a little bit impressive to potential employers?

Ok, I am at an area of DOJ that does a lot of jury trials and want to get out of this line of work, and all that I can say it, the only prospective employers who have found it impressive are those who also want to hire someone to do a lot of jury trials.

[Anonymous]

What about being a claims attorney at a place like GEICO or Allstate? It's steady work but not intellectually challenging (it's really fill in the blank on forms kinda stuff). Pay is decent and hours are decent and sometimes that's all you need.

[Anonymous]

What about being a claims attorney at a place like GEICO or Allstate? It's steady work but not intellectually challenging (it's really fill in the blank on forms kinda stuff). Pay is decent and hours are decent and sometimes that's all you need.

Not OP, but any idea how you find out about those sort of openings? While it's not the job I always dreamed of doing, I need something with more reasonable hours for my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't need the income, could you do more probono work? Possibly for a population you care about - like battered women etc.?

I second this suggestion. Because it will expand your network of contacts. In addition, I would dig a bit deeper out of the criminal jury trial world and start thinking of yourself more as a skilled, accomplished advocate, who has the ability and track record to persuade real people (whether jurors, legislators, etc.) that the position or cause you support should also be the one that they support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't need the income, could you do more probono work? Possibly for a population you care about - like battered women etc.?

I second this suggestion. Because it will expand your network of contacts. In addition, I would dig a bit deeper out of the criminal jury trial world and start thinking of yourself more as a skilled, accomplished advocate, who has the ability and track record to persuade real people (whether jurors, legislators, etc.) that the position or cause you support should also be the one that they support.

Im going to chime in for this option. OP, I had a friend with terminal cancer who was screwed out of tens of thousands of dollars of work he did for a DOCTOR's home and property WHILE HE WAS SICK WITH CANCER. The judge was clearly disgusted with the doctor and his stonewalling and pretense and his mouthpiece lawyer while my friend, who had begun losing muscle mass he was so thin, had to represent himself in court, and I, his only support could only sit in the back and watch. The case went to mediation and that is where the screwing took place.

Had my friend had someone who would work for him, he could have sued this truly evil man. And that evil man had money.

If you had any idea how lonely it feels to have NO ONE to help while you face the battle of your life against an opponent who has comparitively infinite resources, I think you might jump at the chance to do something good for a truly deserving population. The underpriveledged get SCREWED ALL THE TIME. There are unfathomable injustices that of course we all are aware of and read about but not all of us get to see it from their perspective as I did with my friend. Its one of the most demoralizing things I have ever witnessed, and completely redefined my sense of what fair even means.

My friend was able to get some help figuring out how to approach this through Legal Aid of West Virginia, but then all of a sudden they abruptly closed his case before he went to court. We never figured out why- he would get no answer when he asked. He had approached a number of lawyers who saw the merits of the case but for a variety of reasons did not want to risk engaging without a retainer. It was so awful.

Anyway, try to remember what made you want to become a lawyer in the first place. It sounds like you have passion and you face too many situations where the gatekeepers decree what that passion means. Don't YOU decide what it means? It's your life after all. Why should other people's ideas dominate it?