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

[spleenworship]

The wait for a response is fucking brutal. I have had apps out for three or four months at some places and just recently got called in for an interview for one and rejected from another. What the fuck are these government offices doing with their time that they can't fill a position in a timely manner?

I think I'm gonna start sending in resumes to private firms and prosecution offices in case nothing pans out in PHASE ONE. The vale is truly a stressful place to be, filled with nightmares of my parent's basement.

Govt is lazy and inefficient

Great place to work

Seriously... Today they were all like "can you travel?" And I'm all "sure whatever, just fucking gimme a job." Their response "now, we don't wan you going over 40 hours a week, so you'd have to flex the next day or two to keep your hours down."


Salary lawyer job. No joke.

[Anonymous User]

T14 3L, No journal (idk if it's important, but maybe you'd want to know? idk whatever)

After absolutely no interviews all year, I have an interview for an in house position. Great news, I'm very excited, but all I can think about is the one and only firm last year that I had a callback with that rejected me. Also, they haven't seen my transcript. Maybe they don't care? 2 firms that I've applied to this year with a resume and cl (Skadden and Desmarais) asked for a transcript and promptly rejected me.

Anyway, in all my anxiety I'm considering hiring a consultant (idk if that's what you call them). This person says they help law students find jobs, prep for interviews, use their network etc. and that every student they've worked with has found a summer or permanent position. Is it too early to be paying someone for help? I've read their firm bio and they seem legit.

[spleenworship]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

[Anonymous User]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

Thanks!

Now I'm wondering, I should bring copies of my transcript and resume right?

[rad lulz]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

Thanks!

Now I'm wondering, I should bring copies of my transcript and resume right?

ya

[spleenworship]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

Thanks!

Now I'm wondering, I should bring copies of my transcript and resume right?

Dude, I'm all about the PI. And PI, barring bigfed/ACLU doesn't give a shit about your grades. So I don't know about the transcript. You should have some private firm peeps in here help you out with this.

But resume is always TCR. Also cover letter and writing sample in case they forgot to bring it or want it from you.

[objctnyrhnr]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

Thanks!

Now I'm wondering, I should bring copies of my transcript and resume right?

Dude, I'm all about the PI. And PI, barring bigfed/ACLU doesn't give a shit about your grades. So I don't know about the transcript. You should have some private firm peeps in here help you out with this.

But resume is always TCR. Also cover letter and writing sample in case they forgot to bring it or want it from you.

Bring all your shit (I pack two writing samples, new resume, list of refs, transcript), but don't volunteer any materials until you are asked. If you aren't asked for any materials, the last thing you should say is "is there anything else you need from me?" If transcript still is not mentioned, you are in the clear. If it is, nothing you can do but show that you are prepared and have brought it.

[beariful]

First time poster in the Vale, but a long time reader. Like many of you, I'm a 3L with nothing lined up post-bar (actually I'm a 4L because I'm an evening student).

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone has had any luck with applying to jobs via LinkedIn. I've been seeing some great positions recently for requiring 1+ years experience (I think it's okay for me to apply to these, I've been working full time through all 4 years of law school in quasi-legal roles). I'm more concerned about the approach everyone takes. LinkedIn gives the option to directly submit your cover letter and resume for the job posting, but it also tells you who the job poster is. Would it be okay if I contacted the job poster directly? Or should I just apply through LinkedIn's automated submission method? I want to contact the poster directly because I feel like he's more likely to see my resume/cover letter this way, and it won't get lost in the hundreds he probably receives through LinkedIn, but I don't want to overstep any boundaries.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

[objctnyrhnr]

got invited to come interview at two separate offices today (neither of which I thought I would hear from until after bar results), in my preferred region, both after finals. these calls came a couple months after my original application was responded to with one of those form letters saying to reapply after bar results. one interviewer directly cited my resume strength, and the other seemed to imply that the res was the reason.

still no job, but it's a good day. things are moving for me again.

[Anonymous User]

anon who asked about resume and transcript from ^^^

Thanks everybody! I'm also gonna search LinkedIn for other people who have worked there. I'll let you know how it goes.

[spleenworship]

got invited to come interview at two separate offices today (neither of which I thought I would hear from until after bar results), in my preferred region, both after finals. these calls came a couple months after my original application was responded to with one of those form letters saying to reapply after bar results. one interviewer directly cited my resume strength, and the other seemed to imply that the res was the reason.

still no job, but it's a good day. things are moving for me again.

Good!

[JenDarby]

got invited to come interview at two separate offices today (neither of which I thought I would hear from until after bar results), in my preferred region, both after finals. these calls came a couple months after my original application was responded to with one of those form letters saying to reapply after bar results. one interviewer directly cited my resume strength, and the other seemed to imply that the res was the reason.

still no job, but it's a good day. things are moving for me again.

Good!

That's awesome!! It's great they are letting you come in after finals.

[sundontshine]

First time poster in the Vale, but a long time reader. Like many of you, I'm a 3L with nothing lined up post-bar (actually I'm a 4L because I'm an evening student).

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone has had any luck with applying to jobs via LinkedIn. I've been seeing some great positions recently for requiring 1+ years experience (I think it's okay for me to apply to these, I've been working full time through all 4 years of law school in quasi-legal roles). I'm more concerned about the approach everyone takes. LinkedIn gives the option to directly submit your cover letter and resume for the job posting, but it also tells you who the job poster is. Would it be okay if I contacted the job poster directly? Or should I just apply through LinkedIn's automated submission method? I want to contact the poster directly because I feel like he's more likely to see my resume/cover letter this way, and it won't get lost in the hundreds he probably receives through LinkedIn, but I don't want to overstep any boundaries.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

I don't think it would necessarily hurt to apply via LinkedIn and then send a note to the person who posted the job, provided you had additional information to add outside of your resume and cover letter. Maybe say you applied, ask a question about the position, and then explain why it interests you.

[wlu2013]

A while back I think there was discussion of a forum for attorneys that was spun off of this forum? Did that end up happening? Does anyone know how to get there? Thanks.

[jess]

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[Anonymous User]

Praying to whatever deity that I will soon be out. Got a call from an office I interviewed with saying they just need some references and a writing sample, but most likely will be offering me the position next week. Hope my writing samples don't suck too much (been difficult to provide anything substantive since most of my writing have been short memos). Crossing my fingers.

[Kronk]

Praying to whatever deity that I will soon be out. Got a call from an office I interviewed with saying they just need some references and a writing sample, but most likely will be offering me the position next week. Hope my writing samples don't suck too much (been difficult to provide anything substantive since most of my writing have been short memos). Crossing my fingers.

That'd be a dick move if they did that and didn't offer you the job.

[jess]

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[horriblegb]

Does the BYU job bank never update? It seems like all of the job postings have apps due in February.

They do they are just usually like a month behind. I also found that it would update in the first 5-10 days of the month, at least at the schools I was regularly checking

[Kronk]

Are there solid non-criminal options for people that do appellate work for a state AG, public defender, or prosecutor? Or do those people have to stay with criminal law pretty much?

[jess]

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[Kronk]

Are there solid non-criminal options for people that do appellate work for a state AG, public defender, or prosecutor? Or do those people have to stay with criminal law pretty much?

Maybe 1983 claims? I can also picture moving to family law/DV work or advocacy/policy stuff.

Yeah. It sucks to get wedged into one area of law, but I guess eventually that's how most people end up unless you work Gen Lit at a firm.

[spleenworship]

Praying to whatever deity that I will soon be out. Got a call from an office I interviewed with saying they just need some references and a writing sample, but most likely will be offering me the position next week. Hope my writing samples don't suck too much (been difficult to provide anything substantive since most of my writing have been short memos). Crossing my fingers.

That'd be a dick move if they did that and didn't offer you the job.

[NYSprague]

I don't know about a consultant, i always feel like those people might be shady. But I've never dealt with them and don't know anyone who has, so I could be way off base. In any case good luck with your interview. They wouldn't interview you if they weren't interested. Focus on good things about you that aren't grade related!

I think there was a Columbia grad in this thread who paid a consultant and got nothing after spending money. I would look for results and get references you can call and talk to before spending a dime. You should get a free initial consultation.

[rad lulz]

Are there solid non-criminal options for people that do appellate work for a state AG, public defender, or prosecutor? Or do those people have to stay with criminal law pretty much?

Maybe 1983 claims? I can also picture moving to family law/DV work or advocacy/policy stuff.

Yeah. It sucks to get wedged into one area of law, but I guess eventually that's how most people end up unless you work Gen Lit at a firm.

Specialization is the name of the game these days

General lit is still a thing but if you're not gonna be as attractive as a lateral