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[quote=Anonymous]A lot of the advice in this thread is mixed.  Some people who aren't lawyers mean well, but don't understand the field.

1. Temp work can be a good beginning if it's not doc review.  Doc review is tough (not impossible but tough) to move out of. If you have an opportunity for temp work other than doc review, do it.

2. State court clerkships are often overlooked and can be very good first experiences.  I am a bit surprised that you were offered an unpaid quasi clerkship.  If you've had nothing on your resume since graduation, however, I would jump at this chance.  And look for "real" state court clerkships in the meantime.

3. I too wonder if OP overshot early on.  What's done now is done, but it would explain some things.

4. Definitely make use of GW's career services office.  Find out who the best person in the office is and go to them, if you can.  As a now alum, you may be limited to the person who handles alumni.  But ask hard questions about the types of work you should be targeting.  Get that office and other people to scrutinize your resume and cover letter with a fine-tooth comb.

5. It's really hard to get a legal job with a non-profit as a new graduate.  Don't waste your time trying.  Ditto most federal jobs.  Don't waste time on USAJOBS.

6. Can you approach your former summer employers and ask who handles their outside legal work?  I have known people whose in-house internships led to a permanent job with that company's outside counsel.

7. Go to live CLEs in your area of interest.  CLEs are an often overlooked source of networking.  They are boring, so people are often happy to chat.  It's harder now because so many CLEs are online, but live options still exist.

8. Do informational interviews, NOT with an eye to getting a job from that particular person, but with a goal of truly obtaining information.  I've changed fields three times within the legal industry, and informational interviews were incredibly instrumental in each change.  Google for tips on law school informational interviews.

This is an old but good advice: http://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202484439762/Job-Search-Tips-for-the-Unemployed-Law-Graduate

And I would rethink moving.  Not necessarily out of state, so you don't have to take another bar exam, but look at smaller cities within the state.  State, city, and county governments sometimes have legal jobs for new attorneys.  And it's easier to get hired into a small firm in a smaller city.[/quote]

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