There are some solo practitioner attorneys who initially wanted to work for someone else, but for one reason or another, that didn’t happen. Today, employers are hiring but are having trouble finding candidates. You may have seen a larger number of open positions on job websites and more inquiries from attorneys seeking associates or assistants. Some firms are even willing to expand their hiring pool and consider a broader range of candidates.
The problem is that you have a practice to run, but you want to search for a job as well. So today, my column will discuss how to search for a job while running your existing practice.
Put your practice on hold and have an exit strategy. Solo practitioners have a hard time dealing with the job market because they are typically busy working during an economic boom. As a result, they are stuck with their practice because they cannot easily close their cases. And during a recession, their job search is harder because they have to compete with others whose practices are down or failing in addition to people who have been laid off from their prior firm.
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If you have an existing practice and are serious about transitioning, you will need to dedicate a lot of time to job searching, even if you are busy with your existing clients. It takes time to research a firm, read job descriptions, tweak cover letters and resumes and talk to key people. This is hard to do when your week is full attending hearings, calling people, or drafting summary judgment motions. You will need to schedule a set amount of time to do these things and apply to jobs as soon as possible. Some get filled very quickly and employers will not wait weeks if they do not have to.
Finally, if you think your chances of being employed are good, then you should make plans to close your practice before you begin your new job. This means not taking new clients and finishing all of your cases as soon as possible. If you are offered a position, you should ask for a later start date so that you can make plans to close your practice. Other clients may need to be sent to another attorney and giving them a full or partial refund may be appropriate. There are a few clients who may need to be watched over while loose ends are tied up. You may need to get permission from your existing firm to do this.
Have a contact person for every position you are interested in. Most companies and firms have a special website where you can apply for jobs. But the reality is, unless your resume or cover letter contains certain keywords that they are looking for, your application will likely be rejected. Let’s put it this way: the next CEO of Google or General Motors will not get the job this way.
Ideally, you should have a contact person at the firm you want to work for, and that person should know you well. But if that’s not possible, check to see if you know someone who can introduce you to someone at the firm. The purpose is to bypass the automated application website by having your contact forward your information to the right people.
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So how can you find this contact person? You can reach out to your existing network and check to see if they know someone. Or you can show off your skills on social media.
Mind your social media presence. If you are a big social media user, you should spend more time on websites and groups where you can get in touch with the potential contacts I described above. Ideally, this should be done well before your job search. Post any relevant articles or blog posts you authored. Interact with others by commenting on their posts. The purpose is to make yourself visible to others who can help you with your job search.
Also delete any posts that contains polarizing content, particularly those that were posted many years ago before you knew about the consequences. These days, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can kill careers. Or in this case, prevent a career before it even begins. Employers are human beings with morals and values. You could lose out on a job opportunity if your morals and values do not align with theirs, even if the difference is reasonable.
Right now, the job market looks strong so people looking for a job should apply as soon as possible, even if it means closing their practice. Get in touch with the right people quickly. If you have your own practice, put it on hold and make plans to wind it down if it looks like you will be hired in the near future. But if you wait until your business falters, your job search will be tougher because you will likely be competing with others in the same situation in addition to those who were laid off and those who lost their unemployment benefits and must start repaying their student loans.
Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.