Law Job Ravine October 18, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , View CommentsThis print has many hidden details in its characters and colorful environment. The major theme depicted is the struggle of the young lawyer in today’s economic downturn. Click here for an explanation of the key features.
T’was the night before layoffs, and all through the firm… October 14, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , View CommentsAll of us at the firm saw the writing on the wall by the time February rolled around. Despite language any reasonable person would have interpreted as a “no-layoff” promise, coupled with discussions about how securely leveraged the firm was, it was still clear to all of us at the ground level that things were not going well. Whispers of impromptu partner meetings buzzed around the firm halls, cliques of young associates gathered together in offices to discuss the latest ATL gossip, chatter of suspiciously high rates of “counseled out” associates (i.e. stealth layoffs) spread like wildfire on the firm’s messaging system. It was the worst of times, and we all knew it.
The 5th Response (The School Desk Firm) October 12, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , View CommentsIn one of my recent posts I talked about how I had resorted to craigslist to offer my services as an attorney. I mentioned how four out of five of my responses were not fruitful but one actually seemed promising.
It was an offer for part time work, and it was real work. Not just document review, in fact as far as the initial e-mail went no document review was even mentioned. It seemed like a legitimate chance to do substantive work at a contract rate of $30-$50 an hour, which is a decent wage for legal work. Although it wasn’t full time and the firm was relatively new and had very little reputation, I still felt it was a great opportunity. In fact, one of the only opportunities I’d received in 7 months of being unemployed. It would be something to put on my resume as a gap saver and a chance to learn and work on substantive legal issues. I was certainly on board.
Attorneyresume.com STINKS!!!! (they charge ridiculous fees to provide generic advice from internal crib sheets and free web articles) October 5, 2009
Posted by admin in : Critique , View CommentsAttorneyResume.com provides stock advice from sources freely available on the internet for an exorbitant fee.
When I was first put in a tailspin about not having a job, I thought the most prudent thing to do was to spend some time (and money or payday loans if needed) polishing up my candidacy. Afterall as I explained in last week’s post not having interviewed since October 2006 created a nearly three year gap where my primary concern was on professional development and not resume and interviewing skills.
Tales of Big Law Interviews and OCI Trinkets September 29, 2009
Posted by admin in : Tales , View CommentsBack in March when I just recently joined the 405 club, it was a shock to actually be interviewing again. See the way “Big Law, ” ELF recruiting works is that they hire candidates during their 2nd year of law school. Locking them up for two years in advance so no other firm rival can put their paws on them. This insanity, is part of the reason why we are in such a mess now. So I was hired in the Fall of 2006. Mind you the description that follows is for a good economy; but when the stars are aligned, the candidates sign up in advance with dozens of firms making an appearance at their law school in what is known as “On Campus Interviewing” or OCI.
Craigslist as Offeree September 23, 2009
Posted by admin in : Tales , View CommentsThere comes a time in every jobless lawyer’s life when they have to look at themselves in the mirror and say, “it’s time to beg for a job on craigslist.” It’s not a proud moment, but just when there seems like no other option exists, crafting a post as offeree can be a bit empowering. My job search approach is a 5 pronged strategy. KEEP READING… !
Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever) September 18, 2009
Posted by admin in : Tales , View CommentsAt times I think I have a mischievous sprite watching over me, one that enjoys toying with me, never putting me in serious danger but always putting quirky little absurd obstacles in my life, just to see how I might react. In essence I believe “Puck” from a Midsummer’s Night Dream is my guardian angel, and boy, has he been having some fun lately.
I’ve recently wondered if I might have some secret message hidden in my resume that exclaims how much I like to be played with like a mouse dangling from a cat’s paw. Maybe it is written with lemon juice or only visible under special infrared light. Of all the legal interviews being conducted in all the law offices across New York City, the real “winners” somehow have a way of finding me.
Lateral Link “Bridgeyear Program” is a Bridge to Nowhere September 10, 2009
Posted by admin in : Tales , View CommentsLateral Link is a lawyer recruiting service that works differently than all the others. Once a candidate signs up with Lateral Link they will be given a “search consultant” and access to search the Lateral Link database. When you conduct a search on their database you can view positions but you are not given the employer’s information, you will just be provided with general information about the position (after all if this information was given up front you could simply apply to the position on your own and cut out Lateral Link completely and since they are a free service they wouldn’t be in business very long with this strategy).
Junior Associates Stay Away From Professional Legal Recruiters September 2, 2009
Posted by admin in : Critique, Tales , View CommentsLegal recruiters are job prospect destroyers for junior associates. For someone like me who has 1 year and 7 months of legal experience (and a measly 5 months – thanks again Evil Law Firm [ELF]– if you count only post law school graduation experience), legal recruiters add next to no value to the job seeking process, in fact they may take value away. The true calling for a headhunter and where their real value is, is in shopping high profile, well experienced candidates around confidentially. In good economic times this is how general counsels are typically found, and how partners or senior associates make lateral moves from boutiques to ELFs or ELFs to boutiques discretely. In other words there is an actual need for them. When placement of junior associates is considered however, this need ceases to exist.
“By The Way Did My Secretary Tell You There Are No Positions?” August 27, 2009
Posted by admin in : Tales , View CommentsOne of my many job search endeavors led me to the NY Court’s website. On it they had a job posting requesting applications for staff attorney positions with the NY Appellate Division 2nd Department . I prepared an application and mailed it in.
After several weeks had gone by I figured the submission probably landed with all my others, either in the Bermuda triangle, or a black hole, because to get an acknowledgement that my resume was received (even though I send out over two dozen a week) is rare, and to get an actual response to the submission is rarer. So when I saw a giant package sitting on the counter in my lobby addressed to me from the NY Appellate Ct. 2nd Circuit, I was surprised to say the least. The size of the envelope the mailing came in was monolithic. It could easily hold two or three telephone books. So what was it that was inside?