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Increasing Your Marketability [by A. Harrison Barnes, Esq.] Sure, most of your legal credentials are set in stone, but all is not lost if they’re not perfect. There are several things you can still do to increase your marketability and get that next job.
Question
First, you need to think geographically. You
then you should contact one and let them
As I currently approach my fourth month of
are currently living in the worst market in
help you in your search. If not, you should
unemployment after being laid off from a
the country. Barring circumstances that tie
find a way to apply to as many of these
major firm, I am wondering if there is any-
you to the Seattle region indefinitely, a move
law firms as quickly as possible in order
thing I can do to increase my marketability
to a healthier marketplace will provide you
to increase your chances of getting hired.
to law firms? I cannot change my past work
with more available opportunities, which
While job boards do not traditionally have
experience or my law school credentials,
will give you more opportunities for suc-
advertisements for entry level attorneys, you
obviously, but is there something else I could
cess. One of the strangest phenomena we
should review as many potential openings
do that I am overlooking?
have ever witnessed is talented attorneys
as possible. In addition, you might want to
who give up on the practice of law because
investigate using a targeted mailing service
Answer
they refuse to move. Detroit, Michigan used
to try to apply for positions in your existing
Being out of work is frustrating, for sure,
to be one of the largest legal markets in the
market or other markets that interest you. It
and the feeling that there is nothing you can
United States several decades ago and, by
is extremely unlikely that you will not find a
do to change your current situation probably
today’s standards, there are fewer than 10
position with an aggressive approach.
increases your stress level exponentially.
large law firms there. If attorneys continued
As you said, what’s done is done, and you
to stay there instead of following the jobs,
have to focus on the future. We have seen far
their chances for employment would be
est, most prestigious firms, you may have
too many attorneys literally give up on the
significantly reduced. While the change from
to aim a little lower. While we most likely
practice of law entirely after getting laid off
an industrial-based to an information-based
would not have said this in the heyday of the
during their first few months of practice. In
economy is certainly beyond the scope of this
economic boom, at a time when many large
the past several months we have seen attor-
article, the fact of the matter is that certain
firms are severely restricting their hiring, it
neys who graduated from Top 25 law schools
legal markets simply contract at various
may make sense for you to consider taking a
and worked for a few months at AmLaw 100
points in time. Many of these markets never
position at a less prestigious firm. You may
law firms before getting laid off become (1)
return to their former glory. Who knows if
come across a smaller firm that might actu-
a restaurant hostess, (2) a garbage man, (3)
Silicon Valley or Seattle, for that matter, will
ally be in “growth mode,” unlike larger firms
a salesperson in a men’s boutique clothing
ever be what they once were. The point is
in the area that are experiencing financial
store and (4) a trainee assistant manager of
you should not let geography influence your
troubles. While we are not advocating work-
a Pizza store. Nothing is wrong with any of
future. You went to law school for a reason
ing somewhere that you regard as beneath
these occupations; however, if these choices
and your current geographic location should
you, giving smaller-to-midsize firms a
were motivated by the perception that no at-
not be something that you let influence the
chance should not necessarily be considered
torney jobs were available, these occupation-
next 25-plus years of your life.
settling. When the economy does recover,
Second, if you are just considering the larg-
your resume will look a lot better for having
al choices were wrong. More often than not, the attorneys who give up are those coming
There are tens of thousands of law firms
worked somewhere than if you were to be
from the largest and most prestigious firms.
throughout the United States and the idea
unemployed for a few years. It is possible
Their thoughts run something like “If I can-
that one of them does not have a job waiting
that you will like the different atmosphere of
not practice at a very high level, I do not want
for you is an absurd thought. Unfortunately,
a smaller firm, and perhaps your experience
to practice at all.” We believe this thinking is
far too many attorneys accept this thought.
and know-how can even help that firm grow.
severely flawed because, as this article will
Does this really make sense to you? If you
demonstrate, you can find another job if you
have been practicing long enough for a legal
Third, you may be able to find immediate
approach your search in the right manner.
recruiter to represent you (usually one year),
employment with the government. Clerk-
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