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

[snowpeach06]

I decided to make the "to-do list" joke in my thank you note... the interviewer wrote back "LOVE your P.S.!" So, I guess jokes can be a good thing.

[objctnyrhnr]

I'm also studying for the CA bar and searching for job. Already had a few interviews, and I will be flying out to DC in a couple weeks (unfortunately at my own expense since fed gov) for callback. I'm not dealing w/ getting married or anything like that and living at home w/ my parents, so have a lot less stresses thankfully. Still really would like a job and still waiting to hear back from NYC to see if I have budget approval for a position, so still floating in the vale.

I am grateful for the number of interviews I am getting, but it is certainly difficult in conjunction with bar study. For every interview, I prep for at least half a day if not more. What's worse is that a lot of the jobs I am going for have multiple rounds of interviews. I feel myself getting further and further behind in the bar syllabus. It sucks, but I figure the job is more important, right?

[rad lulz]

I decided to make the "to-do list" joke in my thank you note... the interviewer wrote back "LOVE your P.S.!" So, I guess jokes can be a good thing.

Yeah that seems like a good joke bc y'all had a moment

[Anonymous User]

I'm also studying for the CA bar and searching for job. Already had a few interviews, and I will be flying out to DC in a couple weeks (unfortunately at my own expense since fed gov) for callback. I'm not dealing w/ getting married or anything like that and living at home w/ my parents, so have a lot less stresses thankfully. Still really would like a job and still waiting to hear back from NYC to see if I have budget approval for a position, so still floating in the vale.

I am grateful for the number of interviews I am getting, but it is certainly difficult in conjunction with bar study. For every interview, I prep for at least half a day if not more. What's worse is that a lot of the jobs I am going for have multiple rounds of interviews. I feel myself getting further and further behind in the bar syllabus. It sucks, but I figure the job is more important, right?

CA bar is hard, don't underestimate it. Failing the bar might have adverse consequences on any offer you might get so you don't want to fall too far behind on the syllabus.

[spleenworship]

I am grateful for the number of interviews I am getting, but it is certainly difficult in conjunction with bar study. For every interview, I prep for at least half a day if not more. What's worse is that a lot of the jobs I am going for have multiple rounds of interviews. I feel myself getting further and further behind in the bar syllabus. It sucks, but I figure the job is more important, right?

CA bar is hard, don't underestimate it. Failing the bar might have adverse consequences on any offer you might get so you don't want to fall too far behind on the syllabus.

That said, turning down interviews strikes me as a bad thing. Obj, you probably need to dedicate more time to bar study and drop any other activities apart from bar study and interviews.

[Anonymous User]

I pulled my dismal GPA to a 3.006. Should I even bother putting that on the resume? Aiming for PD/Legal Aid, which I know are less grades-conscious. I go to a T30.

Are you sending your transcript with it?

I've never been asked for a transcript for any PI internship I applied to, but I'd imagine that employers would care somewhat for FTLT jerbs and may ask.

[Anonymous User]

Is it really devastating on your career to take paralegal work post-JD? Got an interview for paralegal work at a level that pays almost double what a PD in my state makes. I've always heard not to take paralegal work post-JD because it's a really bad mark on a resume, but I've graduated, have no job, bills to pay and I've sent out over 100 applications to every listing I could find plus mass mails to PDs, DAs, state clerkships and private firms. Only about 30% of my class has jobs right now because my state doesn't seem to like hiring before you're barred. A lot of the ones who found jobs took non attorney jobs. I haven't decided anything and an interview is just an interview...but if I got the offer I don't know if I could turn down that much money for the possibility of maybe getting something sometime after I pass the bar in November. Thoughts?

This anon here, second round interview this week, first one went really well. Looking like an offer might be a possibility.

A few more facts without revealing too much info: I've had experience with this office before and really like the work and the people, but an attorney position is out without a few years of experience (not a firm). There is almost no chance I'd be promoted from paralegal to attorney because trial experience is required. I'd get paid 60k and I live in a state where that is very, very good (PDs pay around 35k here). Not gonna lie, an offer would be seriously tempting, but I've heard so much advice not to take paralegal work post-JD, even though it pays well and I like the work and the office and I'd be happy here. I do want to be an attorney...but maybe not more than I want to be happy and comfortable and not unemployed and depressed. What would you guys do?

[Anonymous User]

(Sorry, didn't mean to post as anon, post deleted and reposted with screen name, I don't know how that happened).

[sandcastle45]

I'm not in that exact position, but I submitted something to a JD-preferred position at place I would freaking love to work at. I'm also still waiting to hear back about an attorney position. Honestly, if the JD-preferred job was offered to me first, I would take it…I might even take it over the attorney job if they were close in time/simultaneously offered. This particular job would be something I would love doing at a place I've always wanted to work and it would just be regular hours and decent pay ($60-70kish as well). But that's me…and of course this is all up in the air right now. I think you should do what feels best for you and what decision you would ultimately be happy with. You can't rely on what other people are doing or what they think you should be doing. If you think you would be happy with this job, then go for it!

[worldtraveler]

Again, PI employers are highly unlikely to assume shit from the fact that your GPA isn 't listed on your resume.

This. And unless they ask, don't send a transcript.

[objctnyrhnr]

I'm also studying for the CA bar and searching for job. Already had a few interviews, and I will be flying out to DC in a couple weeks (unfortunately at my own expense since fed gov) for callback. I'm not dealing w/ getting married or anything like that and living at home w/ my parents, so have a lot less stresses thankfully. Still really would like a job and still waiting to hear back from NYC to see if I have budget approval for a position, so still floating in the vale.

I am grateful for the number of interviews I am getting, but it is certainly difficult in conjunction with bar study. For every interview, I prep for at least half a day if not more. What's worse is that a lot of the jobs I am going for have multiple rounds of interviews. I feel myself getting further and further behind in the bar syllabus. It sucks, but I figure the job is more important, right?

CA bar is hard, don't underestimate it. Failing the bar might have adverse consequences on any offer you might get so you don't want to fall too far behind on the syllabus.

I am not taking the CA or the NY bars. Only one state, that is on the easier side of the spectrum, but not the easiest (from what I hear). Did like one question worse than average on the midterm, but it's the essays I am worried about. Have another interview at another spot tomorrow, will fall one day further behind haha. Hoping to make it up this weekend, but who knows.

[Pretzel_Logic]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

[rad lulz]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

gratz pretz who with?

[Johann]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

good luck pretzel! this is the one!

[Bikeflip]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

good luck pretzel! this is the one!

Doc review interview for me today. The interviewer interviewed 6 of us individually in about an hour. Assembly line interview for assembly line legal work.

[jess]

.

[Anonymous User]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

Good luck dear...i will pray for you.

[objctnyrhnr]

had two interviews this week, neither of which I thought I would get. I would be overjoyed to get an offer from either job. I thought both interviews went as well as they could have. I will find out next week and/or week after. This is my most optimistic week since last fall. Getting shot down by both of these within days of one another would be a serious blow.

related question--assuming you have a professor who is willing to make calls for you, how often and for what kinds of jobs (besides judicial clerkships) are you supposed to ask them to call?

[spleenworship]

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK YOU GUYS

Please let this be the end of the Vale for me

Congrats!!! Good luck to Pretzel & Bike!

This.


And bike: it's just a stepping stone bro.

[objctnyrhnr]

I fucking did it I fucking got out of the vale with a Federal District Court Clerkship in my home (desirable, competitive but not most competitive...certainly non-flyover) district. I go to a t30 and am below median. The stars literally aligned. All of the stress and sadness over my whole 3L year was worth it...because if I had gotten any of those jobs, I would not have even applied for this.

Best of luck to everybody else. It may seem bleak, but one day, it'll just happen.

[spleenworship]

Fucking Congrats!!!

[jaydizzle]

I fucking did it I fucking got out of the vale with a Federal District Court Clerkship in my home (desirable, competitive but not most competitive...certainly non-flyover) district. I go to a t30 and am below median. The stars literally aligned. All of the stress and sadness over my whole 3L year was worth it...because if I had gotten any of those jobs, I would not have even applied for this.

Best of luck to everybody else. It may seem bleak, but one day, it'll just happen.

Good job bro. Sick gig too. I am still waiting to hear back from my interview last week. I was supposed to hear back by the end of last week, but the government is super slow.

[spleenworship]

Add a week to your expected callback timeline. Ain't no federal or state workers getting anything done this week. There's only 4 days after all.


Good luck jay!

[jaydizzle]

Add a week to your expected callback timeline. Ain't no federal or state workers getting anything done this week. There's only 4 days after all.


Good luck jay!

Thanks! It's a PMF gig.

[rad lulz]

I fucking did it I fucking got out of the vale with a Federal District Court Clerkship in my home (desirable, competitive but not most competitive...certainly non-flyover) district. I go to a t30 and am below median. The stars literally aligned. All of the stress and sadness over my whole 3L year was worth it...because if I had gotten any of those jobs, I would not have even applied for this.

Best of luck to everybody else. It may seem bleak, but one day, it'll just happen.

Good work son