Help! 10 year gap in law. How to get back in?? Forum

[Jaykot]

I am a 44 y F graduate from uconn almost 2 decades ago.

Last worked in the law profession in 2011.

Supporting my husband with his career and really wish to get back for a variety of reasons.

I am barred in several states but not where I live. I have kept my license active in these states.

What jobs can I pursue? Are JD advantaged positions my best bet? How do I go about this?

I am concerned trying to study and sit for the bar would not be worth it this far out. Please let me know if you think its worthwhile. I know I cant find out for sure unless I try but I hesitate to.

I struggled mightily out of law school. I was middle of the road graduate and worked in various areas and was not able to sustain it. Then I met my husband and supported him since.

I would really like to get back in and am open to any career path but am unsure where to begin and would really appreciate your advice.

[gasfard]

Posse List?

[Sackboy]

Compliance would probably be the best place to look if you're not willing to take the bar in your state

[Definitely Not North]

Can’t you waive in to your state bar if you’ve got active licenses? Or do they require you to have been actively practicing?

[ninthcircuitattorney]

Most federal courts allow attorneys licensed in any state to practice there. If your local federal court allows this, you could do any type of federal practice: e.g., bankruptcy, federal criminal defense, federal employment discrimination, immigration. I was in a somewhat similar situation, I worked in finance for 5 years immediately after law school. I got back into law by doing pro bono work on my days off, picked up a little bit of expertise, and have been a happy federal litigator for 20 years. Good luck and ping me for a pep talk.

[Jaykot]

Most federal courts allow attorneys licensed in any state to practice there. If your local federal court allows this, you could do any type of federal practice: e.g., bankruptcy, federal criminal defense, federal employment discrimination, immigration. I was in a somewhat similar situation, I worked in finance for 5 years immediately after law school. I got back into law by doing pro bono work on my days off, picked up a little bit of expertise, and have been a happy federal litigator for 20 years. Good luck and ping me for a pep talk.

Thank you for your kind response.

Can you tell me what I should do with the pro bono aspect? What did you do specifically that was pro bono?

How do I differentiate myself from all the others who might be applying?

Can you tell me where to begin?

[Jaykot]

Compliance would probably be the best place to look if you're not willing to take the bar in your state

How do I begin to do this?

[Jaykot]

Can’t you waive in to your state bar if you’ve got active licenses? Or do they require you to have been actively practicing?

It requires an active license and no reciprocity w my other states

[ninthcircuitattorney]

On my days off, I volunteered at a legal aid office that handled only federal work, e.g., immigration legal aid, bankruptcy legal aid, federal public defender. A bunch of other folks did too, but everyone else quit after a couple of weeks, I was the only one that volunteered religiously. Eventually, that office saw that I was seriously committed to their field and they took me on. I'm sure that there are plenty of federal legal aid offices and even some law firms concentrating on federal matters that can be persuaded to take on a volunteer.

Caveat: things worked out for me only because I love being a lawyer. If lawyering were just another job to me, I probably would have taken my JD off my resume and just gone into regular work. (I'm the kind of lawyer who can understand why french lawyers refer to non-lawyers as Les Profanes.)

[Sackboy]

Compliance would probably be the best place to look if you're not willing to take the bar in your state

How do I begin to do this?

Just like you would any other job. Send out applications to compliance departments. Most companies of any meaningful size will have compliance jobs.

[Anonymous User]

Did you have strong big law transactional / in house experience? If so look at virtual firms like Axiom or Flex by Fenwick — they will place you at in house “secondments” and it is very easy to get hired full time by your clients if you do a good job. Market for good in house help is very hot at the moment.

[Anonymous User]

Did you have strong big law transactional / in house experience? If so look at virtual firms like Axiom or Flex by Fenwick — they will place you at in house “secondments” and it is very easy to get hired full time by your clients if you do a good job. Market for good in house help is very hot at the moment.

Unfortunately i dont have this experience.

Is there anything i can do to be more competitive

[Anonymous User]

Compliance would probably be the best place to look if you're not willing to take the bar in your state

How do I begin to do this?

Just like you would any other job. Send out applications to compliance departments. Most companies of any meaningful size will have compliance jobs.

Is there anything i can do to be more competitive. Cetifications etc? What basics/cle/courses should i brush up on before i interview if i even land one?

[Anonymous User]

On my days off, I volunteered at a legal aid office that handled only federal work, e.g., immigration legal aid, bankruptcy legal aid, federal public defender. A bunch of other folks did too, but everyone else quit after a couple of weeks, I was the only one that volunteered religiously. Eventually, that office saw that I was seriously committed to their field and they took me on. I'm sure that there are plenty of federal legal aid offices and even some law firms concentrating on federal matters that can be persuaded to take on a volunteer.

Caveat: things worked out for me only because I love being a lawyer. If lawyering were just another job to me, I probably would have taken my JD off my resume and just gone into regular work. (I'm the kind of lawyer who can understand why french lawyers refer to non-lawyers as Les Profanes.)

Thank you for this detailed response! Can I PM you for more specific details?

[ninthcircuitattorney]

Sure, but I don't know how PM works, would I just get an email at my associated email address?

[2013]

If you do CIPP, maybe you can try to get an in-house privacy role.

[Anonymous User]

If you do CIPP, maybe you can try to get an in-house privacy role.

Thank you for comment. However, looks like there are very few 0-2 year positions. Its a relatively new field? I am concerned I wont be eligible with my 10 year work gap.

Would there be any other certificates i could obtain and be employable relatively green?
https://iapp.org/news/a/the-struggle-ca ... acy-today/

[Anonymous User]

Sure, but I don't know how PM works, would I just get an email at my associated email address?

I sent u a pm. Please let me know if you dont see it.