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

[criminaltheory]

^accidental anon

[TheFutureLawyer]

x

[lawschoolwoohoo]

Thanks for the support everyone. I've sent resumes and interest to many offices in the area all spring. I have had a couple interviews, but have been dinged because I won't be a "lawyer" until I get passage results this fall. I even emailed to ask for follow-up advice in some cases, and have basically been told that the timeline is the only issue with my application, so I feel fairly stuck. I have a paid fellowship lined up at an office that has a decent history of hiring, and offices that are interested, but it's still really hard to graduate without a "real job." Thank you all for the support though, definitely makes me feel less screwed.

[Anonymous User]

When do rising 3Ls start mass mailing over the summer? I am working at a F500 company with a at best 50% chance of getting an offer (probably much lower but they did hire last year's intern) over the summer in my target market (away from my school's market). I am just curious when to start bombarding every firm in my target markets with apps. I saw a resume collection today for rising 2Ls and thought it was extremely early in the season.

[Anonymous User]

Any other unemployed 2015 grads out there? I am happy for everyone getting out of the vale, but I am beginning to feel like the only one. I've been on several interviews, but I just can't seem to snag a job

[Rlabo]

For anyone who is not already signed up, you should check out this newsletter http://www.gobiglaw.com. I saw advertisements for what looked like 3 entry level positions today (all corp) for top firms. Best of luck.

[ballouttacontrol]

For anyone who is not already signed up, you should check out this newsletter http://www.gobiglaw.com. I saw advertisements for what looked like 3 entry level positions today (all corp) for top firms. Best of luck.

Good resource. You can set it up email you every day or week with the new listings by practice group. This is where I first saw my current job

[Sweetdeal068]

To the 2015 grad, you're definitely not alone! I'm a 2015 grad still in the vale as well . Still waiting on word from a final interview though. It's so depressing seeing the next class posting about graduation .

[MzJD]

I posted this in a new forum but someone suggested posting here any thoughts?

"Hi I am doing a legal job search but I have been unsuccessful thus far. I am not sure what types of positions I should apply for because I haven't passed the bar yet ( failed Jul 2015). I am waiting for Feb results and hopefully they are successful. But should I just wait until I get results or keeping looking now. Most attorney jobs state that you "MUST" have passed the bar in AZ. They also request at least 1-2 years of experience. Any advice would be great I am starting to stress out!"

[Puttanesca]

I posted this in a new forum but someone suggested posting here any thoughts?

"Hi I am doing a legal job search but I have been unsuccessful thus far. I am not sure what types of positions I should apply for because I haven't passed the bar yet ( failed Jul 2015). I am waiting for Feb results and hopefully they are successful. But should I just wait until I get results or keeping looking now. Most attorney jobs state that you "MUST" have passed the bar in AZ. They also request at least 1-2 years of experience. Any advice would be great I am starting to stress out!"

How much longer is it before you get bar results? I would keep looking now and just state that you took the AZ bar in February. Then update the places you apply to when you pass the bar. However, if you're going to get your bar results like next week and the job application deadline is after then, then I would wait until you pass the bar before applying to that particular job so you can say you passed.

As for the 1-2 years experience, it depends on where you are applying. For private practice, apply. For fed gov, don't bother. I'm not sure about state/local gov in Arizona.

[Anonymous User]

Class of 2015 here, have been feeling down about my chances, but suddenly got four interview requests in the span of a week. Two of them are for magistrate clerkships, which I'd be very happy to have at this point, the other two are for less desirable (to me) work; fairly dead-end jobs that pay around $60k to start, but anything FTLT JD-required is exciting at this point. The thing is, I can't see myself with better than 25% chance at any of them, I know they're all interviewing a full slate (5? 10? who the hell knows). So it's discouraging to think that this run of luck could very easily end up being no different than the other dozens of unanswered applications I've sent out.

[Sweetdeal068]

Class of 2015 here, have been feeling down about my chances, but suddenly got four interview requests in the span of a week. Two of them are for magistrate clerkships, which I'd be very happy to have at this point, the other two are for less desirable (to me) work; fairly dead-end jobs that pay around $60k to start, but anything FTLT JD-required is exciting at this point. The thing is, I can't see myself with better than 25% chance at any of them, I know they're all interviewing a full slate (5? 10? who the hell knows). So it's discouraging to think that this run of luck could very easily end up being no different than the other dozens of unanswered applications I've sent out.

Wow congrats on those interview requests! That's huge, and you should be excited! I'd say that you should keep up hope and continue to show up and prepare for the interviews. All you need is your foot in the door, even if it's not ideal. All it takes is one. But hey I completely get the discouragement, I'm finding it hard to stay motivated and keep applying, especially knowing that I probably won't hear from them ever. It's hard

[Anonymous User]

When do rising 3Ls start mass mailing over the summer? I am working at a F500 company with a at best 50% chance of getting an offer (probably much lower but they did hire last year's intern) over the summer in my target market (away from my school's market). I am just curious when to start bombarding every firm in my target markets with apps. I saw a resume collection today for rising 2Ls and thought it was extremely early in the season.

Can anyone answer this?

[jchiles]

When do rising 3Ls start mass mailing over the summer? I am working at a F500 company with a at best 50% chance of getting an offer (probably much lower but they did hire last year's intern) over the summer in my target market (away from my school's market). I am just curious when to start bombarding every firm in my target markets with apps. I saw a resume collection today for rising 2Ls and thought it was extremely early in the season.

Can anyone answer this?

For larger employers (big companies/firms) I started in early August, I mailed out to a few small firms but got nothing or responses basically saying to try again in spring when they knew if they were hiring or not.

[Kratos]

When do rising 3Ls start mass mailing over the summer? I am working at a F500 company with a at best 50% chance of getting an offer (probably much lower but they did hire last year's intern) over the summer in my target market (away from my school's market). I am just curious when to start bombarding every firm in my target markets with apps. I saw a resume collection today for rising 2Ls and thought it was extremely early in the season.

Can anyone answer this?

I'd do it before you go back to school for sure while you're in your target market. So like July

[Anonymous User]

Applying for opening with Legal Services, which ask for salary requirements. Any suggestions? Just try to find out what the starting rate is?

[BVest]

Applying for opening with Legal Services, which ask for salary requirements. Any suggestions? Just try to find out what the starting rate is?

Starting plus 10%, in case they've budgeted a little more or recently increased their salary structure.

[Anonymous User]

3L, 100k debt, top 20% at TTT, no job lined up, general pessimism. shitty job in shitty suburb near hometown offers $45k/year.


do i just suck it up and take it?

[Kratos]

3L, 100k debt, top 20% at TTT, no job lined up, general pessimism. shitty job in shitty suburb near hometown offers $45k/year.


do i just suck it up and take it?

take it and keep applying for other stuff and drop it if you get something better

[Anonymous User]

one problem i failed to mention is that i would have to buy a car. $45k might be too little with that caveat right?

[ballouttacontrol]

I mean you could buy a $2k piece of shit to get by for now. Cars aren't really that expensive as long as you live somewhere you don't have to pay to park or somrthin like that

If you end up working somwhere like nyc where you don't need it then just sell it and you won't really take much of a loss

[Anonymous User]

Still in the vale, 2015 grad. Had an interview and offer in Manhattan for a litigation position, but had to turn it down. They offered $60k for 2400 billable hours. My commuting cost from outside the city would've been over 10% of my pay and 3 hours every day. I keep calling alumni and mass-mailing. Attorneys keep telling me that they're surprised I'm not getting a lot of interviews (Top 10%, military), but it doesn't really help to hear that at this point. I'm nearly at my breaking point.

Those are really tough terms to swallow, and I don't know your situation obviously, but I'd probably have taken it.

Obviously, you are able to evaluate them much better than anonymous weirdos. But just make sure your sights are set realistically. There are a lot of unemployed T1 JDs that would practically kill for 60k for 2.4k hrs. Maybe not with your resume, but be careful bra that's all

Same anonymous here. Updating because I wanted to let people know that there are opportunities out there.

Anyways, 2015 grad with no interviews until March. Then I had 6 interviews in the 2 week span. Received 5 offers (I interview well) ranging from 60-130k and billable requirements of 1800-2400. I'm starting my job in NYC next week.

So, silence for 10 months and then 9 interviews in about 5 weeks. It seems to all come at once, I was offered 3 more interviews in Boston last week. Keep applying and calling/meeting alumni. Make sure your resume and cover letter are perfect.

[Manali]

Checking in.

[Anonymous User]

Still in the vale, 2015 grad. Had an interview and offer in Manhattan for a litigation position, but had to turn it down. They offered $60k for 2400 billable hours. My commuting cost from outside the city would've been over 10% of my pay and 3 hours every day. I keep calling alumni and mass-mailing. Attorneys keep telling me that they're surprised I'm not getting a lot of interviews (Top 10%, military), but it doesn't really help to hear that at this point. I'm nearly at my breaking point.

Those are really tough terms to swallow, and I don't know your situation obviously, but I'd probably have taken it.

Obviously, you are able to evaluate them much better than anonymous weirdos. But just make sure your sights are set realistically. There are a lot of unemployed T1 JDs that would practically kill for 60k for 2.4k hrs. Maybe not with your resume, but be careful bra that's all

Same anonymous here. Updating because I wanted to let people know that there are opportunities out there.

Anyways, 2015 grad with no interviews until March. Then I had 6 interviews in the 2 week span. Received 5 offers (I interview well) ranging from 60-130k and billable requirements of 1800-2400. I'm starting my job in NYC next week.

So, silence for 10 months and then 9 interviews in about 5 weeks. It seems to all come at once, I was offered 3 more interviews in Boston last week. Keep applying and calling/meeting alumni. Make sure your resume and cover letter are perfect.

Any advice re cover letters, outside of typo free and targeted? I think mine are good, but always hoping to improve.

[Manali]

Still in the vale, 2015 grad. Had an interview and offer in Manhattan for a litigation position, but had to turn it down. They offered $60k for 2400 billable hours. My commuting cost from outside the city would've been over 10% of my pay and 3 hours every day. I keep calling alumni and mass-mailing. Attorneys keep telling me that they're surprised I'm not getting a lot of interviews (Top 10%, military), but it doesn't really help to hear that at this point. I'm nearly at my breaking point.

Those are really tough terms to swallow, and I don't know your situation obviously, but I'd probably have taken it.

Obviously, you are able to evaluate them much better than anonymous weirdos. But just make sure your sights are set realistically. There are a lot of unemployed T1 JDs that would practically kill for 60k for 2.4k hrs. Maybe not with your resume, but be careful bra that's all

Same anonymous here. Updating because I wanted to let people know that there are opportunities out there.

Anyways, 2015 grad with no interviews until March. Then I had 6 interviews in the 2 week span. Received 5 offers (I interview well) ranging from 60-130k and billable requirements of 1800-2400. I'm starting my job in NYC next week.

So, silence for 10 months and then 9 interviews in about 5 weeks. It seems to all come at once, I was offered 3 more interviews in Boston last week. Keep applying and calling/meeting alumni. Make sure your resume and cover letter are perfect.

Any advice re cover letters, outside of typo free and targeted? I think mine are good, but always hoping to improve.

Always highlight your ties to the market in the first paragraph.