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Back In The Race: Opportunities In Other States

If the job market is tough where you live, have you thought about expanding your search to other states? Columnist Shannon Achimalbe has.

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Since the job market continues to be tough where I live, I have considered searching for a job in other states. While there may be lots of opportunities in various parts of the country, trying to get a job is a more difficult ordeal. Not only will I have to go through the usual job application processes, I will also have to research the city where I plan to work and live. I also have to consider the costs of traveling for interviews and, if hired, moving.

I will have to look at objective factors, such as cost of living and the crime rate. I will also look at subjective factors, such as whether there are any fun activities, whether the neighborhood is aesthetically pleasing, and if I will be happy there in general.

So today, I will address some of the major concerns I have about moving out of state for a job.

Getting admitted into another state’s bar. The biggest obstacle for taking out-of-state employment is that at some point, I will have to be admitted to practice in that state. This means passing the state’s bar exam. Also, I may have to retake the MPRE and submit to another Character and Fitness examination.

Since it has been a number of years since I took my first bar exam, I will need a lot of time to study for the exam. Thankfully, since I am currently self-employed, I can adjust my schedule to work a few hours during the day, outsource some of the mundane work to someone else, and use the remainder of the day to study. I will also need money to pay for a bar review course. Or if I want to be cheap, I can purchase used bar exam study materials on eBay.

For others, studying for the bar exam can create or exacerbate financial problems. On the one hand, if you are unemployed and are willing to take out a loan to cover bar exam fees and living expenses, then this shouldn’t be a problem. But if you have to work a full-time job to eat and have a roof over your head, then this will significantly reduce your study time, which can adversely affect your chances of passing.

Also, if you did not pass your first bar exam on your first try, you may not pass the new state’s bar exam the first time either, especially if significant time has passed since you last took the bar exam. So you better make sure that whatever caused you to fail the bar exam last time does not happen again.

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Securing job interviews. Out-of-state candidates will have a harder time securing job interviews for several reasons. First, if there are many local candidates applying for the position, then employers are likely to ignore your résumé. Second, most firms — particularly solos and small firms — are not overly enthusiastic about foreigners. They may be suspicious about why you are applying to a firm so far away from home. I think most employers understand that the tough job market is forcing people to expand the scope of their search. But some of them also think that if you were any good, you would have found a job in your hometown.

One way to reduce this stigma is to have a strong internet footprint. I’m sure you’ve heard the following generic advice before: update your Linkedin profile. Write for websites and other publications. Start a blog to develop expertise and credibility. If any compromising photos of you exist on Instagram, or if you posted some politically incorrect jokes on Twitter, erase them.

The feeling of starting over. By far the biggest concern for me is moving far away from home and adjusting. For the most part, I feel like I will be starting my life all over again.

I will be leaving family, friends, clients, colleagues and business contacts. Of course, we will stay in touch one way or another, but it won’t be the same. I’ll miss out on the brunches, trips to the spa, wine tastings, networking events, and the occasional yard sale treasure hunt. I suppose I will make new friends in time, but my work schedule may make that difficult.

Despite living in a new state, I can still work with some of my current clients. But I doubt I can convert them to the firm’s clients. So I will have to either finish up their cases as soon as possible or refer them to someone else. Referrals will also dry up. Eventually, my book of business will be gone and I will have to develop a new one.

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At the new firm, I’ll be the low person on the totem pole. So my supervisors will expect me to work extra hours, get acclimated to the firm’s culture and expectations, and start making contacts. That’s fine with me. I can use the local bar association’s networking events to meet friends and start a professional social life.

Despite the difficulties of finding a full-time, JD-required job out of state and eventually living there, it can be an opportunity to have a fresh start both professionally and personally. Only time will tell.

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 sachimalbe@excite.com.

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