So, the bar exam happened.
I think I've slept 18 hours a day since it ended. And spent the other 6 hours each day being drunk. And now I'm semi-ready to rejoin the land of the living.
Which is great, except, uhhh... I have nothing to do. Yeah... weird. I've never in my life had nothing to do. I've always had a job. Or school. Or something.
I've still got to take the MPRE on Friday (ethics test. fml.). And I'm still training for the half marathon which is now only 6 weeks away. (and I am using the word "training" VERY loosely here. But getting back after it this week!). But I got bills, yo. I needs a j-o-b!
So last night I decided I should start looking for a job (yes, I realize that most people started this a long time ago. Whatever). So I was all getting ready to look for jobs, and then I realized... huh. I don't know where to look for those. Obviously I know my school's career services website has postings (worthless). And a friend suggested my undergraduate's alumni web site. But where else do people look for jobs?
So this is where you, my friends on the interwebz, help me out.
Tell me people - how did you get your lawyer jobs? And non lawyer people can chime in as well. How does anyone get a job?!
Oh, and if you're a Chicago lawyer - wanna hire me? I'm pretty and I promise I'll dress nice and show up on time and play nice with everyone else in the office.
Feel free to leave your answers in the comments or e-mail me. Because yeah, until I have a job there isn't going to be much to blog about around here. And don't you want me to have crazy clients like Namby?! You know I'll have such great stories from the office!
What types of jobs are you interested in? Only legal, or are you open to other avenues?
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the MPRE, I'm taking it this Friday as well, just finished my second state bar. Awful experience.
Getting a job is all about who you know and how persistent you are. If you don’t know anyone yet, don’t despair. Identify key people in the field(s) that interest you and ask if you can take them out for lunch or coffee. Ask lots of questions about the field, who is hiring, what they recommend for you, etc. People, especially lawyers it seems, love to be considered experts and love being asked for their advice. I had lunch with a prominent attorney in my field (who I didn’t know from Adam) and he told me he thought a partner was retiring at my firm and they might be looking to replace him. This was never advertised on any job site anywhere—he just happened to be in the know. I sent my materials to the firm and called them once a week until they agreed to interview me. It took some time (I started my job search in September and didn’t get a job till December) but I was doing something else in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a tough job market out there right now, but keep at it. And congrats on being done!!
If you really are pretty like you say, I should introduce you to my friend. He always hires the cutest associates. They follow him to court and he gets all kinds of praise from the other guy lawyers. He even once had his cute blond paralegal follow him around in court (for some important legal reason I'm sure). It never seems to work out in the long run though.
ReplyDeleteMy wife would kill me if I tried that. LOL
I'm a non lawyer who got her degree in Communications. Getting a job is a lot about networking! People in the communication field always say its not really about what you know but about who you know!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the job search, but be prepared for a very long, very depressing search.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not really overflowing with optimism nowadays.
Try the Chicago Law Bulletin too. I'll keep my ears open for anything too.
ReplyDelete(My very first job wasn't glamorous, but you get good trial experience, if you're at all interested in that. He usually goes through an associate every 18 months to two and half years when you can take your experience and make more money.)
I'm an HR Manager and we hired our Corporate Lawyer through a Staffing Firm. There are actually staffing firms for lawyers. You can always start contract and move to full-time.
ReplyDeleteIn the mean time, get drunk for me whilst I fire people for sexual harassament
The people saying it's who you know are wrong, it's whom.
ReplyDeletei suppose it would be inappropriate to suggest a combination of craigslist, a pushup bra, and a scented resume?
ReplyDeleteother than that, i got nothin'. sorry
It took me six months to get my first job, but I didn't start looking until after I got my bar results back in (obviously I wasn't too sure I would pass - ha- but thankfully, I did). So you're already starting earlier than I did. Just have patience and don't give up. Also, I think you've already looked, but don't forget about federal jobs (usajobs.gov). They have great hours, great benefits, pay well, and offer lots of opportunity for advancement.
ReplyDeleteI realize the uncertainty about your employment prospects may be causing you anxiety, but try to enjoy the time off you have now. After you get a real job and are knee deep in work you'll look back at these halcyon days of summer with fondness.
ReplyDeleteAnd make sure you kissy, kissy Elle.
I liked you better when you had to work and study...you blogged WAY more often and I wanted to die of boredom WAY less.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of the few that managed to find a job by simply sending out resumes cold. However, I targeted only firms that practiced a specific type of law in specific areas of the country, so my options were limited. AND I got SUPER LUCKY. In Florida, the Florida Bar website has job postings (so does the "Florida Bar News"). Maybe Illinois has something similar?
ReplyDelete