At some point in a lawyer’s career, he or she will be looking for a job. A few will be fortunate enough to transition easily. But for the rest, it will take months, maybe even years, to find a new job.
You’ve probably done everything right. You sent out hundreds of résumés, networked, and even worked for free in exchange for experience and a good reference. You spent your downtime reading legal treatises and industry developments instead of playing Pokémon GO in Central Park. Unfortunately, your efforts went ignored. A few firms were kind enough to send you a rejection letter which at least gave you a sense of closure.
You then turn to the internet for guidance. But instead you see bad news about associate layoffs, partner demotions, and hiring freezes. To make things worse, you read rants from numerous people with better credentials who are struggling just as badly as you are. And you read numerous articles claiming (without any convincing justification) that once someone is out of the workforce for a certain period of time, their chances of getting hired are slim to none and they should consider working at Dairy Queen instead.
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One can be understandably depressed in this predicament. Newer lawyers are upset that their career path did not turn out the way they envisioned and worry that their nearly nondischargeable student loan balance will increase exponentially. For older lawyers who have bills to pay and a family to support, the lack of income and resulting frustration can lead to marital strife and even health problems.
If you are going through this prolonged struggle, you may be wondering (as I have): Have I become unemployable?
The truth is, you could be. Whether you are employable depends on many factors. First is your expectations. If you are seeking a specific position from a select number of brand name firms, you will have a harder time getting the job. Just as employers should not try to hire purple squirrels, job seekers will frustrate themselves by waiting for the perfect job to come along. You’ll have to be flexible in what you are willing to do.
Speaking of flexibility, you will also have to be willing to relocate, especially if you are a new lawyer. There are positions that will give you experience, but not in the places you want to live for the rest of your life. If you are single with no one to support, then it may be a good idea to relocate, at least on long-term, but temporary, basis.
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Your employability also depends on factors that you cannot control like the state of the economy and your competition for the same jobs. If you are searching for a job during a recession, it is likely to take longer to find any job. You have to deal with this either by cutting back on expenses, living with family, or doing side jobs.
The final thing to deal with is your mental state. If you decided that you are unemployable, then you are. I understand it can get frustrating and depressing at times. Especially when you spend significant time customizing your résumé for every single position only to never hear back from the firm again. Accept the depression, embrace it, and do whatever you have to do to stay focused on your search. Preferably an activity that doesn’t involve illegal drugs, prescription drugs (one or two days at most), or other risky behavior.
I think every lawyer should seriously consider their employability during their job search. If you believe you are employable and are willing to be flexible and persistent, then you’ll eventually find something. Having rich parents wouldn’t hurt either. But if you are unemployable (or think you are), then your only other options are to start your own law practice or pursue a non-legal career. Both of which can also come with their own barriers to entry.
But knowing that you are unemployeable may give you the motivation you need to start your own practice full-time and develop your book of business. Ironically, once you develop that book of business, you may become attractive to small firms seeking to expand. And since you are bringing more than just a résumé to the table, you may be able to negotiate better pay and more flexible working conditions.
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 by email at [email protected] and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.