BigLaw casualty - what the hell does one do with himself? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Laid off from BigLaw. My 3 months 'period' is finished today. I have had a good deal of interviews and more lined up including numerous in office callbacks. What the hell does everyone do with themselves at this point? I have lost 10 pounds do to actually being able to make it to the gym, have around 8 different head hunters advocating and pushing my resume, and have applied to a shit ton of jobs on my own. I feel like a bum and now have no income stream. Anyone have any advice?

[Anonymous User]

Laid off from BigLaw. My 3 months 'period' is finished today. I have had a good deal of interviews and more lined up including numerous in office callbacks. What the hell does everyone do with themselves at this point? I have lost 10 pounds do to actually being able to make it to the gym, have around 8 different head hunters advocating and pushing my resume, and have applied to a shit ton of jobs on my own. I feel like a bum and now have no income stream. Anyone have any advice?

What year are you? How long have you been working with recruiters? 3 months seems like a long time to be searching. Have you had any offers?

Hopefully you have a nest egg saved up and are not in danger of not being able to meet your expenses. If so, just enjoy the time off!

[Anonymous User]

Just a first year here, but it sounds like you are doing all you can. Have you reached out to law school/undergrad contacts? Probably do not need them given interviews lined up and 8 head hunters but I imagine it couldn't hurt.

Do you have a large debt load? Any severance? I wish I had better advice than hang in there but going to the gym (like you're alredy doing)/staying up to date on industry news/reading books sounds like a good strategy.

[Tls2016]

Laid off from BigLaw. My 3 months 'period' is finished today. I have had a good deal of interviews and more lined up including numerous in office callbacks. What the hell does everyone do with themselves at this point? I have lost 10 pounds do to actually being able to make it to the gym, have around 8 different head hunters advocating and pushing my resume, and have applied to a shit ton of jobs on my own. I feel like a bum and now have no income stream. Anyone have any advice?

Can you ask for an extension? Tell them you are really close and worried you won't get anything if you have to leave. Or something to that effect. You need a little more time.
3 months isn't that long to look if your area is slow.

[Anonymous User]

Laid off from BigLaw. My 3 months 'period' is finished today. I have had a good deal of interviews and more lined up including numerous in office callbacks. What the hell does everyone do with themselves at this point? I have lost 10 pounds do to actually being able to make it to the gym, have around 8 different head hunters advocating and pushing my resume, and have applied to a shit ton of jobs on my own. I feel like a bum and now have no income stream. Anyone have any advice?

What year are you? How long have you been working with recruiters? 3 months seems like a long time to be searching. Have you had any offers?

Hopefully you have a nest egg saved up and are not in danger of not being able to meet your expenses. If so, just enjoy the time off!

It's not uncommon for the lateral search to take more than 3 months.

[Anonymous User]

Well, unfortunately I said a 3 month 'period' but my firm only gave me 30 days and no, I will not out the firm. I started working with the HH from day 1 and have luckily gotten good traction with a lot of firms. However, no offers as of yet. Layoff was strictly due to economics of the firm and there were quite a few of us who were laid off. So, in all I have only been on the search for 29 days, today is day 30.

[Tls2016]

If a number of you were laid off you won't get an extension.
You need to cut costs as much as you can.
I would ask head hunters if you have any decent ones, what they suggest you do. You need to be productive but I'm not sure if the best steps. Really hustle for jobs because not being at the firm will hurt you the longer you are out.

[Anonymous User]

If a number of you were laid off you won't get an extension.
You need to cut costs as much as you can.
I would ask head hunters if you have any decent ones, what they suggest you do. You need to be productive but I'm not sure if the best steps. Really hustle for jobs because not being at the firm will hurt you the longer you are out.

I fully understand and agree. It has been the experience from hell. The 30 days has flown by and I have done/am doing everything I can to not get lost in the shuffle. I have attempted to bump on interviews but some firms want me to come in next week or the week after for the in office interview. I can explain the layoff but I am sure there will be a stigma.

[jkpolk]

Well, unfortunately I said a 3 month 'period' but my firm only gave me 30 days and no, I will not out the firm. I started working with the HH from day 1 and have luckily gotten good traction with a lot of firms. However, no offers as of yet. Layoff was strictly due to economics of the firm and there were quite a few of us who were laid off. So, in all I have only been on the search for 29 days, today is day 30.

See if you can be kept on until March 1. For resume purposes you'd get another month to look without a gap

[Tls2016]

Well, unfortunately I said a 3 month 'period' but my firm only gave me 30 days and no, I will not out the firm. I started working with the HH from day 1 and have luckily gotten good traction with a lot of firms. However, no offers as of yet. Layoff was strictly due to economics of the firm and there were quite a few of us who were laid off. So, in all I have only been on the search for 29 days, today is day 30.

See if you can be kept on until March 1. For resume purposes you'd get another month to look without a gap

Smart idea.

[Anonymous User]

Not an option, unfortunately

[Anonymous User]

OP, can you be left on the website till March 1, or better June 1? Many places will let you do this. I know the paycheck is huge, but you may be able to get some cash jobs (know a guy who was bartender for a few weeks after his layoff) to stretch out your cash till the next gig hits.

[californiauser]

Out the firm. Pay it forward to current law students.

[Desert Fox]

Out the firm. Pay it forward to current law students.

Every firm lays people off.

[Anonymous User]

OP, can you be left on the website till March 1, or better June 1? Many places will let you do this. I know the paycheck is huge, but you may be able to get some cash jobs (know a guy who was bartender for a few weeks after his layoff) to stretch out your cash till the next gig hits.

I do not get the point of the website deal. If firms ask, I have to explain to them that I was laid off. I simply cannot lie?

[Anonymous User]

OP, can you be left on the website till March 1, or better June 1? Many places will let you do this. I know the paycheck is huge, but you may be able to get some cash jobs (know a guy who was bartender for a few weeks after his layoff) to stretch out your cash till the next gig hits.

I do not get the point of the website deal. If firms ask, I have to explain to them that I was laid off. I simply cannot lie?

Many people do not. If you had an interview before March 1, would you tell the interviewer you were laid off and hence that is why you are looking? Do your HH know?

[Anonymous User]

Deleted.

[Anonymous User]

OP, can you be left on the website till March 1, or better June 1? Many places will let you do this. I know the paycheck is huge, but you may be able to get some cash jobs (know a guy who was bartender for a few weeks after his layoff) to stretch out your cash till the next gig hits.

I do not get the point of the website deal. If firms ask, I have to explain to them that I was laid off. I simply cannot lie?

Many firms will allow you to say you weren't fired (which may be true, paperwork wise) and keep you on the website even if not paying you. In exchange you don't bad mouth the firm. It's a bit wink-wink, but that's the point of it.

[Anonymous User]

Can you tell us what area it is in (e.g. Texas, California, Northeast, etc.)? Wondering if it is a systematic phenomenon (like the energy deal lull in Texas).

[Tls2016]

The benefit of being on the website is when the Google you your name is still there.
If you can't, I think you need to spend time networking as much as possible, bar association functions, whatever.
I would also keep yourself on a strict schedule and not end up Netflixing your life away.

Do you have any contacts at offers you turned down for this firm?

Also, keep your spending as low as humanly possible. You are going to have a big expense with COBRA costs.

[Anonymous User]

Can you tell us what area it is in (e.g. Texas, California, Northeast, etc.)? Wondering if it is a systematic phenomenon (like the energy deal lull in Texas).

TX. energy Fucked me

[Anonymous User]

Are you only looking at biglaw right now? If so, I would consider expanding to midlaw and possibly below just to make sure you don't have a big gap on your resume. I think you could land a 1-2 year layover at a lower tiered firm and then transition back into biglaw. I think future biglaw firms would be ok with this especially if you're in TX energy right now. This way you'll be employed, making money, developing skills, and not having an unemployed period on your resume.

[Anonymous User]

Can you tell us what area it is in (e.g. Texas, California, Northeast, etc.)? Wondering if it is a systematic phenomenon (like the energy deal lull in Texas).

TX. energy Fucked me

This is actually terrible to hear. I am in TX biglaw in Htown. I have heard rumors but assumed layoffs were not true. There were rumors flying about where I am at - and definitely have not been layoffs. I am sorry to hear this OP.

[Johann]

what class year are you?

[Anonymous User]

Is getting a headhunter or working with a legal contracting firm worthwhile? I ask because I'm in sort of a similar position, but not BigLaw. I've been working out alot, and am ok with money for a year (I saved alot and have low living expenses) but it's just the stress of not working and my career being stalled that's killing me. When should people in our position start to freak out about not getting offers? I am interviewing with alot of govt places and they can take 3 months to make decisions.
My situation is that I am a essentially a second year from a small law firm (2 partners, 2 assoc in a small market, the partners split and I was supposed to go with one but he let me go the first month he was supposed to take over my salary). I left on bad terms because they insisted I tell people I resigned and I was not willing to do that without a severance package (they offered nothing). I've interviewed at some places and applied to others but I keep running into the issue of being too experienced for entry-level legal jobs and losing out to people with tax LLMS or 5-20 years of experience. I almost want to start doing solo work to keep from going crazy but am not sure if it makes sense to start that until I hear back from interviews. I'm also terrified that my former employer's unwillingess to act as anything other than a neutral reference will be very damning in this smaller market.