The Vale of Tears (3L Job Hunting) (No advice for 0/1/2Ls) Forum

[Bikeflip]

Sucks spleen.
Got dinged from 2 non lawl jerbs last week. Need to work on my "Why are you giving up on teh lawl" answer.

What was your undergrad major/any work experience? I always spun this question by saying something like "I left my job to pursue an advanced degree knowing that I wanted to go back into the business world. I decided on a JD over an MBA because I thought it would give me more versatility combined with my finance bachelor's degree. I spent the last two summers working at law firms to make sure I really didn't want to be an attorney, and after those experiences I can confidently say that I am set on re-entering the business world upon graduation."

Lib Arts. 1 yr of unrelated experience. Currently on a bullshit fellowship position to pad my schools employed at 9 mos stats, and resume screams pub interest work. One of the jobs was for a short term financial compliance position, like 6 months, so I played up my transaction courses and how their contract work could help me become a more well rounded person for something like a non-profit exec director. I phrased it that way b/c the question was something like "how would this position, along with your interest in social justice further, your career?" The answer would have been different if it was for a more permanent position, but my answer still reeked of bullshit. Esp since I fumbled with it and the interview ended like 30 seconds later.

I can better field the "why X when you do Y" question if the job is a legal position.

[Bikeflip]

Heh, at least I have a legal interview for a gubmint position I really want. Got the interview offer while driving, so hopefully they email me the info over like they said they would. I at least know where to go and when to show up and speaking to a friend who works for that gubmint in a different office has filled me in on some of the details I missed.

[spleenworship]

Congrats on the interview!

[tikiman4725]

Hey, first time poster here.

3L in thick of the vale right now. Looking to apply for as many jobs as I can but I'm having trouble finding postings that are hiring "incoming class of 2014" positions. I'm working at a (very) small firm now and even if (and it's a big if) they hire me on afterward, it'll be a clerk, not as an associate.

My question is, where have you guys been finding job postings? I can't really find anything besides craigslist and simplicity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Hey, first time poster here.

3L in thick of the vale right now. Looking to apply for as many jobs as I can but I'm having trouble finding postings that are hiring "incoming class of 2014" positions. I'm working at a (very) small firm now and even if (and it's a big if) they hire me on afterward, it'll be a clerk, not as an associate.

My question is, where have you guys been finding job postings? I can't really find anything besides craigslist and simplicity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I wish I could answer your question because I'm in the same boat. Nobody seems to be hiring anyone. Even the small ones firms seem to want experience.

[Anonymous User]

Hey, first time poster here.

3L in thick of the vale right now. Looking to apply for as many jobs as I can but I'm having trouble finding postings that are hiring "incoming class of 2014" positions. I'm working at a (very) small firm now and even if (and it's a big if) they hire me on afterward, it'll be a clerk, not as an associate.

My question is, where have you guys been finding job postings? I can't really find anything besides craigslist and simplicity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

In addition to those 2, I've also been looking at LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed. Indeed is the most disorganized of the three, but I think I've been having the best luck on there in terms of response rate.

[hous]

I made a thread that links you to various job search resources. Check it out, I really hope it helps someone.

[Anonymous User]

3L here, just landed an interview for a state trial court clerkship. First nibble I've had in months. I really want to do DA work but I've applied to every office in the state and either got letters telling me nothing's available or dat radio silence. One DA actually talked to me and said there are a lot more "career DAs" that aren't leaving and now his office can afford to be picky, so they typically only hire with experience. Is a state trial court clerkship (in the state I want to practice in) a good way to get into the DA's office?

[legalese_retard]

3L here, just landed an interview for a state trial court clerkship. First nibble I've had in months. I really want to do DA work but I've applied to every office in the state and either got letters telling me nothing's available or dat radio silence. One DA actually talked to me and said there are a lot more "career DAs" that aren't leaving and now his office can afford to be picky, so they typically only hire with experience. Is a state trial court clerkship (in the state I want to practice in) a good way to get into the DA's office?

Yes. If you do get the job, make sure the judge is aware of your goals after the clerkship. Depending on the judge, you will be constant contact with the DAs Office. Be sure to check with your judge to see what sort of contact you can and cannot have while you are clerking (i.e. whether you can grab coffee and talk about jobs with a DA that doesn't practice in your court).

[Lincoln]

3L here, just landed an interview for a state trial court clerkship. First nibble I've had in months. I really want to do DA work but I've applied to every office in the state and either got letters telling me nothing's available or dat radio silence. One DA actually talked to me and said there are a lot more "career DAs" that aren't leaving and now his office can afford to be picky, so they typically only hire with experience. Is a state trial court clerkship (in the state I want to practice in) a good way to get into the DA's office?

Is the judge a former prosecutor? If so, and if s/he still has contacts in the DA's office, it could be a huge asset (assuming the judge goes to bat for you).

[Anonymous User]

3L here, just landed an interview for a state trial court clerkship. First nibble I've had in months. I really want to do DA work but I've applied to every office in the state and either got letters telling me nothing's available or dat radio silence. One DA actually talked to me and said there are a lot more "career DAs" that aren't leaving and now his office can afford to be picky, so they typically only hire with experience. Is a state trial court clerkship (in the state I want to practice in) a good way to get into the DA's office?

Is the judge a former prosecutor? If so, and if s/he still has contacts in the DA's office, it could be a huge asset (assuming the judge goes to bat for you).

Not a former prosecutor. Edit: What is the likelihood the judge is going to ask for a transcript at or after the interview? My grades will almost definitely kill my chances. I miraculously picked up a few CALIs so my resume makes me look like a good student, but my 1L grades completely tanked my gpa for the remainder of law school. The initial application did not ask for a transcript but I'm terrified he's going to ask my overall GPA at the interview.

[Pretzel_Logic]

*table flip meme*

Didn't get yet another job. Just...employers, stop telling me how great I am right before you fail to offer me a job. If I was as awesome as you're saying you'd give me the damn job. Stop lying and tell me a real reason.

[Bikeflip]

Good luck anon and hugs Pretz. I know the feel.

[spleenworship]

*table flip meme*

Didn't get yet another job. Just...employers, stop telling me how great I am right before you fail to offer me a job. If I was as awesome as you're saying you'd give me the damn job. Stop lying and tell me a real reason.

Sucks. Sorry.

[jaydizzle]

Rejected for a school funded fellowship. Over 70 applicants. Sigh.

[worldtraveler]

Rejected for a school funded fellowship. Over 70 applicants. Sigh.

What was their criteria for this? That sounds rather bizarre.

[jaydizzle]

Open to current 3Ls, recent grads, and those with up to 2 years of experience. Fricken sucks. They should have just had it open to our class.

[worldtraveler]

Open to current 3Ls, recent grads, and those with up to 2 years of experience. Fricken sucks. They should have just had it open to our class.

That part is just stupid. If you have 2 years of experience, you can get a real job.

[Anonymous User]

feeling the depths of despair right now ... also hope i don't fail the mpre this weekend

[spleenworship]

feeling the depths of despair right now ... also hope i don't fail the mpre this weekend

It's pretty random. But also not super hard. If you study for 3-6 hours you'll be as prepared as everyone else. Good luck!

[jess]

.

[Bikeflip]

Interview went well. I hit the right tone, but my last question was rambly.

[Anonymous User]

How eager is too eager? Interview for state high court clerkship today, went well, he asked, without making an offer, if I could let him know by tuesday if I was interested in moving forward, knowing that I had other pending post interview applications I wanted to hear back on. Ive since contacted those employers and would like to move forward. Would I somehow look bad if I called him tomorrow?

[JenDarby]

How eager is too eager? Interview for state high court clerkship today, went well, he asked, without making an offer, if I could let him know by tuesday if I was interested in moving forward, knowing that I had other pending post interview applications I wanted to hear back on. Ive since contacted those employers and would like to move forward. Would I somehow look bad if I called him tomorrow?

I think of all positions, a clerkship is one you won't look too eager for by an early contact (though I think in this scenario it holds true for basically all positions). If anything he will appreciate knowing since he may have other people he is interviewing or considering interviewing.

[spleenworship]

I haven't had an interview in ages. I talked to my clinic supervisors about how I want to be a PD but have been rejected everywhere that hires pre-bar. They recommended I try a state trial ct clerkship here since they know some crim judges who had e-mailed them looking for clinic students to clerk for them in the fall. I sent off apps 3 weeks ago and have heard nothing. My professor was really surprised and weirded out when I told her I haven't gotten a call from anyone yet. I can't figure out what is wrong with my resume. It looks pretty solid to me. I also was hoping to fall back on an unpaid post-bar clerkship at the local PD office in CA and just live with parents for free, but it appears I am going to get rejected for that too. My school sucks and doesn't really have fellowships for students except highly specialized ones in areas of law I have 0 experience like environmental law.

Keep your chin up. Something will come through.