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Law Grad Writes to Newspaper About ‘Desperate’ Search for a Job

Posted May 28, 2008 9:45 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

A recent law graduate wrote to the Washington Post about a frustrating and unsuccessful search for a first job.

"I'm growing desperate,” the job seeker wrote. “I've sent out 330 résumés to the Hill, feds, nonprofits, trade associations, campaigns and law firms. I've even applied for bartending and waiting tables, only to be told I'm overqualified. What do I do?”

Career Tracks columnist Mary Ellen Slayter suggested the law grad needs to “think quality, not quantity” and focus on networking through professional associations or a school alumni group.

“Completing a single federal job application can take a full week, so I have a hard time believing you're putting the right level of effort behind pursuing jobs at carefully selected employers,” Slayter said.

Above the Law posted the exchange and offered its own comments, saying it wasn’t terribly impressed by Slayter’s advice. On the other hand, the blog said, it can’t think of better suggestions in what is shaping up to be a “grim” job market.

Some of the blog’s readers suggested seeking a contract job doing document review, applying for jobs in other geographic areas, and volunteering to work for a judge.

Comments

1.

Another DC-Area Law Grad
May 30, 2008 4:56 AM CST

I’ve sent out more than 650 individual cover letters, resumes, and-most recently to the last 400-a recommendation letter from a partner at a firm I worked for last summer.  I applied for dozens of clerkships.  I was able to get 1 firm interview in November, 1 interview for a federal clerkshp this spring, and 1 interview for a local judge.  Unfortunately, none of these panned out.  I’ve received more than 450 rejections so far this year.  What’s upset me most in this process is that during networking attempts, attorneys often ask:  “Don’t you or your family know anyone?”  No, sorry, I’m not a Kennedy.

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2.

J
May 30, 2008 5:21 AM CST

Don’t look for a job.  Start your own practice.

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3.

BD
May 30, 2008 5:53 AM CST

The job market definitely bites.  But at least this person is trying.  Best to take temp jobs; not turn up your nose at anything; it can be a stepping stone to a better job, and it at least pays the rent for now.  Too many new grads automatically think the world owes them a living; it aint true.  Only a few grads have a silver spoon in their mouth. The rest of us have to jockey hard to keep ahead of the rentman.

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4.

L
May 30, 2008 5:56 AM CST

My story is similar to DC-Area law grad up there. I stop counting at about 800, but I believe I must have sent out about 1,000 job applications all over the country, with a litany of legal employers. I decided to go back to grad school and am awaiting a promising internship in L.A. this summer that appears to apply all of my graduate educational training. Moral of the story is that it aint easy.

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5.

navylover
May 30, 2008 5:56 AM CST

Join the Navy and become a JAG.  They are always hiring and you get to see the world! Plus, the pay is great!

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6.

B
May 30, 2008 5:57 AM CST

I know the stress and frustration.  I graduated in May 2005 and did not get a job until January 2006.  The market has been tough for the last few years.  I could not even find a contract job—they were all taken by the August after I graduated.  My only advice is to keep plugging.  Send out resumes.  Apply for federal jobs.  Network as much as possible.  You really have to hit all avenues and keep going.  Plus expand where you are willing to work.  Most, if not all, federal jobs only require you to be licensed.  I am from Chicago but got a job in DC.  Good luck!

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7.

An Older Grad
May 30, 2008 5:59 AM CST

Here’s a ‘ditto’ to J in #2.  If you have a diploma and a law license, you have a profession.  You don’t need a job, you need clients.  Put that energy from 650 cover letters into marketing yourself to *clients*.  Even if you keep looking for jobs, starting to build a clientele will actually make you more marketable, and will begin building your reputation.  And, even at a “modest” $125/hour rate, you’ll start to see a return on your time that no number of rejected inquiries can yield.

Sign up with your local court to do court-appointed work.  Ask your Legal Aid Society if they refer out clients who don’t qualify for their free services, and offer a sliding scale to those close to the legal aid cutoff.  It may only pay half of the street rate, but it’ll get you in a courtroom, earning money, getting face time with judges and other lawyers, and honing those skills you learned in a classroom.  You may bumble a bit at first, but you’ll quickly polish yourself in ways that would take years in a basement going through deposition transcripts.  Again, you’ll be setting yourself apart from the rest of those masses desperately mailing job pleas, by showing you have initiative.

Is it easy?  No.  Is it scary?  Yes.  Is it likely to be rewarding?  Absolutely.

Good luck.  Go, be a lawyer.  You have all the permission you need.

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8.

Not one of the sheeple
May 30, 2008 6:21 AM CST

I agree wholeheartedly with An Older Grad” and J.  The same local firms that rejected you will be your mentors and help if you call them and say, “I’ve just started my own practice and I have my first ______ client.  I know you practice in that area.  Could you help me with ___”  It’s amazing how helpful other attorneys are.  They maybe can’t afford to take you on as an associate, but they probably could help you out an hour or two a week to make sure you are committing malpractice.  Pick an area of law, buy all the books you can and start looking for clients.  Just an ad in the yellow pages results in a constant stream of calls.  You can do it.  The small towns need attorneys.  There are some places in the country where there are shortages and a lack of good help.  Some areas of law need lawyers.  Do your research and be creative.  There is so much work out there and so much opportunity.

Great advice above.  You passed the bar.  You have all the permission you need!

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9.

Paramjit L. Mahli
May 30, 2008 7:14 AM CST

I do think quality not quantity is key. Networking whether you’re looking for a job or starting your own practice is key. I’m inclined to agree with ‘Older Grad and J’.

Since the economy is not so favourable I would strongly urge you to review your long term personal and professional goals. Be very honest with yourself, taking a hard look at them may take you down different path.

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10.

3 years out --own practice
May 30, 2008 7:16 AM CST

The say that the market is bad with a lot of major law firms laying people off. Many grads have been there - great credentials but just can’t seem to find a job. After you get over your frustration you have to decide how do you get out over the situation you currently find yourself in. Networking does not always work for the most part because most lawyers at these events are often preoccupied with their own careers. Starting your own practice might seem scary, but if you have the determination you can do it. Figure out what you want to practice then read everything about it—teach yourself the law. In the meanwhile doc review is not a bad idea to supplement your income will you are trying to drum up business. Do not worry about lack of experience—no one start out with experience—you just have to figure out some creative ways to get experience.

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11.

Been There, Done That
May 30, 2008 7:42 AM CST

I graduated with good grades and $110K in debt from a top 10 law school in 2004.  Unable to secure a legal job, I spent almost exactly one year working as a cashier at Target.  My “break” came from a law school classmate who was an associate at a busy DC law firm.  She phoned me and asked if I’d be interested in joining the firm.  The rest is history.

I wish all the best to recent law grads struggling to find legal jobs.  The year following graduation was one of the most difficult years in my entire life, but it made me extremely grateful for what I have now—a fantastic job, a nice place to live, and more shoes than a DSW store!  Hang in there, fellow law grads.  Keep the faith.

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12.

Poppler
May 30, 2008 7:55 AM CST

I realize this is a little off-topic, but this recent grad’s plight is a perfect example of why it’s important for the ABA to actually keep the supply of attorneys trailing (or at least not exceeding) demand.

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13.

MissJD
May 30, 2008 8:10 AM CST

same story here- top 15% of my class May 2007 -T50 school. Too many rejection letters to count. After several months, I finally i decided to call back several employers who interviewed me, seemed to love me and then ended up sending reject letter. A few said they wanted to hire me but felt b/c of my qualifications they couldn’t afford me- we negotiated and I ended with a job. You’ll be surprised what pushing back a little will do for you. In the meantime, don’t turn your nose up at anything- while i was job hunting- I sent resumes all day, networked in the evenings and bartended at night. Was is demoralizing? absolutely, but it kept the lights on and the mortgage paid. Keep at it.

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14.

smcvey
May 30, 2008 8:15 AM CST

Look at the military.  Although selection is competitve, being a judge advocate is a great career.  Also, apply to state trial court law clerk programs.  They don’t pay much but are a great way to get your foot in the door.

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15.

Angry Grad
May 30, 2008 8:18 AM CST

I am the poster. Top 50 school, former Hill staffer, decent grades (above 3.0) but not so great class rank (F grading on curves [how do you curve a class of 80 on a 35 question multiple choice final]). Involved in ABA. Network and attend CLE’s, ABA Annual, Midyear, Forum and Division events, Federal Bar Association events. I’m searching nationally.

Law firms won’t hire you because you didn;t go through their summer associate program. DC won’t let you do contract work till you’re “DC Pending”, my career services office was/is useless. I’m on my second loan deferment.

I left a fulltime job making over $50K to go to law school and apply for position hiring at barely over $40K. Biglaw is laying off while outsourcing billions in legal work to India. WTF is wrong with this profession?

I’m involved in the ABA, especially in improving diversity in the profession arena…there’s not much hope I can offer to minority students coming up behind me.  The market sucks.  Biglaw only wants drones.  And the best part is, the ABA find a job section on the Journal’s web page is a dead link.  You search careerbuilder (ABA web site main page) for entry level attorney and you get “work at home” ads.

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16.

Rick
May 30, 2008 8:18 AM CST

Mailing out resumes is not the way to find a job.  It really is about having a connection to the hiring manager.

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17.

Bill
May 30, 2008 8:25 AM CST

Hi, Joan King!

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18.

Angry Grad
May 30, 2008 8:29 AM CST

#16.  Mailing resumes to advertised vacancies isn’t how you go about finding a job?

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19.

Barbara
May 30, 2008 8:30 AM CST

Do you need a job, and can’t afford to start your own firm, b/c of debt?  If not, please consider hanging out your shingle.  I did so, over 30 years ago, when firms in my small city would not hire a “2nd” female lawyer.  Then, opposing counsel were impressed, and I got 3 offers in 6 months, joined a firm, and kept moving until I found the right spot.  Give it a try.  Have faith in yourself.  Volunteer and be a mentor to those coming after.  Quite rewarding.

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20.

Prof. Charles Hanor
May 30, 2008 8:31 AM CST

Start your own practice.  You are a lawyer.

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21.

Stevie B
May 30, 2008 8:37 AM CST

It is even worse in Medicine - I recently added MD to my MSEE and JD.

Age discrimination is rampant in US residency programs - using excuse that older applicants cant handle the ridiculous 80 hour minimum==maximum work weeks.  Hence very difficult to get job in match despite 150 applications at $10-$20 each (they charge to apply!).  Connections to hiring managers are almost impossible to develop.

Of 2969 US citizens with ECFMG certification, barely half were hired in the Match - leaving 1428 of us looking til 2009 match—unless we are lucky enough to find one of the rare “unexpected openings” when the lucky MD hired fails to show up at the end of June.  Note that over 3000 jobs went to noncitizens on J-1 visas.  There are 4000 unmatched noncitizens looking for those scarce “unexpected” jobs also.

I’ve sent well over 300 resumes seeking those scarce “unexpected vacancies”.  And opening an MD office without having survived residency is not allowed.

Looks like my patent law practice will have to suffice for a bit longer….

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22.

Flying Solo... advice for job seekers
May 30, 2008 8:44 AM CST

I hung out the proverbial shingle a few years ago.  Although I’m not at a point to bring on any full time associates, I now receive cover letters & resumes from recent grads looking for work. 
Some unsolicited advice - if you are seeking a job, please take a few minutes to find out the NAME of the attorney or HR director or whomever you are sending the resume to.  A generic “Dear Human Resources Dept Manager” (such as I received this week from a hopeful job candidate) shows me a sloppy lawyer who hasn’t even bothered to take a few moments to look at my firm’s website.  Use the lawyers manual, martindale-hubble, firm sites, whatever to get background info.  Bottom line, a few dozen RESEARCHED job inquires are worth far more than hundreds of “to whom it may concern” form letters. 

Happy Hunting.

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23.

NM
May 30, 2008 8:45 AM CST

There are other jobs available for folks with a J.D.  Become familiar with an area of the law, and seek out an editor position.  Companies like the ABA, Thomson Reuters (inlcuding West, Tax & Accouting, etc.), Lexis, etc. are always looking for good editors with a J.D.

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24.

JR
May 30, 2008 8:49 AM CST

Dear Angry Grad
I had a lot of trouble finding a job after graduation, because of a very bad economy at the time.  Once I did, however, I have had a career exceeding my wildest dreams.  Had I followed the path I envisioned, I probably would have burned out, or at least lived as one more unhappy lawyer.
My point: think creatively about where you want to end up.  You write that you left a high-paying job to go to law school.  Any chance of finding a lead from those you crossed paths with in your former life? 
Finally, I suggest you get rid of your anger,  Angry Grad.  No matter how you think the world has cheated you, no client wants a disgruntled lawyer.  We exist to help people, both to get out of legal scrapes and problems but also to show calm in the storm and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
As Winston Churchil said, “Never give up, never, never, never.”

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25.

Been There, Done That
May 30, 2008 9:04 AM CST

“Biglaw only wants drones”?  Perhaps your attitude is limiting your employment prospects, #15.  Don’t allow unemployment to make you bitter and cynical.  If you continue to pursue jobs, to make contacts, and to maintain some optimism, your time will come.  I am a better, more compassionate, and certainly more humble person for having struggled to find a job.

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26.

Angry Grad
May 30, 2008 9:08 AM CST

JR.  You’re right.  I recently began clerking so I’m at least gaining experience while I job search. 

But I do have reason to be bitter.  I don’t feel cheated.  No one owes me anything.  But we, as a profession, don’t make it very easy, particularly on new admittees who were overlooked in OCI’s.  Every job listing wants 2-3 years of experience.  There is nothing for entry level attorneys.  It creates a horible catch-22.

Like I said, I’m fortunate to be gaining legal experience.  I know other alums I graduated with who are already being laid off because of this economic downturn. 

That being said, our profession has some serious issues.  The salary disparity, legal outsourcing…you hear judges complain about salaries while their clerks make under $50K, less if they are staties.  Biglaw could easily halve the salary they pay first years and double the number of hires. 

But you’re right.  I do need to relax.  Injustice (and 11 months of unemployment) really bugs me.

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27.

F. Clifford Gibbons
May 30, 2008 9:10 AM CST

Judicial Clerkships outside DC area??  I’m think NJ, DE, NY, CT.  Money not great but an unbeatable entree to better job placement.  In any event, hang in there.  Job market is akin to the drought after the 1987 crash, which did not level off for a few years, but it will get better.

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28.

Bar Counsel
May 30, 2008 9:13 AM CST

1. If you do decide to hang your own shingle, make sure you are aware of the business issues, especially cash flow issues you will likely face.  Make sure you’re aware of the ethical responsibilities of a solo.  As bar disciplinary counsel, I can tell you that we see a disproportionate share of grievances against solo practitioners, especially young ones who have never had good mentors.  Many bar associations offer CLEs specifically designed to help lawyers start their own practice.  I don’t want to dissuade you from becoming a solo, but you should be very sure you don’t get in over your head. 

2. If you are still looking for a job, here’s a trick that has worked for me.  Do you have a list of references?  You have a good relationship with these people, right?  Here’s a good way to use your references… Identify a firm (or any employer) in which you have an interest.  Then look on their website or in a legal directory for a list of the lawyers working in that firm.  Show the list to your references, and ask them if they know anyone at the firm.  If they do, ask them to make a call on your behalf.  This personal introduction can lead to interviews.  After that, the rest is up to you.

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29.

Rick
May 30, 2008 9:26 AM CST

#18: No.  Hiring managers want a personal connection to the applicant so they can get the scoop on the person.

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30.

michiganlaw
May 30, 2008 9:34 AM CST

I am also a recent (one year ago) grad and I am still looking for a job.  I have followed all the above advice and been somewhat selective, have used my connections, addressed cover letters correctly, etc.  Still no job (and my resume is very good).  The main thing everyone seems to be advising is that we should start our own firms or solo practice.  That really doesn’t work here in MI - we are basically in a depression here and there are no clients with money to pay lawyers already practicing, much less new lawyers.  Court appointed gets you almost nothing here because all those attorneys with decreasing private practice are taking court appointed now, so the frequency of cases is so low that in some counties the ‘newbie’ level has a rate of one case every 3-4 months.  Can’t make student loan payments with that.  Our state government has no money and there are really no state jobs available, and what is available has so many applicants it;s ridiculous.  I love my state and want to stay but I don’t know if I can, the economy is too bad - and GM laid off another 19,000 today.  I think my fiancee (also a new lawyer) and I will be moving out of the state, if not the country, to make a living.  So sad ...

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31.

Finally
May 30, 2008 9:45 AM CST

I graduated last May and didn’t find a job until April.  It was a really rough time, but I tried to stay involved in bar events and do pro bono work to show “experience.”  In my case I kept reworking my resume and cover letter to target the immigration law field.  Finally, one of my countless cover letter/resume submissions paid off and now I’m very happily working at a local immigration firm.  Focus your search and something will eventually come through for you.

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32.

G
May 30, 2008 10:09 AM CST

Join the Army JAG and got to Iraq!  They need bodies.

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33.

Brien
May 30, 2008 10:14 AM CST

Also just passed the one-year mark of unemployment after graduation, with only a handful of interviews in that time. We now live in a society where people with degrees in library sciences have more lucrative job prospects than law grads. The ABA continues to accredit more and more law schools, despite the overwhelming evidence that there is a glut of attorneys and many new law grads can’t find employment. It’s time that the lawyers of this country begin to pressure the ABA to start taking away the accreditation of about half of America’s law schools - the garbage tier schools - or at least severly limit the number of students that may enroll, so that the number of grads is equivalent to the number of jobs. THE ABA IS DESTROYING THE LEGAL PROFESSION!!

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34.

Angry Grad
May 30, 2008 10:19 AM CST

I’m glad to hear its not just me…

More bad news:

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421806261

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35.

RL
May 30, 2008 10:22 AM CST

It took me over a year to find a legal position for the particular practice area that held my attention.  What got me my job was persistance.  I showed up at the firm and asked for the senior partner once a week, every week, for two months. I was polite and confident and doing legal related things to make money, e.g., teaching the LSAT.  It is a lot more difficult to reject and dismiss people in front of you than who show up only by letters.  Desperation smells, but comitment smells like a winner. Good luck.

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36.

Melissa
May 30, 2008 10:31 AM CST

#33 - The “garbage tier schools?”  What an ignorant comment.  Perhaps your attitude of entitlement has something to do with your present state of (un)employment…

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37.

T
May 30, 2008 10:37 AM CST

OK Brien, I am a little confussed. You blame the ABA for the lack of jobs becausse they accredit too many law schools? I’m interested, which law schools do you feel should not be accredited?

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38.

Shell Idea Guy
May 30, 2008 10:41 AM CST

There was a great song (MOD?  SOD?  Mosh fans, speak up) that said what the letter writer should do: “Kill yourself, kill yourself, why don’t you kill yourself, don’t rely on no one else, end it all and kill yourself.”  Honestly, the letter was pathetic.  The guy went to law school, not a warranted job obtaining institution.  Pathetic.  He should be embarassed.  Time to move on.  (PC types: the song quote was tongue in cheek.)

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39.

realist
May 30, 2008 10:43 AM CST

Maybe undergrads who read this will be a little smarter about their next step and choose it based on something other than what the lawyer they saw once on TV was wearing or driving.

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40.

too late
May 30, 2008 10:55 AM CST

I agree in part with #33, there are too many law schools with the only beneficiary being the schools. I went to what was then called a 2nd tier law school, not sure how the ranking works now, but to be honest I would have rather been rejected then to have wasted 75K. I have been out for four years and I am a staff attorney at a large firm. My temporary solution to a permanent problem has only made me more complacent and cynical. The truth is I like my job, but I could have had a similarly rewarding job without my degree. Right now I make the offer, take my diploma for complete loan forgiveness and “you got a deal!”

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41.

LuckyNewGrad
May 30, 2008 11:06 AM CST

I am not sure why so many people are suggesting this new lawyer start his own firm. State ethics rules (which obviously vary), I question whether a new law grad would be considered competent.

I became a lawyer in 2006, and will say that the market is that hard. I have a friend who graduated from Harvard law with a great GPA and extra circulars and took over a year to find his first temp job, despite diligent and intelligent efforts.

When the job market started to slump a number of years ago, lots of people were graduating from undergraduate school and looking at the job market the same way I was - “Things look bad, better stay in school.” The result? Well, we’ve all been graduating from law school and flooding the market. Approximately 1000 lawyers have passed my states bar exam every year for the last 4 years running. It sure doesn’t look like we made 1000 new jobs for lawyers every year, which shouldn’t come as a surprise amongst the frequent news talk about recession and law firm cutbacks.

Compounding this, many lawyers are looking for lateral transfers to more desirable positions, encouraging firms to forgo training new hires in favor of retaining an already experienced and productive lateral.

Even worse, many law schools seem to provide poor (if any) career placement assistance to graduating students. At my law school, career advice was available, but not exactly advertised, and certainly didn’t give me a realistic idea of what it takes to get your foot in the door in a market that is truly competitive.

But, I can say what worked for me. I looked for work in every area in which I could claim even minimal knowledge (but was honest about what knowledge I had and what I didn’t) and offered to work on contract. The “try before you buy” method got me my current position, where I am very happy. I worked on contract for about a year before becoming an associate, but money flowed in regularly and I gained experience at the same time. Working on contract can also help a young lawyer gain enough experience to start a solo practice with confidence.

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42.

Ron
May 30, 2008 11:09 AM CST

On a break from bar exam study but had to chime in.  I’m older than the average bear, went to third tier school (See #33) with good grades and I’m being paid to study with a job lined up after bar results.  Bottom line, it’s not just your grades and pedigree.  Hard work and astounding legal thinking are certainly great but you have to demonstrate you fit.  I clerked, showed what I could do and, more importantly, showed I was what the firm needed - that I fit.  As for the Army/Navy route…been there, done that.  My advice?  Do what it takes and, if you want it, go get it.

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43.

Mike
May 30, 2008 11:14 AM CST

To hell with quality; if there’s no vacancy or there’s a bad fit, no one cares how carefully you filled out your SF-171.

My advice: if 500 resumes aren’t enough, send 500 more.  When I looked for a law firm job in 1996 and was trying to switch specialties (thus making myself as unmarketable as a normal person looking today) I sent out 1300 resumes and had 40 or so interviews.

If you’re done with the market you like most, write another market.  And another.  And another. You CAN get a job if you have good credentials and are geographically flexible enough.

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44.

Ronnie
May 30, 2008 11:23 AM CST

Angry Grad,

I understand that you’re angry, but you should really look at the temp jobs again.  You’d be surprised how many of them DON’T pay attention to the “DC pending” aspect (Steptoe will because they wrote the rule).  Lest you think I’m being facetious or out of touch, I graduated in 2005 from GULC and didn’t pass the VA exam under the February 2006 taking.  I didn’t get a job until August 2006, where I’ve been ever since.  The DC pending rule was in effect then, and I worked from September 2005- August 2006 without EVER being DC pending.  My boyfriend, WHO DIDN’T EVEN GO TO LAW SCHOOL, has found temp work at DC firms, FOR A YEAR NOW!!!!!  Besides, there are plenty of firms in VA and MD with no such requirement. 

You don’t have to tell me about the loans; I had over $200k when I graduated (I REALLY wanted to go to GULC, and now I’m paying for it!  lol)  But maybe you should consider simply walking up and down streets where law firms are, and handing out your resume.  At least with small firms, you’d be surprised how many will at least talk to you for a few minutes.  We recently interviewed for a paralegal position (like in the past week); couldn’t decide between 2 so we hired them both!  For others that didn’t fit with us but for whom we felt another firm might love them, we’ve actually called and referred people to them.  We did this when we interviewed an attorney last year as well.

I’m glad you’re getting clerkship experience.  It can be invaluable.  Keep your head up; I know exactly how frustrating this can be for you.

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45.

Rick
May 30, 2008 11:26 AM CST

1300 resumes?  Luxury!  I sent out 13,000 resumes, got 1/2 an interview, worked as a vomit wiper in a cave, and lived in a cardboard box on the freeway.

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46.

INFP
May 30, 2008 12:01 PM CST

Even if you have contacts it’s not easy.  Last year I was contacted by a 2006 grad from my law school (I was class of ‘90) who got my contact info from the alumni directory.  He was interested in my field and asked if we could meet to discuss career options.  (This is another good job-hunting approach, by the way.)  His prior experience was actually a good fit for my company, but we didn’t have any openings for someone new to law practice.  I agreed to meet with him, liked him a lot, and forwarded his resume to my contacts firms that practice in his area of interest.  I must have contacted 15 or 20 different folks on his behalf.  He did get one interview out of this, but no offer—the hiring attorney told me he really wanted someone with a few years of practice.  Meanwhile he continued looking on his own, and ultimately got a job.

I’ll add that when I came out of my unremarkable law school in 1990, most of my friends did not have jobs.  I had been working as an intern at a Federal agency and I was able to keep that job after graduation until a full-time attorney slot opened up the following year, but many others were waiting tables and tending bar.  A number of my classmates are now very successful solo or small-firm practitioners after cutting their teeth on court-appointed work.

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47.

Dave Smith
May 30, 2008 12:49 PM CST

Where can one find a listing of the “federal jobs” that keep getting mentioned?

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48.

Angry Grad
May 30, 2008 12:50 PM CST

46 - usajobs.gov

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49.

Kim, formerly of Spokane
May 30, 2008 12:54 PM CST

I normally wouldn’t bother posting this far down the list, but I have to respond to the people who think the JAG corps is the way to go.  I am too old for the JAG corps.  They have legal permission to discriminate against me on the basis of my age, but they still send me recruiting crap.  I spent a dozen years in the military, and I would NOT go back.  I’d rather eat ramen and live in my car.  Although I loved being in military for at least 10 of those 12 years, not everyone is going to fit into that environment.

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50.

JAD
May 30, 2008 1:31 PM CST

I agree that the way you should go is to start your own practice.  There are lots of reasons to do that, rather than to keep applying for jobs.  One of these reasons is that if you are good and you impress an adversary, he or she may offer you a job in their firm.

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