Job advice? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey guys,

I'm a 3L at a T20 school, but so far I've struck out when it comes to landing something after graduation. My GPA is decent... around a 3.4, putting me in around the top third of the class. I should be studying for finals now, but it all seems a bit pointless, at least until I nail a job down.

I'm not sold on working at a large law firm (seems I've already missed out on that chance anyway). I'd be more than happy working in a mid-size firm, or even in a non-traditional law job. I'm definitely interested in the business side of law more than anything else (though I don't have a business background), but I do have some experience working for my state legislature on public policy issues. At this point, I'd be happy with either one of those routes. I'd like to make a good living but salary isn't the end-all-be-all for me; fortunately, I was able to get a nice scholarship for tuition so I won't be graduating with much debt... I'm flexible.

I've applied to a ton of places over the past year or so, but no luck so far. This whole thing is incredibly frustrating; I feel like there's a roadblock but I don't know what the problem is. I'd love to get some feedback from you guys with any advice you might have.

Thanks for reading!

[gwuorbust]

I would suggest mass-emailing like there is no tomorrow. aka 100+ emails per day. Think this is impossible? Email mail merge. start cold calling firms. hit up everyone in your network for their friends/associates who might know someone who needs someone.

the key is to be proactive. don't let yourself fall trough the cracks.

edit: and I do not mean just apply to mid-sized firms. I would suggest you contact corporations, VC/PE, banks, shit-ton of small firms, etc. etc.

also, if you are interested message me and I will show you an example of where you can get this kind of information.

[BeenDidThat]

What summer work did you do?

Are you from the region in which your school is located? And are you trying to work there?

Are there any places you haven't been applying?

You should be able to land a job. You have good grades from a good law school. Nothing is easy. But don't let your fear of failure prevent you from achieving success.

[XxSpyKEx]

I would suggest mass-emailing like there is no tomorrow. aka 100+ emails per day. Think this is impossible? Email mail merge.

This is terrible advice, and mass-emailing will only lead to mass rejections ITE. Think of it this way: there are tens of thousands of other law school grads doing this same thing, what going to make a firm, which doesn't need anyone else, suddenly decide that they need to take on an another attorney and hire you? Mass emailing is by far the easiest route, but also likely going to be the least successful.

start cold calling firms. hit up everyone in your network for their friends/associates who might know someone who needs someone.

Do this. Don't know many attorneys in the area where you want to practice? Then start contacting alums in that area and talk to them. I've heard joining the local bar assocation (and going to events) can be pretty helpful as well.

[gwuorbust]

I would suggest mass-emailing like there is no tomorrow. aka 100+ emails per day. Think this is impossible? Email mail merge.

This is terrible advice, and mass-emailing will only lead to mass rejections ITE. Think of it this way: there are tens of thousands of other law school grads doing this same thing, what going to make a firm, which doesn't need anyone else, suddenly decide that they need to take on an another attorney and hire you? Mass emailing is by far the easiest route, but also likely going to be the least successful.

false. successful mass mail depends on who you contact. if you contact firms that are getting constantly contacted, it will not be successful. if you contact organizations that never get a emailed from law students, they will think it was a personalized email, even if it wasn't.

edit: and by organizations that are never contacted I mean non-law firms. how many solar energy companies get emailed by law students? Probably next to none. I know that every VC/PE fund I talked to here in LA had never been contacted by a law student. And those are venture capital funds, which law students could help out a lot with.

btw, I explained how to do all of this in detailed form to the OP so arguing with you is moot anyways.

[reasonable_man]

Op:

Can you provide a bit of the following, so that we can better help:

1) What region are we talking (NYC, Mid atlantic, west coast)? It matters.

2) What did you do over your 1L and 2L summers?

3) Do you have any stand out experieince (journals, moot court, etc)?

4) How old are you?

5) What type of pre-law experience (if any), do you have?

[cjp86]

I'm the OP for this post.

From TX, applying there but totally open to relocating as well. My brother lives in SoCal and I would love to work in DC or NYC but don't really have any connections there.

Over 1L summer I worked at a small firm. Last summer I had two jobs: one working for the state legislature (policy analysis type stuff for a senator) and clerking at the DA's office.

25 yrs old. Not much experience before law school, as I only had 9 months off between graduation and starting 1L year.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Drizzt]

spend a couple grand on some ecstasy and profit and have the sex of gods