Advice for the jobless (or soon to be or looking or what have you)

Originally posted by leagleaze
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1048518251066

Entitled: The Attorney, Unemployed
The lawyer jobless rate has doubled since the boom.

If the economy ever recovers, when hiring partners go to interview (or review the resumes) of these unemployed attorneys, will they understand that the reason they were unemployed for so long is because of the economy and not merit? Doubtful--"Why couldn't these guys find legal employment? There's lots of employment!"--"Let them eat cake" the hiring partners will say. I bet lots of careers have been completely destroyed.

I have been trying to find temporary legal work for close to two months now with no success. I only want to do it b/c it pays well and will leave me time to write. I think perhaps my lack of interest in the work itself shows in interviews. Oh well. Looks like it's time to consider non-legal possibilities.

This sucks. I rarely post, but I've just about had it. One year out. Top undergrad and law school. Average law grades. What do I have to show for my $140k of debt? Basically nothing, just bitterness and a dead end temporary job that barely covers my bills. I don't think I can take it much longer. It may be time to give up on the legal profession. It's unfortunate that I think it's time for a change, since I never got to even try what I think/thought I wanted to do in life.

I feel for all those junior associates who had it and then lost it, many times through no fault of your own. But if there is any moral victory, at leasy you had a taste of the good life. I, however, have only had the taste of bitterness - especially when my friends who pull in 125k per year say they don't have any money...right. I believe that.

Sorry about that rant...back to my van down by the river.

b-phile37205

PS. I remember harvardpauper from the old days- did the teaching thing not pan out? or are you just looking for some temp work during the summer months?

I left the school I was teaching at after a year b/c of a school-specific issue. I had taught five different classes each semester and coached two of three seasons. I didn't feel it was worth it to go to a new school and have to start all over again. I worked as a carpenter after I taught and now am unemployed. I have always wanted to be a writer/editor and am now working on making that happen, preferably through a full-time position, but possibly on the side, coupled with temporary or part-time legal work.

I am sorry to hear things aren't going great for you at the moment. With your debt load it is undoubtedly not easy to find non-legal careers that you can enjoy and that pay enough to pay all the bills. There are many possible careers out there, however. Just stay focused on your stengths and have confidence that you can parlay them into successful employment. In this regard you may want to take a look at a book that helped me land a job before called "The Very Quick Job Search." It's not specifically a legal book, but can be used effectively in either a legal or non-legal job search.

Originally posted by bimmerphile37205
This sucks. I rarely post, but I've just about had it. One year out. Top undergrad and law school. Average law grades. What do I have to show for my $140k of debt? Basically nothing, just bitterness and a dead end temporary job that barely covers my bills. I don't think I can take it much longer. It may be time to give up on the legal profession. It's unfortunate that I think it's time for a change, since I never got to even try what I think/thought I wanted to do in life.

I feel for all those junior associates who had it and then lost it, many times through no fault of your own. But if there is any moral victory, at leasy you had a taste of the good life. I, however, have only had the taste of bitterness - especially when my friends who pull in 125k per year say they don't have any money...right. I believe that.

Sorry about that rant...back to my van down by the river.

b-phile37205

PS. I remember harvardpauper from the old days- did the teaching thing not pan out? or are you just looking for some temp work during the summer months?

FWIW, I feel confident that you are far from alone in this situation. My situation is pretty similar except I still feel determined to make it work out somehow. I'm hoping more people will come forward and talk about this, safe in their socks.

Edited to add that I just got an email from my law school career services offering a support group for those out of work "in these trying times." Depressing!

"Edited to add that I just got an email from my law school career services offering a support group for those out of work "in these trying times." Depressing!"

Wonder if your law school is sending information about "these trying times" to prospective students? Or might they be sending them information about the "security" and "multiple job opportunities and fields" that a law degree offers. (After you get yourself seriously in debt and thus price yourself out of a large category of jobs you might otherwise have taken).

Originally posted by harvardpauper
Wonder if your law school is sending information about "these trying times" to prospective students? Or might they be sending them information about the "security" and "multiple job opportunities and fields" that a law degree offers. (After you get yourself seriously in debt and thus price yourself out of a large category of jobs you might otherwise have taken).

I feel confident that they're not telling the students as they are quite dependent on tuition dollars for income. Their innovation apparently is to admit a too-large number of students for the first year and then "cull" the class after that. Imagine trying to explain flunking out of law school to future employers....and carrying the debt without the degree.

[outtawork]

Originally posted by Mrs. Malevolent

If the economy ever recovers, when hiring partners go to interview (or review the resumes) of these unemployed attorneys, will they understand that the reason they were unemployed for so long is because of the economy and not merit? Doubtful--"Why couldn't these guys find legal employment? There's lots of employment!"--"Let them eat cake" the hiring partners will say. I bet lots of careers have been completely destroyed.

Since there seems to be little to no hiring activity, we don't know if that's true ... just yet.

[sandraday]

Sadly, some hiring partners do seem to presume something is wrong with you if you have been out of work for a while. I graduated middle of my class from top 10 school, laid off in Jan 2002 and have been looking for work since. Recently submitted my resume for a corporate associate position at a major NYC firm and while the recruiting coordinator thought I was a strong candidate, the hiring partner refused to interview me his reason "Been out of a large firm environment for too long". I'm crushed to be honest, the prospects for getting work are getting dimmer as I see it and even geographic flexibility hasn't helped. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Sadly, some hiring partners do seem to presume something is wrong with you if you have been out of work for a while. I graduated middle of my class from top 10 school, laid off in Jan 2002 and have been looking for work since. Recently submitted my resume for a corporate associate position at a major NYC firm and while the recruiting coordinator thought I was a strong candidate, the hiring partner refused to interview me his reason "Been out of a large firm environment for too long". I'm crushed to be honest, the prospects for getting work are getting dimmer as I see it and even geographic flexibility hasn't helped. Any thoughts/suggestions?

I wish I had a good suggestion because I am in a nearly identical situation. "Crushed" is probably an understatement of how I feel now. So far, geographic flexibility hasn't helped me either. How long have you been out of law school?

Have you utilized every possible networking contact you have? It seems like the only interviews I get are when somebody I know submits my resume to his or her firm. Former law school classmates have been good about submitting my resume.

[gonebutnotforgotten]

Originally posted by driver 8
I wish I had a good suggestion because I am in a nearly identical situation. "Crushed" is probably an understatement of how I feel now. So far, geographic flexibility hasn't helped me either. How long have you been out of law school?

Have you utilized every possible networking contact you have? It seems like the only interviews I get are when somebody I know submits my resume to his or her firm. Former law school classmates have been good about submitting my resume.

I'm one of the early Biglaw layoffs (interesting word choice since none of us will be called back).

I never dreamed it could be this impossible to get another job.
:brick:

Wow - I really feel for you all. I was out of work in 2001 for a few months and the agony of uncertainty was unbearable.

Just a thought - I never wanted to be Biglaw - I've never been interested in that sort of lifestyle (sure the money, but It's not enough for me). Flexibility is extremely important to me and if I need a day off I want to be able to take it without any red tape. Anyway, I just left my firm (didn't pay that well anyway) to form my own practice with a friend and so far, so good. I'm actually still doing some contract work for the old firm and we do have a decent source of client referrals, which helps. If anyone is interested in hanging out a shingle on a low budget, I'd be happy to talk to you.

Meanwhile, don't be afraid to interview for jobs you wouldn't necessarily put at the top of your list - you can always turn it down later. Best of luck, TL

[tballstinks]

Originally posted by sandraday
Sadly, some hiring partners do seem to presume something is wrong with you if you have been out of work for a while. I graduated middle of my class from top 10 school, laid off in Jan 2002 and have been looking for work since. Recently submitted my resume for a corporate associate position at a major NYC firm and while the recruiting coordinator thought I was a strong candidate, the hiring partner refused to interview me his reason "Been out of a large firm environment for too long". I'm crushed to be honest, the prospects for getting work are getting dimmer as I see it and even geographic flexibility hasn't helped. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Yep, that's the same problem I'm having. I was a corp/securities associate at BigLaw.

The funny part is that for corp. associates, the "large firm environment" has pretty much consisted of begging other practice groups for work, so I'm not sure what I've missed that has caused me to lose all of my corp. skills (at least in the eyes of the hiring partners).

Hang in there. There are a lot of us in the same situation.

[tballstinks]

Originally posted by TexLex
....Anyway, I just left my firm (didn't pay that well anyway) to form my own practice with a friend and so far, so good. ...

I've researched that option. What types of cases do you take?

I've heard that it's tough to make it solely on personal bankruptcies and adoptions (which are classic solo jobs).

[gonebutnotforgotten]

Originally posted by tballstinks
Yep, that's the same problem I'm having. I was a corp/securities associate at BigLaw.

The funny part is that for corp. associates, the "large firm environment" has pretty much consisted of begging other practice groups for work, so I'm not sure what I've missed that has caused me to lose all of my corp. skills (at least in the eyes of the hiring partners).

Hang in there. There are a lot of us in the same situation.

Damn, doesn't begging for any job v. work keep our Biglaw skills up???