Jobless Lawyer - Latest Comments

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Sarah Patton — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:03:02 -0000

I love this web site, I found it on Bing and I think I will keep coming back eventually, it very helpful for me. Thanks

Re: Mailbag

rongriffin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:14:27 -0000

Our of work Construction Manager with a 30 year career under my belt and I spend each day emailing resumes (with robotic motions usually) from CareerBuilder and Indeed.com, in addition to company website positions and so far have secured only a 7 week project that paid $80,000 annually, but not called for another project.

Don't know how I stumbled on your site, but it is extremely well done and glad I did. Have spent a few hours reading it and your site made me feel better, and some great laughs.

Sites like yours CAN be money makers; I have explored Google AdWords & AdSense programs, but Content (not cash) is King, and if you can't put in the daily content streams to ensure returning eyeballs and new ones, one should not enter New Media.

Misery loves company, you know.

Ron

Re: About

Marken Jack — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:45:55 -0000

I am thankful to you for sharing this information about your personal. It is much beneficial and also I liked the way for sharing it with all here.
stoke-on-trent solicitors

Re: Resumes

professional resume — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:23:46 -0000

Very impressive work guys....................................

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Jane Deas — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:37:16 -0000

This is my first time I have visited this site. I found a lot of interesting stuff in your blog.

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Michael Sander — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:31:33 -0000

This is a bit of a shameless plug, but for those who are looking for attorney positions, I would recommend that you check out http://www.resumelaunchpad.com. It's a new site that helps you search for law firms and easily send them your resume and cover letter.

Re: Hiatus Explained

Corinne A. Tampas — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:30:16 -0000

Great! I'm happy that was the reason and that you had not taken a flying leap somewhere. Check in a little more often!

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Mold Removal Fremont — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:28:42 -0000

Fascinating.

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Concrete Services — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 04:41:37 -0000

I also believed that if the person reviewing the applications truly only wanted to consider applicants who were admitted to Federal Court

Re: Humor Print #4 “Law School Diploma Mills”

GallagherEli — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:07:02 -0000

It's a sad and very true situation. There are a lot of students who come out of the benches of Law Universities and can't find a place to work because the ones existing are already occupied by the older lawyers, who don't give up so easily. They're everywhere, there are LA lawyers, New York lawyers, Phoenix lawyers, etc. etc. etc.

Re: Attorneyresume.com STINKS!!!! (they provide generic advice that is readily available on the internet for a huge price tag)

Boredarewe — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:22:56 -0000

Thank you. Any chance you could look at my resume and give some advice? :)

Re: 11 Things You Might Not Have Thought Of When Writing Your Legal Resume

Guest — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:45:00 -0000

If you don't already know most of the above points, find another profession....as a hiring attorney, I will put the bottom line up front. The most important skill you bring to the table is the ability to produce work-product that the firm can charge to the client. Writing and research skills are of primary importance. Substantive knowledge is important, but that can be taught. Your past performance is indicative of future performance, but if you can't produce work-product without a lot of supervision, you are useless.

As an aside, I LOATHED the whole interviewing experience when I graduated from law school. I think I applied for two positions. After that, I learned all I could about a niche subject in an under-served area of law. It took awhile, but I eventually became known as a subject matter expert in my chosen area of law; I also worked a lot of long hours (I still do). My point is, don't assume that your JD will be the key to financial security. I have always believed that lawyers have to bring at least one of three things to the table:

1) Pedigree- You are so fabulous that your firm can charge a ton of money for your work because you went to x,y or z law school (read as top 10 law school with honors). This is of limited utility if you don't fulfill one of the following factors.

2) You know somebody. (Your dad, uncle, or brother-in-law is the President, a Senator, or CEO of a Fortune 500 company). This may bring in fees because of your relationship.

3) Your skill set. You know enough about an area of law and can produce enough work product to justify hiring you. In my opinion, most lawyers will fall into this category. Even if you fall into the Pedigree category, you are useless if you can't fulfill either of the two remaining categories.

Resumes are important because they communicate the above. However, if you don't fit into one of the above mentioned categories, a well written resume will not land you meaningful employment. At least that is my thought on the subject.

None of this is meant to discourage anyone. I am just offering my perspective. I hope all readers do as well as they can and have great success. Just realize that not everyone will succeed in the legal profession.

Re: About

MrNamuro — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:16:13 -0000

Being unemployed in any field can be a very stressful event and you can have some adventures while surpassing the this condition. I wish no person to have the experience you had because sometimes it can be very energy consuming and it can send you into a hospital.
____________________________________
Phoenix lawyers

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Hoda — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:32:58 -0000

Interviews are a nightmare, I had to go on at least 20 before I landed my job.

Also on an unrelated note, whatever happened to Surge soda? It was all over the place when I was in middle school. Kind of like the precursor to modern energy drinks, but now has gone the way of betamax and the soon-to-be-dead-due-to-piracy music/movie industry: http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/...

Re: Resumes

Me — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:57:48 -0000

Hi, has anyone tried this resume writing service? I was about to deal with attorneyResume but I got discouraged by your article. Any feedback would be welcome!

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Rob Shattuck — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:55:51 -0000

Unemployed lawyers should consider applying to BP Fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg for a job. Total attorneys' fees to be paid from fund could be upwards of $5 billion. Make the argument to Mr. Feinberg that those could be greatly reduced, maybe by 80%, if he structured the program so that all legal work was done by lawyers who are compensated on a salary basis.

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Brooks — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:36:29 -0000

A better idea, though non-conventional. Find a job you want, and realize that they will be receiving 200-300 resumes for the posting. This means you need to either have a personal relationship with someone there, or other personal connection. Your goal is to get in front of the hiring partner, before screening by nay-sayers.

Here is how to do it: First, find out who the hiring partner is. Ask for his or her hourly rate, and tell his secretary that you need his input on a legal matter, and will bring an hour's worth of his time with payment for the initial consultation. Tell them it is a complex legal problem, that you would prefer to discuss in person. The partner will think you are a potential client.

Dress well, and when you meet with the partner, hand him a check for the consultation at his hourly rate. Explain that you understand that he has successfully established a practice, and tell him you are paying him for his professional career advice. Ask him to review your resume (tailor it to the position you want), and ask him how he got started. He will probably be flattered that you are paying him $300-$400 just to meet with him for advice. Don't even mention the opportunity at his firm--tell him that you know he interviews a lot of candidates, and you want to know what hiring partners at prestigious firms (whether or not the firm is well-known), are looking for, and that you found his firm through Martindale-Hubble and noticed that they were AV rated, had a great client list, and they practiced in your area of specialty.

Let him talk about his own career as much as possible. Don't overtly flatter him, but ask about career advancement/client development strategies that have worked for him. Take copious notes, and ask follow-up questions on how he built his practice and ask him "If you were to give a commencement address to recent graduates, what would you tell them?"

Ask him if he has any additional ideas that come to him later, to please call you, as you will be happy to pay his hourly fee if he thinks of anything else, or hears of any open opportunity from colleagues from local firms that might fit your profile.

At worst, he will consider you a "go-getter", and may become a valuable contact/reference/advocate for your search. At best, he will seriously consider you for the open position they have that you pretend you know nothing about and never mention.

Beats the hell out of emailing resumes to firms who receive 300 applications for one job, with no face contact for 290 of the applicants

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Sallie Mae's Servent — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:38:30 -0000

" I provided them with a list of the places I had submitted a resume and the contact individuals for each. I had them place unsolicited calls in advance, addressing the layoff procedures and my work product." - Interesting approach

Whom did you have them call?

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Anon — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:24:18 -0000

I think I know EXACTLY who you are talking about. I interviewed with him in 2008 and had a very similar experience. He spent most of the "interview" ignoring me and doing work or screaming at his poor secretary to bring him documents (which she had to remind him were already on his desk). At one point he asked me to go locate his intern and bring the intern to his office. He then returned to ignoring me and yelled at the poor intern. Eventually he got around to reviewing my 20-page writing sample in 15 seconds, concluding, "this makes sense. I like it." Fortunately, I got an offer from a different firm a couple days later, so I didn't have to pursue that "opportunity" any further. Unfortunately, I lost that job in Sept. and haven't had the slightest bit of luck since then. I guess he must have burned through whatever poor chump did take the job, since I started seeing his want ads around the time of your post. One other thing of interest: It came out during my interview that, while he may do IP cases, and advertises the job that way, his associate actually does little but personal injury cases.

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

probatur — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:25:35 -0000

Where've you been? Does this mean you got a job? Hope you find a way to tell us that story (as well as interview tips!)

Re: Interview with the OAF ! (The worst law interview ever)

Ramon Esquire — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:36:28 -0000

you are a glutton for punishment. I once had an interview with panel of attorneys asking me what animal I identified with and how the characteristics of the animal related to the practice of law.

Needless to say, I told that I did not identify with piranhas or sharks, got up and left the interview.....

One of the women ran after me, but I told her to take a hike.

I have little tolerance for bullshit, and I do have that wicked latino temper!.

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Kelly — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:28:52 -0000

Are you going to be posting anymore?

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

Kris — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:26:02 -0000

It's rough and difficult to even give it away at the moment. I thought I would be able to pro bono my way to a different type of practice - but I've waited months to get a crack at a couple of places. In the meantime, my local, rough and ready law centre had an opening for a woman solicitor (attorney) and I grabbed it - it had half the competition of the other positions.

Now that I've got my foot in the door, it's been easier for me to get involved with their other clinics. The benefit to me is that it keeps me fresh and does take me out of my comfort zone. The Saturday ladies' legal problems aren't confined to one or two areas of law.

Thanks for your post. it's easy to feel like the lone ranger.

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

warrenpeace637 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:37:20 -0000

Thomas Edison couldn't have said it better himself, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up, the most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time." I just stumbled on your blog and I must say, I really enjoyed reading it as well as how you put to light situations which some may even call "dire" in such a humorous way. The part about self-esteem is really important for all job seekers -- confidence is a really big plus because without it, you won't look as effective as you actually are. Anyway, hope you find a job! I will be looking forward to your other posts. Mind if we swap links? I have a blog of my own as well which is all about employment (or the lack of it) too.

http://www.wearyworker.com

Good luck!

Re: Recession Job Search Tips for the Unemployed Lawyer- Creating a Job “Surge”

angelthelawyer@gmail.com — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:24:18 -0000

What happened to you? Did you find a job?