Job Search Continues

The resumes started going out the door last week. So far I've already received one very polite rejection letter: "Our Firm is in the fortunate position this year of having a large number of highly qualified applicants for our associate positions. As a result, we must often make difficult decisions that eliminate from consideration candidates possessing the potential for becoming successful attorneys. For this reason, we regret that we are unable to offer you an interview with us at this time."

I am starting out in a hole because my law school is neither ABA-certified nor prestigious. Despite the fact that it is a great program, it's not a "name" school so I'm sure that keeps me off the first-round draft pick list. This point was driven home big time when I searched the Martindale-Hubbell lawyer database for JFKU Law grads & found almost all of them are in solo practice.

Where to look: in addition to Monster.com (as mentioned previously) I have been searching USAJobs.com and county websites for government jobs. I am on the fence currently about for-pay sites like Law Crossing and Legal Authority, but might start leaning in that direction if the well is still dry a few months down the line.

I know this blog is about starting a private practice, but I'm writing about what is going on in my legal career right now. I figure this might be of interest to others in the same boat, so here it is in print.

In the meantime I'm still taking clients in the evenings and on weekends, but part-time law just isn't satisfying me. If I don't find a suitable associate position out there in the next few months, then I will likely go solo full-time. To prepare, I've purchased a copy of the bible of solo practitioners everywhere, How to Start & Build a Law Practice by Jay Foonberg. The book showed up today, so I'll be reading it in my spare time to get some idea what I'll be up against if I solo.