Categories: Career, Law Careers, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Webinar
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Thursday was a great day for me. I started off with a TV interview (you can watch the 5-minute video about my law school admission consulting business here). Then, I met up with 4 of my former clients. I try to do this whenever I travel. I really enjoy helping people get into law school, and seeing how they are doing and what they’ve learned while in law school is incredibly gratifying.
Of the 4 law students, two are 2Ls and 2 are 3Ls. The first question I asked each of them is, “How do you feel about the job market?” The overall consensus is that people are concerned, however I was thrilled to learn that both 3Ls already have jobs lined up after graduation – one has a judicial clerkship and the other a job in a mid-size litigation firm. Of the 2Ls, one has an internship lined up at the D.A.’s office and another is currently traveling around interviewing for positions with major players in the entertainment industry. This was much more encouraging than the anonymous ranting and raving I’ve been reading on the blogger-sphere.
Three people got their jobs in traditional ways: the formal application process for the clerkship, working as a summer associate at the firm, submitting an application. The fourth person is someone I’ve mentioned previously on the Law School Expert blog – I call him the King of Networking. A big wig from an entertainment company spoke at his law school. Jesse attended the event and introduced himself to the speaker. He then followed up with the speaker, and this weekend will be interviewing with several different departments at the speaker’s company! That, my friends, is networking.
I also want to share something else about Jesse (which, by the way, I am doing with his explicit permission). Jesse’s goal is to work as a lawyer in the entertainment industry. He knew this going into law school. He never waivered. When it came time to choose a law school, I remember him agonizing over whether to attend the law school with the great entertainment program in the perfect location or the law school without even a single course on entertainment law with the better overall reputation (and cheaper tuition).
I felt he would’ve done beautifully at either school. There wasn’t a bad choice to make. I remember telling him, however, that since he’s the King of Networking, he probably wouldn’t need to rely on his school’s entertainment law offerings to build his career. I also mentioned he might stand out more at a school not known for this area of law, whereas entertainment law hopefuls are a dime a dozen at this other school. So, Jesse is now a 2L and I wanted to know – is he happy with his decision?
He is THRILLED. He says he doesn’t feel like he’s competing with anyone else at his school for jobs. Prospective employers remember that he’s the kid from UC Davis. He’s distinctive. This wouldn’t work for non-networking fiends, of course. You need to know what you’re willing to do to reach your goals and keep in mind how much help and coaching you’re going to need. Jesse, of course, has 2,500 Facebook friends…..
I really get to know my clients – we work together intensely throughout the admission process. I learn their stories, motivations, and aspirations. Each of the 4 law students I visited with on Thursday is in the process of reaching his or her goals. They are happy with their decisions to attend law school, even though they wish they didn’t get quite so caught up in law school politics (remarkably similar to high school politics but with more sex).
On a parting note, if you’d like to attend my webinar tomorrow (TUESDAY) on “Crafting a Stellar Law School Resume” please email me at lawschoolexpert at gmail.com. The first 15 people who respond will get to listen in for FREE! (A $60 value).
Categories: Advice, Career, LSAT, LSAT Prep, Law Careers, Law School Admission Trends, Law School Personal Statement, List: Law School Admission Advice Books, Practicing Law, Success Tips in Law School
Tags: blog, Blog Talk Radio Show
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I have three BlogTalkRadio Shows scheduled that should interest readers of the LawSchoolExpert blog:
First, tune in MONDAY at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST for 30-minute interview and Q&A about my law school admission guidebook. The interview is being conducted by the first prospective law school applicant to read the book and promises to touch upon crucial issues relating to law school personal statements, career prospects and more. We will take questions from callers, too!
Upcoming Shows:
On Monday, June 1st at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST I’ll be talking with a panel of LSAT tutors about
“Last Minute Tips for LSAT Takers” in preparation for the June 8, 2009 LSAT administration. (45 minutes)
On Monday June 8th at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST I’ll be interviewing Kevin E. Houchin, Esq., author of “Fuel the Spark: 5 Guiding Values for Success in Law School & Beyond.” For those of you not taking the LSAT on June 8th, but instead preparing to start law school, hearing from Kevin should help you enter your 1L year with your core values in perspective.
If you’re able to listen live, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions. If you can’t, you’ll be able to hear the interview afterward. Please pass this information along to anyone whom you think might be interested!
Categories: Advice, Career, Law School Admission Trends, List: Law School Admission Advice Books
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 Now Available for Pre-Order! Finally! The law school admission guidebook I wrote based on my Law School Expert blog is only 2 weeks away from being in my hands (and yours!).
“The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert” is now available for pre-order for its mid-May release. It is available on Amazon.com but SHIPPING IS FREE if you buy it through Law School Expert.
The goal of the book is two-fold: (1) to help you present your best self to the right law schools for you, and (2) to help you make well-reasoned decisions throughout the process from whether to retake the LSAT to negotiating scholarships and deciding whether to send multiple seat deposits.
My intention is that the book will serve as a valuable A-Z resource for law school applicants by providing concrete tips and advice for almost every situation. It’s current – I discuss today’s admission trends and circumstances. It’s really detailed – I tell you exactly what should and shouldn’t be shared in your resume, personal statement, addendum, optional essays, and letters of rec. I talk about the important considerations in choosing a school and how to decide where to apply and where to attend. I go into detail about fee waivers, campaigning off a waiting list, and the risk you take in taking on debt to attend law school.
Basically, I took the issues brought up in my blog and the comments of readers, combined them with the questions asked most often by my law school admission consulting clients, and turned it into a 167 page book. Whether you’re still in college and contemplating law school or in your thirties or forties and feeling lost about how to begin the process, “The Law School Admission Game: Play Like an Expert” may become your new best friend…
I look forward to your feedback about the book – both on the blog and on the amazon site. Become a fan of my book on Facebook for updates and discussions relating to the book.
Categories: Career, Financing a Legal Education, Law Careers, Salary Trends
Tags: law career, law school student loan debt, tuition debt
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As if you didn’t already know that it’s better to keep student loan debt under control, here’s an article pointing to the realities of pay trends for BigLaw Jobs.
Categories: Advice, Career, Law Careers
Tags: finding a job after law school, finding an attorney position, lawyer job market
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Those of you starting law school (whether this year or next) need to think about how you will position yourself for gainful employment upon graduation. This WSJ article, “Graduating with a Major in Go-Getting”, has advice for how college students can make themselves more marketable; I think it applies to law students as well. The keys are to work your connections and gain experience.
I always tell my law school admission consulting clients that no one will hand them a job upon law school graduation- no matter where they attend. You’re going to have to work everything you’ve got. Even good grades and law review and moot court aren’t going to help unless you market yourself. Be proactive; I’ve seen too many law students become bitter about how the career placement offices at their schools “only” serve the top 10% of the class. Be your own career adviser – be in charge of your own life and you will find opportunities.
I think this is a pretty universal philosophy. So, if you’re used to other people figuring things out for you, you’re going to have a tough time in law school and in the job market. I’m happy to entertain questions and comments on this.
Coming up later this week – a thorough review of getting an MBA versus a JD, and the benefits of a JD/MBA Joint Degree (featuring interviews with the Dean of a School of Business and with an MBA and with an MBA/JD).
Categories: Career, Law Careers
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I just found a great blog by an attorney. Among some funny articles, I found a post about how the employment trend is impacting the desireability of legal internships with nonprofit organizations. Here’s how one non profit is reacting: See Litination.
Categories: Career, Law Careers, Law School Rankings
Tags: law faculty
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See Brian Leiter’s Blog for a list of law schools that produce the most graduates who go into academia.
Categories: Advice, Career, Law Careers, Law School Admission Trends, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Reasons for Going to Law School, Salary Trends
Tags: law school and the economy
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Two stories of note today for law school applicants/hopefuls in the WSJ:
New loan from Sallie Mae.
Best Defense? Seeking a Haven in Law School
Applications are up as people hide out from the economy in law school. The best schools are becoming even more competitive and this article offers some tips for making yourself more competitive as a law school graduate.
Categories: Career, Law Careers
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9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 3 of 3)
By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.
Parts 1 and 2 of this post examined 9 observations regarding the legal job market:(1) layoffs; (2) hiring freezes; (3) pay freezes and bonus cuts; (4) increased bureaucracy in lateral hiring decisions; (5) busy small firms; (6) hot practice areas; (7) geographical variance among practice areas; (8) a slow moving hiring process; and (9) importance of law school grades.For recent graduates looking for jobs or third-year law students who are expected to graduate in 2009 and have not secured permanent employment, I offer 5 strategies in light of these 9 observations.
5 Strategies for Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market:
1. Look at smaller firms. Did you notice that 4 of the 9 observations discussed in Parts 1 and 2 applied specifically to large firms? And, did you notice that they were all negative observations? So much of the news we hear about the legal job market is from and about large firms. And, there is so much emphasis (some say too much emphasis) on large firms at the law school level. I am sure the focus on large firms during law school is attributable to the larger firms conducting on-campus interviews and establishing a presence among law students.
However, you must remember that the overwhelming majority of new law graduates do not begin their careers in large firms. The National Association for Legal Career Professionals conducted a study on attorneys who graduated in 2006 and found that only 20% went to work for large firms (defined as law firms with more than 100 attorneys); the majority of new graduates went to work for firms with fewer than 50 attorneys. So, while you may feel like your only employment option is with a big firm, there are many, many other firms out there – and, they are busy (see observation #4). It just may take a little work on your part to find them since they aren’t actively recruiting at law schools.Knowing which firms specialize in the
hot practice areas will help!
2. Hang your own shingle. I am amazed at the resources and support system available for attorneys looking to open their own practices, and I imagine a significant number of new attorneys (even seasoned attorneys) don’t even realize they exist.Susan Cartier Liebel maintains the site Build Your Solo Practice and wrote a blog post in October suggesting that now, in a shaky economy, is the best time to start your own business. Susan also runs Solo Practice University, a web-based educational community where attorneys can learn from other solo practitioners, marketing consultants, technology consultants and other business professionals about how to plan, build and grow a solo practice.
Carolyn Elefant is another solo practitioner who blogs frequently at MyShingle.com about what it takes to make the leap to solo or small-firm practice.Carolyn (@carolynelefant), Susan (@SCartierLiebel) and a host of other solo practitioners actively engage in discussions on the social networking site Twitter. If you don’t have a Twitter account, create one (it’s free) and join their conversations! Additionally, most state and local bar associations also have sections or committees devoted to solo or small-firm practice and offer resources, including resources focused on starting your practice. If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, going solo might be a great option for you.
3. Network creatively. Networking is critical in a good economy and even more critical in our current economy. Every job seeker knows this so you must get creative with your networking. For example, if you had a career before entering law school, how can your previous career help you get a legal job? Perhaps you were a teacher or worked in the education field prior to law school? Network with your old contacts in the field and ask them which attorneys represent the school, the district, etc; if they don’t know, perhaps they can put you in touch with someone who does? Market yourself to firms/attorneys that specialize in education/school law and express your desire to continue your work in the field only in a different capacity (as a lawyer).
Another example of creative networking is to engage alumni from your college or high school or hometown who are also attorneys.Many colleges and universities have their own list-serves or networking groups for alumni attorneys; if your college doesn’t, create one! Finally, if you haven’t added social networking to your networking mix, do so now! This is a topic worthy of an entirely separate blog so I won’t go into great detail here.At a minimum, you should maintain a profile on LinkedIn.
4. Consider relocating to another legal market. Consider other legal markets where you have connections or ties; if the other markets are thriving, particularly in practice areas in which you are interested, consider relocating for a few years.
5. Clerk for a judge on a temporary basis. I know several attorneys who recently clerked in a non-traditional capacity. One attorney clerked for a federal judge for a few months while the judge’s career clerk was on medical leave.Another attorney was hired for a specified term (one year, I believe) to serve as an additional clerk to the bankruptcy judges in the Northern District of Texas after the 2005 Bankruptcy Reform Legislation led to a significant increase in consumer bankruptcy filings. It is certainly conceivable that the current increase in consumer and commercial bankruptcy filings could create a demand for similar temporary positions. Keep your eyes open for positions like these.The website for the Federal Judiciary lists employment opportunities in the Federal Judiciary.
In sum, do not let the negative news headlines discourage you. If you entered law school knowing you wanted to be a lawyer, there will be an opportunity for you; it will just take some longer to find that opportunity so be patient. My first-year torts professor (now, the President of the University of Texas) gave our class some advice that I still remember and believe to be true – no matter where you rank in your class, you will be doing something in 10 years that truly makes you happy. He was right! And, I know the same is true for you!
Categories: Career, Law Careers
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9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 2 of 3)
By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.
Part 1 of this post examined 4 observations regarding the current legal job market and all 4 observations concerned large firms – (1) layoffs; (2) hiring freezes; (3) pay freezes and bonus cuts; and (4) increased bureaucracy in lateral hiring decisions. Part 2 of this post continues with more observations of the current legal job market; this part examines observations 5-9.
9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market (cont.):
1. Smaller firms are busy. Almost all of my small-firm clients are busier now than they were a year ago. Some are litigation boutique firms that are busy as a result of litigation related to failed financial institutions; others are bankruptcy boutique firms that are thriving as a result of the increased bankruptcy filings. And, many are busy as a result of corporate clients seeking smaller firms with smaller fees, a trend that is likely to continue. My small-firm clients definitely have a positive, upbeat vibe.
2. Certain practice areas thrive in an economic downturn. Certain practice areas spike during economic downturns. Bankruptcy is an obvious example. Litigation is another practice area that usually spikes during downturns; securities and white-collar litigation are expected to be strong during the current recession. Labor and employment litigation usually increases during recessions as well since more companies implement layoffs. IP litigation also remains a strong practice area in most markets.
3. “Hot” practice areas vary by legal market. The demand for attorneys in a particular practice area varies by legal market – what is hot in one market could be dead in another market. For example, asbestos litigation is cold in Texas due to tort reform but hot in California and Pennsylvania. Even among the practice areas that thrive during an economic downturn, there is still some variation. For example, there will always be a greater demand for bankruptcy attorneys in those markets where the majority of the large Chapter 11 cases are filed such as New York and Delaware. We are witnessing this trend today.
4. Firms (of all sizes) take longer to make hiring decisions. Obtaining a lateral position takes longer during a recession. Firms of all sizes are now more particular about which candidates they interview and take their time deciding which candidates to interview. Recently, I’ve seen firms take as long as 4 months before deciding to interview someone. And, I’ve seen firms take as long as 6 months before eliminating candidates from the interview process. So, don’t assume that the firm is passing simply because you haven’t heard from them!
5. Law school grades are more important than ever. At least 90% of the firms I work with (both large and small) inquire about lateral candidates’ law school grades. I won’t get into a discussion here on whether law school grades are more important than the rank of the law school, but I can tell you that the majority of the firms I work with scrutinize a lateral candidate’s grades more closely than the rank of the candidate’s law school. In the past month, I’ve seen 3 large firms move forward with candidates who graduated in the top 5% from a Tier 4 law school; this illustrates that a candidate can do well at a lower tier school and still land in a large firm. The one caveat I would emphasize is that a large firm typically only hires candidates from Tier 4 law schools within the firm’s legal market. For example, a graduate of a Tier 4 school in Texas will have a harder time finding a job outside of Texas even if he or she finished in the top 5% whereas large Texas firms are likely to consider the candidate.
Certain legal markets give greater weight to grades than others. Based on my experience placing lateral attorneys in multiple states, Texas firms have one of the most stringent grading scales. The major firms in Texas base their hiring criteria on the U.S. News Law School Rankings. Generally, a candidate from a Top 15 law school must finish in the top 40-50% in order to qualify as a potential hire for large Texas firms. Candidates from other Tier 1 schools typically must finish in the top 15-25% and candidates from Tier 2 schools must finish in the top 10-15% in order to qualify. Candidates from Tier 3 and Tier 4 schools typically must finish in the Top 5-10% in order to meet the hiring standards for large firms in Texas (though certain Tier 4 schools are favored over others). I’ve worked with firms in other legal markets that are not this strict; for example, the cutoff for Tier 1 schools is the top 50% in some markets. However, I predict that as the recession lingers, many firms will gravitate toward a more stringent scale like the one used by many large firms in Texas.
This part of the post concludes the 9 observations of the current legal job market; part 3 will examine 5 strategies new attorneys can employ as they seek to enter the 2009 legal job market – a market described by the 9 observations in Parts 1 and 2.
Categories: Career, Law Careers
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I am not a career counselor, but everyone applying to law school should be thinking about the marketability of a lawyer’s skills and education. I called upon a real expert in legal hiring, Amanda Ellis, president of Amanda Ellis Legal Search (www.aellislegal.com). Amanda focuses on the placement of bankruptcy attorneys nationwide and of all attorneys in Texas, with a special emphasis on attorneys relocated to Texas. She very kindly agreed to write a 3-part post about the legal job market for new attorneys, which should be of great interest to my readers.
9 to 5: 9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market & 5 Strategies for New Attorneys Entering the 2009 Legal Job Market – A 3 Part Series (Part 1 of 3)
By Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.
If there’s one question I’ve been asked repeatedly over the past few months it is this: “how has the economy affected the legal job market?” In the past few weeks, I’ve also received numerous inquiries from contacts on Twitter and friends who are in law school about how the current legal job market and economy will affect new attorneys graduating in 2009 (or those who graduated in 2008 and are still looking for a job). I’ve compiled a list of 9 trends I’ve observed in the current legal market and have outlined 5 strategies to help new attorneys find employment in the 2009 legal job market. Because of the length of this post, I’ve divided the post into 3 separate blog entries: (Part 1) observations 1-4 which happen to be observations about large law firms; (Part 2) observations 5-9; and (Part 3) the 5 strategies.
9 Observations Regarding the Legal Job Market:
1. Large firms lay off associates and staff, rescind offers. According to the Law Shucks Layoff Tracker, 1,762 lawyers lost their jobs in 2008 (this information is also contained in The American Lawyer’s The Layoff List, a comprehensive list of all large firms that eliminated associates during 2008). The layoff trend began in January 2008, primarily in firms with large structured finance practices; however, the trend spread rapidly in the fall months as certain financial institutions collapsed and credit markets froze. The disaster in the financial markets also caused some large firms to pause and reconsider some outstanding offers. At least one large law firm rescinded offers to 2Ls, and I’ve heard from lateral candidates about a few large firms that rescinded offers to lateral candidates because they wanted to see how quickly the economy rebounds.
2. Large firms invoke hiring freezes (or disguised freezes). In late October, a large firm announced that it had instituted a hiring freeze on lateral associates and staff; the firm made it clear that the freeze would not apply to the firm’s 2009 summer associate class. I’ve seen many other firms take similar steps though they don’t call their action a hiring freeze. Probably the most common approach I’ve seen is the one where firms fill their current hiring needs by pulling associates from slow practice areas – for example, moving a structured finance associate to the firm’s bankruptcy section. Other firms that normally post all of their job openings on their websites have removed all job openings. Another common approach is firms informing candidates (or recruiters) that they don’t have any hiring needs at this point and plan to assess their hiring needs in “a few months.”
3. Large firms freeze associate salaries and cut associate bonuses. It probably doesn’t surprise you that large firms’ bonus announcements to date have been significantly lower than 2007 bonuses. The Above the Law blog tracks 2008 bonus announcements and details in its Associate Bonus Watch. Additionally, at least two large firms have announced salary freezes. I’ve even seen a few firms (primarily, firms dependent on their real estate practices) actually reduce associates’ base salaries; in each case, the firms explained that their actions were preventative measures to avoid layoffs.
4. Large firms seek firm-wide approval on lateral hiring decisions. Most lateral hiring decisions are made by either the department head or by the firm’s hiring committee. In the last few months, I’ve seen more and more firms seeking firm-wide approval on hiring decisions. For example, an IP partner of an AmLaw 100 firm recently informed me that he would have to obtain approval from all IP partners firm-wide before interviewing an IP lateral candidate. It did not matter that the candidate graduated in the top of her class from a top 10 law school; the firm implemented the firm-wide review and approval process as a checks and balances approach in light of the economic downturn.
While observations 1-4 may sounds grim and depressing, you must keep the news in perspective. For example, look at the 1,762 layoffs in the context of the total number of attorneys in the US — 1,143,358 in 2007 – we are talking about 0.15% of all US attorneys. Also, the observations relate specifically to large firms, yet the vast majority of new attorneys begin their careers at smaller firms (discussed further in Part 3). Part 2 of this post will continue with observations 5-9 and will include some positive observations about the current legal market.
Categories: Career
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Historically, politicians are largely law school graduates. However, a recent study shows that while the number of female law school applicants is substantially equal to that of men, women are not choosing politics as a career aspiration. For more, see here.
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Ann K. Levine, Esq., former director of law school admissions for two ABA law schools, is a law school admission consultant and owner of Law School Expert,
