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Just keep applying and don’t give up. Go to networking events and introduce yourself to folks. Don’t ask for a job directly, but dont shy away when telling them you’re in between opportunities. Have chutzpah and you’ll land. Try to get ahead of any reason why someone would hesitate to look at your application closely and think about lining up references that could speak to those things. Cannot emphasize how much of this is going to be just to keep going and not giving up.
Atty2 - ultimately just said the truth. Just found someone who was able to look passed the gap and take a chance on me given their hiring needs and situation. I tried variations of how to tell the story including not being the most transparent, but what worked for me was being honest. Do what works for you and taking a gov job is not a bad look. The reality is that it’s plausible to understand why lawyers in certain practice areas might not be currently employed to no fault of their own (market, deal flow), and again, this happens to more people than we realize given how taboo it is so odds of you being across someone who got screwed over in a similar way are not zero.
Ngl I did get some really low ball offers before the one that I ultimately accepted so there was a bit of a testing my patience element to it. Many told me to just accept x offer or move markets, but that’s where the not giving up comes in. I had straight up headhunters tell me this was the end of my career and I would never end up in big law again. I’m currently at a firm where my practice area is chambers ranked. Made no concessions on anything. You just gotta stick with it and not give up.
Mentor
I’ll echo what A1 said. My search took a little over a year. Truly humbling being pushed out after over a decade and with a promotion along the way. Was off the website for many months when I was interviewing for my new role.
Ironically I found it easier to interview after website time was up. But the lateral market wasn’t great then and I didn’t have a portable book. People respected the honesty, but it also helped I knew many people already at the places I was interviewing.
Landed at a competitor firm in the same city and absolutely love it. People are better and the work is better here.
Keep going. Push hard. Treat the job search like a job. But also make time for hobbies you gave up along the way, working out, etc. Don’t let your unemployment define you. Make sure you file for unemployment if you haven’t already. It will eventually work out.
Mentor
A5: Was unexpected but in hindsight shouldn’t have been. Hours were low across the group and partners hoarded work to pad their own hours, and I didn’t.
All worked out for the best, and I don’t regret taking care of my team.
Agreed. Also to add that don’t be overly concerned about taking the first job you found even if it is outside biglaw. I did that and thought I was done for biglaw forever. Instead I had a nice slow year to readjust and came back. These things can be done despite of all these folks saying “once you are out you can never get back”
Focus on your strengths and selling points. I was out of website time. The firm that hired me didn’t ask about it and didn’t ask for references.
Both. I use recruiters for places where I don’t have connections.
F