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How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

You can thank the baby boomers for that bullshit.

Try volunteering for legal aid or other PI orgs, internships, etc.

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

Why are you anonymous? Who the hell is going to identify you based on vague complaints about modern job application requirements?

ymmv wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

Why are you anonymous? Who the hell is going to identify you based on vague complaints about modern job application requirements?

im close to taking my own life, and am paranoid at this point

ymmv wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

Why are you anonymous? Who the hell is going to identify you based on vague complaints about modern job application requirements?

Dude, if you have a problem with anon, report it, don't clog up the thread. And when someone's talking about their own job circumstances anon is perfectly appropriate.

minnbills wrote:You can thank the baby boomers for that bullshit.

Try volunteering for legal aid or other PI orgs, internships, etc.

any ideas on getting wills/trusts/probate experience specifically?

Anonymous User wrote:

ymmv wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

Why are you anonymous? Who the hell is going to identify you based on vague complaints about modern job application requirements?

im close to taking my own life, and am paranoid at this point

wait, what?

Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

ymmv wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

Why are you anonymous? Who the hell is going to identify you based on vague complaints about modern job application requirements?

im close to taking my own life, and am paranoid at this point

wait, what?

4+ years w/o job, sick of writing cover letters and tailoring resumes without hearing back, cant even volunteer. this is a last ditch effort.

Anonymous User wrote:How do you guys get hired for entry/associate level jobs when even they require experience? It's beyond infuriating that an entry level position requires experience. I of course apply and never hear back.

I had to work summer in law school so couldn't get firm experience. I've tried volunteering and never hear back either.

You had to work so you couldn't do legal work (like most people do)? Doing legal work in the summers is pretty standard. Nevertheless, it's hard for everyone who graduates without a job, so I wouldn't read so much into why you're getting dinged.

Does your school have funded fellowships for the jobless? Continuing to find unpaid legal work is probably your best bet, given the market.

Anonymous User wrote:

Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:im close to taking my own life, and am paranoid at this point

wait, what?

4+ years w/o job, sick of writing cover letters and tailoring resumes without hearing back, cant even volunteer. this is a last ditch effort.

Have you considered a different field?

There's plenty of opportunities out there, if you're willing to adjust your expectations

Seek help. Call this place 1-800-273-TALK . You're not alone at all. Many many of us are in the same situation.

guano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Biglaw_Associate_V20 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:im close to taking my own life, and am paranoid at this point

wait, what?

4+ years w/o job, sick of writing cover letters and tailoring resumes without hearing back, cant even volunteer. this is a last ditch effort.

Have you considered a different field?

There's plenty of opportunities out there, if you're willing to adjust your expectations

yes, even went and got a masters so i could get into consulting.

Anonymous User wrote:

minnbills wrote:You can thank the baby boomers for that bullshit.

Try volunteering for legal aid or other PI orgs, internships, etc.

any ideas on getting wills/trusts/probate experience specifically?

Have you considered looking into trust administration/trust officer positions? There are a lot of local banks, at least in my market, who are trying to build their trust departments to meet demand. Something to look into if you're interested in estate planning.

Anonymous User wrote:

guano wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:4+ years w/o job, sick of writing cover letters and tailoring resumes without hearing back, cant even volunteer. this is a last ditch effort.

Have you considered a different field?

There's plenty of opportunities out there, if you're willing to adjust your expectations

yes, even went and got a masters so i could get into consulting.

Try looking on craigslist... plenty of job listings there, and some of them could have real potential.
Look, maybe you didn't get your first choice career, or second choice, but there are lots and lots of careers you don't even know about. Go on craigslist, monster, or whatever, take a job you're overqualified for, but where you can see some potential down the line, prove that you deserve to get promoted over the zombie who's been there for 10 years, and who knows where you might end up.

OP, I can emphasize to an extent. I started out in a really niche area and am now trying desperately to transition out of it to get broader experience. I am also not making a lot, which contributes to a lot of frustration for me. I sincerely regret starting out so focused because it severely limited what firms will even look at me and, even though I have almost three years of practice, it doesn't seem to make a difference because most posts of there want experience in the field whether it be RE, lit, M&A, corp, etc. And I have nothing of the sort. I've been looking for a year and it has not been enjoyable to any extent. I feel like I am grasping at straws and BSing my way cover letter to cover letter.

I hope you keep your head up as much as you can. I've tried Craigslist and Monster as another poster suggested.... I'm planning to attend a lot more networking events, as I've heard that's better than applying to things online that everyone else applies to. But I dunno; I'm yet to see the benefit of networking just yet.