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

[kalvano]

Had a big interview. Fucked it up. Just totally failed to do anything I had ever learned in trial practice.

I feel like a huge failure and I just want to crawl in a hole and die. Instead I have to finish a motion for an employer in hopes that maybe I can get a good recommendation out of it.

Fuck me.

I've said it before: it's never as bad as you think it was unless security escorts you out.

But just in case, sorry dude.

[BarbellDreams]

I've said it before: it's never as bad as you think it was unless security escorts you out.

I lol'ed hard at this.

[spleenworship]

I've said it before: it's never as bad as you think it was unless security escorts you out.

I lol'ed hard at this.

[Bikeflip]

A few of my networking bros wanna introduce me to hiring partners. Baby steps and small victories.

[spleenworship]

Awesome. Good job.

[Baylan]

Those of you in the trail, just keep grinding. It breaks. I was never a regular in here, but here's my brief story:

Wayne State Law alumni. Mediocre first semester (~top 1/3), killed 2nd semester (boosted to first person outside the top 10%). I had what felt like a billion OCI interviews for my little school, including interviews at all but 2-3 of the large Michigan firms. Struck out, hard. I went to the CSO's office and asked "What do I do now?" and was told "Get a job." I applied to everything on symplicity, just hoping to get something to stick. Within a month, I started a gig at a tiny insurance defense firm. It was terrible. I was doing medical record review summaries. I think in 4 months I drafted one motion, four witness lists, and about a million records summaries. In early spring of 2L year, I started looking around again.

During the OCI period I interviewed for a law clerk position at a small firm in the Detroit suburbs. I ran into one of my old interviewers at an interview tips session at lunch, and ended up taking a law clerk gig for 2L summer at a small firm in the Detroit suburbs. Circumstance broke my way, and the young associate they had left at the end of August. I worked there throughout the year, essentially working as a part time 1st year associate. As a 2L and 3L, I was working *well* over the "20 hours" the ABA "permits" while taking a full class schedule, being involved in extra-curriculars, and making every bar event or networking event I could. Everyone that says that law school gets easier after 1L is a lying sack of shit unless they have a job lined up. I worked 10x harder 2L and 3L than I did 1L year - my work was just focused on things other than the classroom. After 3L, I left for the summer to study for the bar, and ended up getting the full time offer after I passed the bar. Now, I'm making pennies and working hard, and my loan situation is probably better than most (I took a significant scholarship at Wayne over a number of T1 schools), but I'm employed, will have healthcare, and love the work that I'm doing. I'll admit that until the day I passed, I was stressed out, worked up, and anxious about what it might mean for my future.

If there's a moral to the story, its this: work hard, work every connection, and don't be against getting your hands dirty doing SOMETHING that will get you experience to get you where you want to go.

[rad lulz]

A professor told me not to include my GPA on my résumé if its below a 3.75 (which is like top 5% here). I'm around a 3.6, and she said it was too low and to leave off.

Is this good advice? Won't people assume my GPA is bad if I don't include it?

That's terrible advice.

Jess don't ever ask that prof for any advice again

He (she) obviously can't be trusted w the most basic stuff

[rad lulz]

Those of you in the trail, just keep grinding. It breaks. I was never a regular in here, but here's my brief story:

Wayne State Law alumni. Mediocre first semester (~top 1/3), killed 2nd semester (boosted to first person outside the top 10%). I had what felt like a billion OCI interviews for my little school, including interviews at all but 2-3 of the large Michigan firms. Struck out, hard. I went to the CSO's office and asked "What do I do now?" and was told "Get a job." I applied to everything on symplicity, just hoping to get something to stick. Within a month, I started a gig at a tiny insurance defense firm. It was terrible. I was doing medical record review summaries. I think in 4 months I drafted one motion, four witness lists, and about a million records summaries. In early spring of 2L year, I started looking around again.

During the OCI period I interviewed for a law clerk position at a small firm in the Detroit suburbs. I ran into one of my old interviewers at an interview tips session at lunch, and ended up taking a law clerk gig for 2L summer at a small firm in the Detroit suburbs. Circumstance broke my way, and the young associate they had left at the end of August. I worked there throughout the year, essentially working as a part time 1st year associate. As a 2L and 3L, I was working *well* over the "20 hours" the ABA "permits" while taking a full class schedule, being involved in extra-curriculars, and making every bar event or networking event I could. Everyone that says that law school gets easier after 1L is a lying sack of shit unless they have a job lined up. I worked 10x harder 2L and 3L than I did 1L year - my work was just focused on things other than the classroom. After 3L, I left for the summer to study for the bar, and ended up getting the full time offer after I passed the bar. Now, I'm making pennies and working hard, and my loan situation is probably better than most (I took a significant scholarship at Wayne over a number of T1 schools), but I'm employed, will have healthcare, and love the work that I'm doing. I'll admit that until the day I passed, I was stressed out, worked up, and anxious about what it might mean for my future.

If there's a moral to the story, its this: work hard, work every connection, and don't be against getting your hands dirty doing SOMETHING that will get you experience to get you where you want to go.

Great story bro. Ty for sharing

[rad lulz]

Had a big interview. Fucked it up. Just totally failed to do anything I had ever learned in trial practice.

I feel like a huge failure and I just want to crawl in a hole and die. Instead I have to finish a motion for an employer in hopes that maybe I can get a good recommendation out of it.

Fuck me.

I've said it before: it's never as bad as you think it was unless security escorts you out.

But just in case, sorry dude.

Lold

You got it next time spleen

There will be another interview, although sometimes it doesn't seem like it

[champ33]

http://www.jdhunter.com/

URL makes it seem sketchy, and maybe it is, but there are a few decent postings there.


Heading to a medium-sized town (for my state) on Monday for a second interview with a company for a non-law job. They said they are very interested, and this round is to determine what group I would be fit in with. Sounds promising, even though the location isn't 100% perfect.

Hey do you mind saying what industry/type of company? I am a 3L and really starting to consider whether I want to look outside law. Also, how'd the interview go?

[chrisbru]

http://www.jdhunter.com/

URL makes it seem sketchy, and maybe it is, but there are a few decent postings there.


Heading to a medium-sized town (for my state) on Monday for a second interview with a company for a non-law job. They said they are very interested, and this round is to determine what group I would be fit in with. Sounds promising, even though the location isn't 100% perfect.

Hey do you mind saying what industry/type of company? I am a 3L and really starting to consider whether I want to look outside law. Also, how'd the interview go?

It's not until Monday. Insurance company, consulting position. PM me if you want more details.

[Anonymous User]

For recent grads that have passed a bar exam. I just came across this while job searching. I am still a 3L so I can't apply but I hope it helps one of the recent grads that are still looking.

https://lmig.taleo.net/careersection/lm ... ?job=47112

Liberty Mutual Suretyâ„¢, is looking for an entrepreneurial, analytical-minded individual for a Surety Claims Counsel opportunity with our surety organization based out of Plymouth Meeting, PA office. This is an excellent and rare developmental opportunity for a recent law school grad as an entry-level attorney to launch an exciting career in the surety industry, and will include tailored learning experiences and mentoring to develop a deep understanding of the business in preparation for surety claims handling.

Qualifications:
Completion of law school with a J.D. degree and a member of bar in at least one jurisdiction required.
Preference of 0-1 years of experience practicing as an attorney. Recent law school graduates encouraged to apply.
Minimum 3.0 GPA or ranking of 50% or greater highly preferred. ****MUST Include GPA/Class rank on resume****
Requirements include excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to conduct research and analysis of legal issues.
A general understanding of how to handle complex litigation, claims, and /or general liability work desired.
Displays entrepreneurial instinct and gets satisfaction in self-directing, willing to ask questions, works best in a fast paced environment, and creatively applying resources.
Comfortable with technical applications.
Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Able to travel

[Bikeflip]

Fucking hell. I keep getting emails saying I'm past the HR drones, but hiring committees don't like me enough for an interview.

[BarbellDreams]

I've recently interviewed with 2 firms, both of which I really liked and both of the interviews went really well so hopefully something comes out of it. One of the firms I especially liked, and there were a few signs during the interview that made me feel good like the partners calling in the managing partner of the firm to join in on the interview midway through when he wasn't ever scheduled to meet with me and one of the partners literally running to his office to get his card for me as I was walking out the door because he didn't have one on hand. They also emailed me about an hour after the interview to thank me for coming in and to ask for a copy of my transcript. Hey, at least based on all that I know I'm at least a "maybe". The thing that kills me is that while I believe I'm an above-average interviewer both on personal feel and on my interview-to-offer ratio during law school I know both of these firms are interviewing, at minimum, 10 people for one position. I know its a numbers game, but still. Gotta keep plugging away. I really need to get out of the Vale.

[spleenworship]

We'll make it. We'll all make it.

[Bikeflip]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

[spleenworship]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

I had someone just jack my computer. Probably one of my clinic clients.

So yeah. Today blows.

[rad lulz]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

I had someone just jack my computer. Probably one of my clinic clients.

So yeah. Today blows.

The hell bro

I'm very sorry

[Anonymous User]

if you failed the bar, and applied to a govt job, is that an automatic ding?

I failed NY

[spleenworship]

if you failed the bar, and applied to a govt job, is that an automatic ding?

I failed NY

Assuming non-lawyer govt job? Or do you mean you were accepted and now failed the bar?

[hiima3L]

if you failed the bar, and applied to a govt job, is that an automatic ding?

I failed NY

From my experience, any job that says bar passage required is a strict requirement.

Sorry to hear that.

[chrisbru]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

That really puts things in perspective...

[JazzOne]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

I had someone just jack my computer. Probably one of my clinic clients.

So yeah. Today blows.

When you're submersed in academia, it's easy to forget how the rest of the world lives. Sorry to hear that. I've gotten careless with my electronics too.

[Pretzel_Logic]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

I had someone just jack my computer. Probably one of my clinic clients.

So yeah. Today blows.

That's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that spleen.

I have an interview next week, but it's in BFE and the salary is so low I don't know how I'd pay my bills.

[BarbellDreams]

My (non PAYE) loan repayment's higher than my dad's mortgage. Today just blows.

I had someone just jack my computer. Probably one of my clinic clients.

So yeah. Today blows.

That's awful, I'm so sorry to hear that spleen.

I have an interview next week, but it's in BFE and the salary is so low I don't know how I'd pay my bills.

Hey, gotta start somewhere. Starting at a low salary doesn't mean you'll end at a low salary. The interesting thing about this profession is that its not uncommon to lateral to a 50% salary bump. Its not anecdotal evidence, its almost a norm for people who start off low and do good and recognizable work.