Job Searches, Small Law Firms

Back In The Race: Joining Bar Associations In Search of Employment

When you're looking for an attorney job, it's not what you know, and it's not who you know. It's who knows what you know.

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I learned that when you’re looking for an attorney job, it’s not what you know, and it’s not who you know. It’s who knows what you know. As my job search continues, I need to reach out to people who have access to hidden job leads and make sure they think of me before telling anyone else. But in order to accomplish this, I must find these people and they must know my expertise. Since I want to work for a reputable law firm, the people I’m looking for are reputable attorneys and most of them are active members of bar associations.

Around this time, most lawyers renew their bar memberships or join new ones. Since there is a bar association for every race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, state, locality, specialty, industry, trade, and fetish, joining the right organizations can be confusing, time consuming, and expensive. Not only do you have to pay annual dues, you are upsold on fancy officer installation dinners, CLEs, pro bono requests, and conferences. And expect your email inbox to be spammed with practice news and sales pitches from marketers.

Today, I want to talk about the bar associations I am considering joining this year for the purpose of finding a job. While the main goal is to meet the right people and show them what I am capable of, certain organizations have their advantages and disadvantages.

The ABA. Despite the heavy criticism it receives, the ABA is a large, influential organization and many reputable attorneys are active members. You may find your place in one of their centers, commissions, committees, departments, divisions, forums, or sections. With so many microgroups, it could be easy to get a leadership position within one year or less which can lead to publishing and speaking opportunities and working closely with connected people. Since meetings are generally done via conference call, you don’t have to leave your home or office to participate.

The ABA’s national reach can create problems for job seekers. The cost of attending ABA conferences — including registration, travel, and lodging — can be expensive unless it is held locally. If you want to meet key people at the conference, the expense might be worth it so long as you can make the meeting a positive and memorable one. You don’t want to blow several thousand dollars on a conference only to exchange business cards and never hear from them again.

Also, because of the ABA’s national scope, the job leads you receive will likely require you to move to another state. If you don’t mind being mobile, great. But some are reluctant to leave family and friends or make an adjustment to their current quality of life.

For those who want to “try before you buy,” the ABA is offering a free membership that lasts until August 31, 2015. But hurry — the offer ends January 31.

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Your State Bar Association. We’re forced to join so we may as well make the most of it. Like the ABA, many reputable and connected attorneys are active in the state bar. State bars also have a large number of specialty groups and committees which means that you may meet someone who can provide future job leads in the practice area you want.

Job leads are also likely to be located in-state. But you still may have to move if the position is located in another county.

Local and Specialty Bar Associations. As a solo practitioner, I preferred to join local and specialty bar associations. Membership dues and event fees are generally lower so you can join multiple organizations without going broke. The membership tends to be close-knit and informal.

Obtaining job leads from smaller bar associations can be a hit and miss ordeal depending on the leadership and the group’s goals for the year. One organization has a young attorneys sub-group dedicated to finding jobs for members who are looking. Others just rely on word of mouth and hope that their members will post a job opening on the organization’s website before turning elsewhere. If the group’s leadership wants to increase its membership by the end of the year, expect to see more social functions and less job fairs.

I am planning to join several bar associations this year. They may help me find a job. Or it may be a total waste of time and money. It will come down to the people I meet at bar association events and making a positive impression on them. I’d expect a larger bar association to have more influential members but also expect greater competition for attention while dealing with internal politics and bureaucracy. A smaller niche bar association tends to look out for its members but may not have the resources nor the membership base to provide adequate job leads.

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Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached at [email protected].

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