If I were to describe applying for jobs in one word, it would be....discouraging.
There are so many questions, which really have no true answers:
How early do I start applying?
What type of firm?
What are alternative careers that I may be interested in?
How picky do I get?
What state should I look in?
How should I be searching for firms?
Should I cold call or cold email?
How can I better network?
I've contacted a handful of firms, and sent my resume to one or two alternative career choice which are hiring and I feel I would be a good fit (alternative career, as in not working as an attorney)
Rarely do law firms respond. If they do its a one sentence "we are not hiring at this time"
Ouch.
I know it isn't personal, but some days its hard not to think of it that way.
I was told by the school, that only 50% of the law students from our school, that graduated in May have jobs. Prior to the bar exam, only 30% had jobs.
Out of that 50% only 25% found jobs in Nebraska.
Which is interesting to me, seeing as how our career services as almost nothing to do with jobs outside of Nebraska.
That means out of the 50% that have jobs, 75% found a way to find a job on their own, without any help from the school.
So how did they do that??
Yes, it sounds like I'm starting early, seeing as how I wont graduate til May. However, a few friends already have accepted jobs with firms. Law firms start early, they want to get first pick of the students. Especially big law firms.
A big law firm is not what I am going for...which leaves me with the question of how? How do I find those smaller firms?
Some Omaha law firms have predicted that about 10% of our graduating class will be offered jobs in Nebraska. I'll go ahead and move myself to that leftover 90% voluntarily. But now how do I get a job outside of Nebraska?
Don't worry, I haven't given up. In all reality, I've barely just begun. The process is tedious, but it really only takes one offer. One offer from that place that is a good fit for you.
So out of my job searching desperation, and a way of throwing this out there to all my readers---if you are a lawyer-- how do you do it? If you aren't--have you heard of anyone that may be looking for a hard working, creative lawyer?? I am open to going all of the country (all over the world actually) Don't worry, I'm not desperate yet (its only September), but I am excited to find a wonderful opportunity and am open for that opportunity to be wherever it takes me.
4 comments:
I was one of the lucky ones that had something lined up before graduation, as my internship turned into a job. (I'm a staff counsel attorney for an insurance company).
Some of the best resources for finding gigs at smaller firms in the Seattle area are LinkedIn, Craigslist and the Washington State Bar Association website. I'm guessing other Bars also post job listings. Legal recruiters are big out here, too, but I haven't heard great things about them.
Good job on looking early!
Come to California!!! :)
One piece of advice that might be particularly useful for you is to Google search firm blogs in areas of law that you're interested in. I'm sure you'll notice (as I did with Elder Law) that the posts that the attorneys put up are often few and far between because they're so busy. Email and offer to do a weekly/monthly post for their firm on pertinent issues in their field - people have been incredibly perceptive to that in my experience!
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