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

[Pretzel_Logic]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

I know this feel so hard, man.

[presh]

Interview with another firm on Friday. Uncharacteristically nervous, bros.

Good luck, PL.

[rad lulz]

Interview with another firm on Friday. Uncharacteristically nervous, bros.

Good luck, PL.

[spleenworship]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

Never give up. Never.

[spleenworship]

Interview with another firm on Friday. Uncharacteristically nervous, bros.

Good luck. You got it

[seahawks2014]

Been a lurker since my 0L days, finally decided to participate because I ran out of real people to talk to about the LOLschool job search. I am a 3L at a T6. Summered at a mid-sized firm (60-70 lawyers) that did not extend offers to anyone in the summer class. Didn't get a "yes" or "no" and it looked like they just wanted some help for the summer. Gave up on entry-level associate positions at a firm (received a couple callbacks in the fall and got dinged). Now I'm looking at compliance jobs. I saw earlier in the forum where people said this was pretty much impossible. That being said, the general response for 3L jobseekers seems to be that everything legal or legal-related or any job over 50k+healthcare is impossible. Would anyone be willing to provide more info on Compliance Associate positions at a bank like Citi or Goldman?

[dfsad]

Been a lurker since my 0L days, finally decided to participate because I ran out of real people to talk to about the LOLschool job search. I am a 3L at a T6. Summered at a mid-sized firm (60-70 lawyers) that did not extend offers to anyone in the summer class. Didn't get a "yes" or "no" and it looked like they just wanted some help for the summer. Gave up on entry-level associate positions at a firm (received a couple callbacks in the fall and got dinged). Now I'm looking at compliance jobs. I saw earlier in the forum where people said this was pretty much impossible. That being said, the general response for 3L jobseekers seems to be that everything legal or legal-related or any job over 50k+healthcare is impossible. Would anyone be willing to provide more info on Compliance Associate positions at a bank like Citi or Goldman?

I can't comment on a compliance position in the financial industry, but in August, I was able to land a position as a contracts manager in a different industry. I'm overall happy with my salary/benefits, and I had the fortune that my department was restructured, which changed my title from "contracts manager" to "staff attorney." There are a lot of contracts manager jobs out there, and while I can't promise you'll end up being an attorney for the company, you get to do a lot of attorney like things (negotiating, drafting, advising, etc.). Also, a lot of contracts manager jobs will say they want 5+ years experience, but some will waive that requirement with the JD (mine did). Hope that helps.

[Bikeflip]

That being said, the general response for 3L jobseekers seems to be that everything legal or legal-related or any job over 50k+healthcare is impossible.

I wouldn't say it's impossible, as we've had Vale success stories, but it's hard as fuck to find.

[Anonymous User]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

Never give up. Never.

Wait don't you have a job already?

[BarbellDreams]

Interview with another firm on Friday. Uncharacteristically nervous, bros.

Good luck, you're gonna do awesome!

[jarofsoup]

I have no outstanding interviews. No places to apply to. I worked hard for 3 years and I don't have shit. This is all very bloody depressing.

Anyone feel like this too?

[adonai]

I'm a '13 grad who finally got a job offer and accepted a job at a small company leading their quality and compliance group. The job does not require an attorney, but it is "J.D. preferred" since they prefer someone with experience interpreting regulations and such. I think I will enjoy the work, and I think it can lead to my ultimate goal of an in-house attorney position in the future.

However, now I am finally getting responses from a few jobs I applied to months ago. One in particular is the Public Defender's Office. I had a brief interview with them a few weeks back, and they just let me know that they want to bring me in for a second interview. I'm not sure what I should do. I really want a job that showcases by bar admission and everything I worked so hard for, but at this point the logistics of finding a time to interview around my new job would be difficult. (I just started and don't want to take time off) I really enjoy litigation, but I would also be taking about a 15K pay cut to join the public defender. I am further concerned about being limited to criminal law once my time with the PD is over. I am interested in criminal law, but I don't know if it is something I want to do forever.

Am I better off pursuing the "law job" at the Public Defender for much less money? Or should I stay with my current job for a while before looking for an attorney job that is more business law related?

Depending on how much the small company is paying you, with IBR/PSLF repayment with the PD you might just be saving money. Also, nothing forecloses you from switching to the PD down the line. PD back to business law might be a little different.

[deadpanic]

Interview with another firm on Friday. Uncharacteristically nervous, bros.

Good luck, PL.

[NYstate]

I'm a '13 grad who finally got a job offer and accepted a job at a small company leading their quality and compliance group. The job does not require an attorney, but it is "J.D. preferred" since they prefer someone with experience interpreting regulations and such. I think I will enjoy the work, and I think it can lead to my ultimate goal of an in-house attorney position in the future.

However, now I am finally getting responses from a few jobs I applied to months ago. One in particular is the Public Defender's Office. I had a brief interview with them a few weeks back, and they just let me know that they want to bring me in for a second interview. I'm not sure what I should do. I really want a job that showcases by bar admission and everything I worked so hard for, but at this point the logistics of finding a time to interview around my new job would be difficult. (I just started and don't want to take time off) I really enjoy litigation, but I would also be taking about a 15K pay cut to join the public defender. I am further concerned about being limited to criminal law once my time with the PD is over. I am interested in criminal law, but I don't know if it is something I want to do forever.

Am I better off pursuing the "law job" at the Public Defender for much less money? Or should I stay with my current job for a while before looking for an attorney job that is more business law related?

Depending on how much the small company is paying you, with IBR/PSLF repayment with the PD you might just be saving money. Also, nothing forecloses you from switching to the PD down the line. PD back to business law might be a little different.

Don't make this decision based on having to showcase bar admission. These are two very different jobs. Which one do you want to do? If you want to work for a company, I'm not sure the public defender will help with that.

[NYstate]

I have no outstanding interviews. No places to apply to. I worked hard for 3 years and I don't have shit. This is all very bloody depressing.

Anyone feel like this too?

Keep your head up. You are in a tough situation. People here support you. You are definitely not the only one in this situation or that feels this way. I think it is a slow time of year for hiring.

[spleenworship]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

Never give up. Never.

Wait don't you have a job already?

1. The Air Force is not in the bag - medical issues.

2. Even if it was in the bag, coming in and offering support isn't frowned on to the best of my knowledge.

[Bikeflip]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

Never give up. Never.

Wait don't you have a job already?

Why is this anon?

[robin600]

Applying only to PI jobs and not a single thing has come through man. I just got rejected from an agency that asked for my references (they didn't call them) and I have 4 internships in the field. I'm about ready to just give up!

Never give up. Never.

Wait don't you have a job already?

1. The Air Force is not in the bag - medical issues.

2. Even if it was in the bag, coming in and offering support isn't frowned on to the best of my knowledge.

GL w/ Air Force stuff! I had similar issues in ROTC, it's crazy dealing with MEPS and medical stuff. If you want advice or support feel free to PM me. That experience is a major buzzkill!

[northwood]

I have no outstanding interviews. No places to apply to. I worked hard for 3 years and I don't have shit. This is all very bloody depressing.

Anyone feel like this too?

focus on the each day one at a time. this is a very quiet time to hear back from employers because 3Ls cannot work until August ( or should not be working until then), wont know if they passed until a few months after that time ( September- December, depending on your state), and employers have to deal with the rest of their summer classes, etc. So keep your head up, and understand that things may be slow for a while, but it will pick up.

[Anonymous User]

Lurker here, I'm a 2013 graduate who has been unemployed since graduation (notwithstanding some contract and volunteer work). I just secured a position as a staff attorney at a vault firm. At this point, $100k for fifty hours a week of document review and research memos sounds really, really, really awesome. Don't give up!

[Anonymous User]

Also, I've heard that Ropes Boston & NY are looking for a 2013 grad for a career associate position. Info is in lateral opportunities on their site, deadline soon.

[Anonymous User]

I'm also interested in this. I am also wondering if there are any less selective consulting firms maybe like Accenture or Booz Allen where there are jobs a JD can apply for. I am basically open to applying to any kind of job with a master degree level pay.

If you're class of 2014, you're probably too late for this career path. I had a screener with Accenture a couple weeks ago and they were looking for their January 2015 class.

This

Same w big 4, generally

This is straight up wrong - I got my offer after taking the bar in August - the hiring is just on an as needed basis with most Big 4 firms for JD positions, unless they have a formal recruiting process set up (most schools don't). The positions where JDs have a competitive advantage are financial regulatory consulting positions. However, there is no "JD preferred" hiring going on and you have to really stand out from an experience prospective to compete with MBAs (i.e. regulatory or financial sector experience).

I would look at E&Y and PwC - their FS Regulatory practices are top notch and seem to be winning a lot of engagements related to Dodd-Frank work. KPMG I never really hear about and Deloitte FS is great too, but I think they don't tap into law schools for hiring (shot in the dark pretty much).

Also, do not just apply online, the HR at these places gets way too many resumes to pick you out of a pool of thousands, you NEED to get a referral from the group you desire to even have a shot at getting an interview. This means you gotta network within the firm you are trying to get into. Hope this helps.

Thanks for this answer, can you also elaborate on how to get referrals?

[jess]

.

[Anonymous User]

Lurker here, I'm a 2013 graduate who has been unemployed since graduation (notwithstanding some contract and volunteer work). I just secured a position as a staff attorney at a vault firm. At this point, $100k for fifty hours a week of document review and research memos sounds really, really, really awesome. Don't give up!

100k as a staff attorney sounds great...how did you find that position?

[Pretzel_Logic]

Ugh.

Professor - How many of you are 3Ls?

::everyone raises hand::

Professor - How many of you have jobs lined up already?

::everyone raises hand but me::

giant, giant internet hug.