Lawyer job search conundrum
April 16, 2009 1:59 PM Subscribe
I am a lawyer who has spent my entire career (10 years) in solo general practice, mostly family and criminal law. Now, due to one of my kids' ongoing medical needs, we need to move to a larger city with a major medical center, preferably Seattle. Never having gone through the job search process before, I am at a loss as to how to proceed.
Ordinarily I would consult my law school's career services office, but I don't think that is feasible in my case, as the law school is located in my small town and my job search would become known to everyone within a matter of hours, seriously jeopardizing our current income. (Please just trust me on this. That's also why I'm posting anonymously.)
Although I am one of the more successful lawyers in my area and enjoy a very good reputation, I am not the kind of lawyer that a headhunter is going to have any interest in. I went to an obscure state school, and don't have any of the specialized skills that many of the large employers are looking for (IP, tax, bankruptcy, etc.). I am looking for a position similar to what I'm doing now. I'm already licensed in Washington.
Networking is not much help to me as I don't have any contacts in the cities that might work for us, and can't openly talk about this issue at home for the reason cited above.
What are the best job search strategies for me? Can you recommend a good law job web site? Should I just identify firms that I'd like to work for and contact them directly? Any and all advice is welcome.
Ordinarily I would consult my law school's career services office, but I don't think that is feasible in my case, as the law school is located in my small town and my job search would become known to everyone within a matter of hours, seriously jeopardizing our current income. (Please just trust me on this. That's also why I'm posting anonymously.)
Although I am one of the more successful lawyers in my area and enjoy a very good reputation, I am not the kind of lawyer that a headhunter is going to have any interest in. I went to an obscure state school, and don't have any of the specialized skills that many of the large employers are looking for (IP, tax, bankruptcy, etc.). I am looking for a position similar to what I'm doing now. I'm already licensed in Washington.
Networking is not much help to me as I don't have any contacts in the cities that might work for us, and can't openly talk about this issue at home for the reason cited above.
What are the best job search strategies for me? Can you recommend a good law job web site? Should I just identify firms that I'd like to work for and contact them directly? Any and all advice is welcome.
You might also consider looking into government employment or even contract work as a way to get started and begin making connections in the area.
posted by neojoyo at 2:20 PM on April 16, 2009
posted by neojoyo at 2:20 PM on April 16, 2009
I don't think you should be so pessimistic about headhunters. I'll agree that the majority of jobs on the headhunter market appear to be geared toward specialties, but they are not all that way.
Headhunters have law firms as clients, and any job openings that a firm has - whether specialty or not - goes to their headhunter. Non-specialty jobs are not advertised by headhunters typically because they do not need to be advertised, as the headhunter will already have a stock of resumes they can choose from.
So, in terms of headhunters, you need to get your c.v. in their hands, and then get some face-to-face time with them. Once they meet you, and if they like you, they will have you bookmarked for any future job openings whether or not they are advertised. You will probably have your best luck with smaller boutique headhunting agencies, rather than the bigger ones that have a reputation for simply mining resumes for top academic credentials.
So, 2nding Ironmouth's recommendation that putting your name in with a headhunter will not hurt, as well as his other recommendations.
posted by jabberjaw at 2:27 PM on April 16, 2009
Headhunters have law firms as clients, and any job openings that a firm has - whether specialty or not - goes to their headhunter. Non-specialty jobs are not advertised by headhunters typically because they do not need to be advertised, as the headhunter will already have a stock of resumes they can choose from.
So, in terms of headhunters, you need to get your c.v. in their hands, and then get some face-to-face time with them. Once they meet you, and if they like you, they will have you bookmarked for any future job openings whether or not they are advertised. You will probably have your best luck with smaller boutique headhunting agencies, rather than the bigger ones that have a reputation for simply mining resumes for top academic credentials.
So, 2nding Ironmouth's recommendation that putting your name in with a headhunter will not hurt, as well as his other recommendations.
posted by jabberjaw at 2:27 PM on April 16, 2009
Perhaps you might come up with a throwaway email address for Seattle-based mefites to use for contacting you. That's some networking right there.
posted by ocherdraco at 2:27 PM on April 16, 2009
posted by ocherdraco at 2:27 PM on April 16, 2009
I think you're selling yourself short. You have the ability to practice law and run a law practice. Criminal defense can be useful for white collar criminal defense, which could be attractive to boutiques or even larger firms. These boutiques (and those specializing in family law) may not use head hunters. Don't be afraid to contact them directly by sending a resume and following up by phone. Maybe try networking through the King County Bar Association. Law Crossing is a website I used several years ago. You might also try the federal jobs website for a variety of government attorney positions.
I'm sure it's a little daunting to dust off your resume after ten years. Maybe start there and have a friend who does legal hiring give you feedback.
posted by *s at 3:45 PM on April 16, 2009
I'm sure it's a little daunting to dust off your resume after ten years. Maybe start there and have a friend who does legal hiring give you feedback.
posted by *s at 3:45 PM on April 16, 2009
Law crossing is something you really should do some research on before signing up. Not everybody thinks it's a good idea. Then again, some people seem to like it just fine. I have neither a positive nor negative opinion myself.
posted by jabberjaw at 4:13 PM on April 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by jabberjaw at 4:13 PM on April 16, 2009 [1 favorite]
You could try the Ladders.com (a pay site for jobs that pay over $100,000) or LawJobs.com.
The others are right, though, don't sell the Headhunters short - I'm in the market for a job in NYC and the headhunters are definitely looking for your type of experience. Another option are the agencies, such as Hudson, Update, HireCounsel, etc. Register with them, discuss your options. Often they have the best knowledge about a job market, since their job is to recruit and place attorneys, paralegals, etc., into temporary and permanent positions. Don't shy away from a temporary position - it could turn into something long term (I know 50 attorneys in NYC who started on a 'temporary' project; they've been there three years). You could even do a temporary assignment while trying to rebuild a solo practice in/near Seattle.
Also, Craigslist.
And ocherdraco's suggestion is a good one. I have a few friends in Seattle who might be able to help; I've never checked with any of my law school classmates to see if anyone ended up in Seattle, but I'd be happy to check.
posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 4:54 PM on April 16, 2009
The others are right, though, don't sell the Headhunters short - I'm in the market for a job in NYC and the headhunters are definitely looking for your type of experience. Another option are the agencies, such as Hudson, Update, HireCounsel, etc. Register with them, discuss your options. Often they have the best knowledge about a job market, since their job is to recruit and place attorneys, paralegals, etc., into temporary and permanent positions. Don't shy away from a temporary position - it could turn into something long term (I know 50 attorneys in NYC who started on a 'temporary' project; they've been there three years). You could even do a temporary assignment while trying to rebuild a solo practice in/near Seattle.
Also, Craigslist.
And ocherdraco's suggestion is a good one. I have a few friends in Seattle who might be able to help; I've never checked with any of my law school classmates to see if anyone ended up in Seattle, but I'd be happy to check.
posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 4:54 PM on April 16, 2009
Why are you focused on a job in a big law firm? Why can you not do what you did in a small town in Seattle?
Many solos start out with an office-sharing arrangement with others, to keep overhead down.
And if you can find a GP who is in his 60s, he might be happy to find someone who could take it over in a few years.
posted by yclipse at 5:06 PM on April 16, 2009
Many solos start out with an office-sharing arrangement with others, to keep overhead down.
And if you can find a GP who is in his 60s, he might be happy to find someone who could take it over in a few years.
posted by yclipse at 5:06 PM on April 16, 2009
follow up from the OP
ocherdraco and LOLAttorney 2009: Thank you so much for your kind suggestion. You can reach me at relocatinglawyer@gmail.com. Thanks also to everyone else for your encouragement.posted by jessamyn at 5:14 PM on April 16, 2009
This book has proven to be invaluable in two job searches. It's meant for new grads, but all the advice serves lawyers with experience too.
posted by bananafish at 9:14 PM on April 16, 2009
posted by bananafish at 9:14 PM on April 16, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Second, find out if there is anyone you graduated with in the area and contact them. Make a network.
Third, check with the local prosecutor's office as well as the public defender service if it exists in the area.
posted by Ironmouth at 2:16 PM on April 16, 2009