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Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:56 pm
by Anonymous User
I'm a 3L who was previously working full-time / part-time as a law clerk for the past 6 months. I was laid off from my job today. The reason given was that another attorney was now going to be doing my job so they were cutting back on the law clerk pool. I was not fired for cause. I know this sounds petty, but i'm thinking about apply for unemployment compensation. Whats holding me back is that statutorily the commission has to notify the firm I was working at. I don't want to be blackballed but honestly I relied on the income from this job to support myself through school. Is this a shitty idea?

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:14 pm
by Rowinguy2009
I know very little about the law in this area, but I thought full-time students could never receive unemployment comp?

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:19 pm
by JuTMSY4
Rowinguy2009 wrote:I know very little about the law in this area, but I thought full-time students could never receive unemployment comp?
Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L who was previously working full-time / part-time as a law clerk for the past 6 months.
I'm actually a little surprised they kept the lawyer to do a law clerk's job. You'd think it would be the other way around.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:24 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here. I think they made a bad attorney hire and either needed to give her some work or heartlessly fire her after a month. I called and sure enough full-time students are allowed to get unemployment but I'd have to jump through all sorts of hoops. I'm just not going to deal with it.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 2:32 pm
by fratstar1
Why would you get blackballed for seeking unemployement? If you end up getting it the worst that will happen is that the firm will see a small increase in there unemployement insurance, which they will chalk up as the cost of doing bussiness. If you dont need the money and have better things to do with your time then jump through the hoops thats one thing, but your not going to be blackballed from an industry because you filed for unemployement when you became unemployed.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:37 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I think they made a bad attorney hire and either needed to give her some work or heartlessly fire her after a month. I called and sure enough full-time students are allowed to get unemployment but I'd have to jump through all sorts of hoops. I'm just not going to deal with it.
I did it. It wasn't that many hoops. the "hoop" was sitting on hold for an hour and a half, and then having a voice message come on the phone that says "leave your number and we'll call you back." They called back and I explained my situation, that I was willing and able to look for work, but it had to be at obscure hours due to my class schedule. They were cool with it and I got my unemployment. One note: there is a time period you need to be with the previous employer. 6 months in my state IIRC.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:22 pm
by ggocat
JuTMSY4 wrote:
Rowinguy2009 wrote:I know very little about the law in this area, but I thought full-time students could never receive unemployment comp?
Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L who was previously working full-time / part-time as a law clerk for the past 6 months.
I'm actually a little surprised they kept the lawyer to do a law clerk's job. You'd think it would be the other way around.
A lawyer will bill at a higher rate, thus netting more profit for the partners.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:05 am
by JuTMSY4
ggocat wrote:
JuTMSY4 wrote:
Rowinguy2009 wrote:I know very little about the law in this area, but I thought full-time students could never receive unemployment comp?
Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L who was previously working full-time / part-time as a law clerk for the past 6 months.
I'm actually a little surprised they kept the lawyer to do a law clerk's job. You'd think it would be the other way around.
A lawyer will bill at a higher rate, thus netting more profit for the partners.
For the work a law clerk did the week before? I suppose it depends on the clients.

Re: Laid Off from Law Clerk Job

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:36 am
by ggocat
Yeah maybe depends. I maintained relationships with paralegals during the recession and heard stories about associates gobbling up the work previously done by support staff at a large firm. Support staff were the first people cut in layoffs.