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Job Search Strategies for Lawyers in Transition
In today’s environment of corporate consolidations and firm mergers, lawyers may face changes in their employment status without warning. Lawyers in transition should use a variety of methods to find a new position, as it is impossible to know which one will result in successfully landing another opportunity.
Got outplacement? A lawyer may receive outplacement services as part of a separation package, usually in a corporate downsizing. Take advantage of these services, which may include resume advice, networking workshops, personality/career testing and administrative support. Choose an outplacement provider with specific legal industry experience, if possible. Alternatively, negotiate for the cash equivalent of outplacement and then hire a legal career coach to help with resume drafting and interview preparation.
Mind the gap. If you can’t secure a new position before leaving you current job, you should focus on making a swift return to work in some capacity. Working as a contract or project attorney is one way to remain employed, and some employers treat contract employment as a stepping stone into a full-time position. Other ways to remain employed while in transition are to handle pro bono matters, work for a nonprofit organization or accept court-appointed representation. Not only will such work show current employment on one’s resume but it also keeps lawyers engaged, connected and visible, which is critical when seeking new employment.
Talk to people. Networking is one of the most effective ways to find new employment. Renew relationships with former co-workers, opposing counsel, law school classmates, college friends and other acquaintances. Go to as many legal functions as possible, such as section meetings, alumni events and judicial receptions. Social, community and religious activities also may provide opportunities for establishing and strengthening relationships. People invariably are glad to catch up and usually want to help when they learn that a lawyer is out of work, so don’t be afraid to ask. If their employers are not hiring, they may offer other assistance or introductions, which can lead to different opportunities to pursue. However, overly aggressive or self-centered approaches inevitably backfire. Relationship-building and reciprocity are essential to successful networking.
Flexibility helps. Frequently, lawyers face transition because of a downturn in their market, industry or practice area. Lawyers with geographic flexibility have more options than those tied to a single location, and information about jobs in other markets is available on electronic job boards and recruiter sites. Learning a new practice area is another option, particularly if there is a high demand and a shortage of lawyers with that expertise. A few years back, many lawyers altered their practices to address e-commerce and Internet issues. Earning an LL.M. in a new area also may be an avenue to switching practice areas.
Go online. Electronic job postings and classified ads help attorneys stay abreast of developments in the legal marketplace and to learn of specific openings. Many organizations and bar associations post jobs on their Web sites, and commercial job boards list attorney positions. Some job boards require paid subscriptions for full access to listed opportunities; a trial subscription may be useful to determine whether they provide information not available elsewhere for free.
Prepare for the interview by reviewing the employer’s Web site and public filings, reading the biographies of the interviewers and preparing thoughtful questions to ask about the employer.
FULL DISCLOSURE
Tackling tough questions. What about lawyers who have a less than flattering aspect of their employment history, such as a termination for poor performance, an ethics violation or employment with a scandal-ridden company? If asked, always be scrupulously honest about the situation, as a cover-up can be exponentially worse than the bad facts.
Lawyers working for a company under indictment or investigation face an uphill battle, even if they were far from the scrutinized activities. Reach out to former clients and co-workers, as those with a personal relationship are more likely to vouch for a lawyer’s abilities and integrity despite the tainted employer. The same is true of lawyers who have been terminated for performance issues. Former clients or colleagues may want to hire a lawyer because of positive prior experience or because they believe he or she was treated unfairly. In any event, a lawyer with a negative work history must be able to articulate what he or she learned from the experience and demonstrate that the problem will not occur again.
At one time, being passed over for partnership might have been viewed as a comment on a lawyer’s abilities. Today, however, a variety of factors — many far beyond an individual lawyer’s control — affect partnership decisions. Talented lawyers who are not offered partnerships may have options, even at the partner level, with other firms that value their experience and relationships. Making that transition requires a detailed and thoughtful business plan. Alternatively, a skilled lawyer may pursue an in-house opportunity, where considerations affecting partnership may be irrelevant to in-house success.
What about headhunters? While admittedly biased in favor of recruiters, I believe lawyers in transition should include recruiters as part of their job search strategy. Even though most lawyers find new positions without a recruiter, a reputable recruiter can provide market information and will contact qualified candidates when he or she is working on an appropriate position. Most recruiters receive their fee from the hiring entity, so be careful about working with recruiters who expect a fee from a candidate.
Other resources. Resume forms, interview tips and sample business plans are available for free on the Internet. Online job boards often include a "career center" containing job search resources. Law school career services offices post lateral positions and also may serve as a networking or referral resource. Consider participating in legal career fairs, which are offered through law schools, bar associations and professional organizations. Legal and business publications include career advice in their periodicals and online. Career advice books abound. These tools can provide additional guidance for lawyers in transition.
Don’t give up. A multipronged approach to finding a new position is necessary, because one never knows which effort will result in landing a new job. Perseverance and a positive attitude also go a long way in making a successful transition.