That’s hilarious! At least you held out for like six months before going to craigs list. When I was job-hunting I went to craigslist after about two weeks (literally) looking for something that would give me some valid experience.

One piece of advice on the craigslist front– it could be helpful to make a separate email address for craigs and only have emails with key words forwarded to your main email address– I used to get over a hundred responses a day and I ended up not even going through them.

Good luck! Your blog is hilarious…

Thanks for the interesting blog. I’m just curious, why do you think you are having a difficult time landing a position after ELF? Even with the terrible economy, it would seem that someone with your stellar credentials would be able to find something without having to resort to Craigslist or putting up with the OAF you mentioned in your last post. I’m unemployed as well–but just trying to understand if there might be something else that we (the unemployed lawyers/recent grads, collectively) might be overlooking.

Thanks for the tip, i’m not having that problem though I only got 5 responses !

Wish I knew, if you figure something out please let me know!

Apply for a job as a writing instructor at a law school. Pace is having a second start date for its 1Ls in Jan. 2010. Or, for that matter, any teaching position at a law school. I think academia would be perfect for you.

Would love something like that, very tough to get a position in legal academic without a 4.0 or a PHD… I even applied to the Concord Law School (http://www.concordlawschool.edu/), as I have been applying to these types of positions as they arise.

Try NYLS and Pace for a legal writing instructor.

Hmm,
I am an employed lawyer who gets asked for advice (informational interviews) from random law students / young lawyers. I want to be helpful, but not being in a position to hire anyone and not having any leads, I don’t really have much to say. I will consider your 4-part response, just so avoid awkward conversation pauses. So thanks for that.

More seriously (although the above is true), I do wish you good luck and think it’s really terrible what’s going on in the legal marketplace, but like 99% of practicing lawyers, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m sure you’ve heard this from other people, but Ivy League grads who can write and have somewhat of a brain (it seems like you qualify) don’t stay unemployed forever, although who knows what the nature of your employment will be.

Thanks for the tip, i’m not having that problem though I only got 5 responses !

Wish I knew, if you figure something out please let me know!

Would love something like that, very tough to get a position in legal academic without a 4.0 or a PHD… I even applied to the Concord Law School (http://www.concordlawschool.edu/), as I have been applying to these types of positions as they arise.

An anonymous tipster e-mailed me:

“the secretary that sent you her resume in response to your ad is doing the right thing. Randomness works and gets jobs … Forward me her resume and I'll contact a few secretarial agencies I worked with in the past (we used a lot of temp help at my old firm) to help her.”

Glad to help someone with my post! Good luck! If she does get placed it should make a heck of a story!

You must have done well on the LSAT if you went to an Ivy League law school. Have you considered teaching or tutoring the LSAT, at least part time, while you look for steady legal work?

I actually used to teach Kaplan LSAT prep and loved it. I could probably always go back but the decent pay comes per class hour and right now, as a member of the 405 club, it just doesn't make economic sense. But it would be something to consider in the future if things don't look up. Thanks for the thought!

Hey don't diss “Man dates”! This is New York. If you are reasonably good looking, try flirting with the guy. It should help you 25-40% of the time in this city. Milk the bromance/metosexual angle for all it's worth.

This is so familiar. I am ashamed to admit I emailed my resume to more than one questionable Craigslist posting in the vain hope that it was a legitimate job opportunity. I am convinced this is an efficient way for axe murderers to collect my name, address, and contact information, so I've since discontinued the practice. Good luck with your job search.

Yikes this is true! Of the 100+ Craigslist posts I've replied to, I have only heard back on two occasions, both of which landed me an interview but no offer. Slim pickings.

See:
1. http://www.BannerWitcoff.com
2. http://www.BryanCave.com
3. http://www.BakerNet.com (Baker & McKenzie is hiring 27 attys.)
4. http://www.BrinksHofer.com

[...] the sorry state of BigLaw’s headcount, it’s clear from reading blogs like Jobless Lawyer and Confessions of a Laid-off Lawyer that many in the legal profession are doing the [...]

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