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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My general view has always been -- if you want to stay in law, you should make moves early as it can take time to get into the govt, small firms etc and you don't want a resume gap as lawyers are very unforgiving about that. But if you want to leave law, collect your paycheck as long as you can. If you want to start a business, go into real estate, teaching etc - you're an industry switcher anyway and no one is going to care if you left biglaw 6 months earlier or later or had a gap. However that 6 months of senior associate pay, if saved, can give you a lot of options.[/quote]

There's a lot of fraternerizing in big law with almost brainwashing like stigma related to being laid off. Like its worse than death. Laid off associates are literally like untouchables. Noone wants to look at them, let alone interview them. That said, I was terrified of being laid off, but after it happened, life went on. The other 99.9999% of the universe could care less. I switched careers, went into a medical supplies business, and am making much more then I thought possible. Folks, it's good to be the boss.  [/quote]

I think this notion that a laid-off or paased over associate is "damaged goods" is wrong, although I understand why people in that position would feel this way.  You simply have to recognize that no one is going to hire you just because you have a good resume and worked at a BigLaw firm.  It's not like getting a job as a summer associate, where your resume and sunny personality mattered most.  You have to demonstrate that you have specific skills that meet an unmet need of a specific employer at a particular time.  In that regard, the legal profession has become more like other employers.  Welcome to the real world.  It can be tough.[/quote]

Sorry but you're wrong. Most laidoff biglaw lawyers are very skilled and have a lot to offer. The reality is that a resume gap or other evidence of a layoff makes your resume DOA for most in-house or biglaw positions.  It's just the attorney culture at that level. That said, opportunities exist at many other difference  levels offering equal or better long-term prospects, job satisfaction and work-life balance. The key is to be resilient, patient, flexible and creative. I speak from experience. [/quote]

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