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Law Firm Life
Looking for the perfect law firm position? Our database contains
practically every law firm in the United States, Europe and
Asia. Simply pick a region and your practice group and allow
our research team to do the work of preparing your letters
and helping you send out hundreds of resumes. Modified on
a daily basis, our database contains thousands of firms that
are not even listed in Martindale Hubbell, NALP or other traditional
sources. If you want to practice law in a law firm, we can
help you get the job you want.
For many attorneys, the law firm path turns out to be an
exceptional choice due to the wide variety of characteristics
and firm cultures that are available in an expansive search.
Law firms most often offer generous salaries and comfortable
surroundings. Many attorneys practicing in law firms also
find the work interesting and derive satisfaction from a job
well done. The hours can be demanding in some firms, but may
be very relaxed or unimportant in others. The fact is that
by tailoring and customizing your approach to various law
firms, you can ensure that you get the type of working conditions
and job you want.
We have outlined several case studies. These illustrations
prove our point that no matter where you are in your career,
we can help you find the job you want.
June, a 36 year old graduate of a fourth tier law school and
recent mother, had been out of the job market for three years
and was seeking a part time position in the Southwest as an
attorney. She has already approached seven or eight top firms
in this area, with no luck.
In June's case, we would be able to help her prepare her cover
letter and resume to effectively describe her desires and
what she had to offer. By performing a completely expansive
search in her area, we would be able to target many firms
that would be happy to have a part-time attorney.
Ron, a 52 year old partner at a major law firm in the Midwest,
was laid off because his firm was terminating partners without
significant portable business. Ron wanted to stay in the same
area, and had inflexible salary requirements.
We would be able to help Ron, even without any significant
portable business. With our research and subsequent mailing,
we would be able to find many firms who had retiring partners
and needed new partners to help take up some of the workload,
or for whom portable business was not as important as the
attorney's skills and experience.
Shane was a "B" student at a second-tier law school.
His school's Career Services Office had no resources to speak
of and a very small on-campus interviewing program. In the
fall of his third year, Shane sent out resumes to all 200
firms in the NALP directory that were in his state, but received
a very poor response.
The NALP directory represents less than 50% of the available
firms in any given market. We would be able to identify more
than 250 additional firms that Shane could approach, and his
chances of getting an interview would be increased by 100%.
From our research and conversations with potential clients,
we have compiled a list of legal myths that seem to surround
the legal job search. Read on and be enlightened.
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Only law firms that interview
at my school will hire me.
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LEGAL AUTHORITY
There are over 250 law schools in
the United States. Do you think every law firm goes
to every school seeking attorneys? Many attorneys from
first-tier through fourth-tier law schools land positions
at thousands of firms each year that did not interview
at their respective schools.
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I will never find a law firm
position.
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LEGAL AUTHORITY
Okay, then you are already defeated.
A positive, optimistic attitude is the only way to start
a job search. Right now, in almost every American city,
there is a law firm that needs an attorney just like
you. This position could be tens of thousands of dollars
more than you are making now. This position may not
even be advertised and you are not going to find this
law firm by using Monster, 15 gazillion web sites, a
headhunter, or even Martindale Hubbell. Chances are this
firm is already in our database. Let us put you in touch
with them today!
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It is better to work with a recruiter
to find a law firm position.
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LEGAL AUTHORITY
Unless you have stellar qualifications,
there are very few headhunters that will work with you.
Stellar qualifications mean that you are coming from
a top law firm and attended a top twenty law school.
While recruiters are enormously helpful in getting candidates
a position - and certainly can enhance lives and careers
- the fact is that unless you have these qualifications
they will not be able to do you much good.
An additional and little know fact
about recruiters is that you have very little control
over their work product. Many placement firms do not
even send cover letters and will just fax your resume
to the employer.
In addition, smaller firms rarely
use recruiters. This can result in missing out an opportunity
to join a growing firm who will become the next Skadden
Arps or Latham & Watkins. Moreover, in a tough economy,
law firms, just like everyone else, need to cut back
on their expenses, and recruiting expenses are normally
the first to go.
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If I spend enough time on job
posting boards, I will find the perfect law firm position.
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LEGAL AUTHORITY
All firms do not advertise their open
positions on job posting boards or in the classified
section of your local newspaper. If that is the only
way you are doing your job search you are going to miss
out on numerous opportunities. Would you rather approach
a few firms with positions on the Internet, or every
firm that matches your interest in a region of the country?
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Only firms with advertised positions
will ever interview me.
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LEGAL AUTHORITY
Do not let the fact that a firm may
have paid $450.00 to post a job on Monster.com or some
other site convince you that this is the firm for you.
Most law firms are seeking attorneys to join their team
at virtually all points in time. If you only rely on
advertised positions, you are going to be missing out
on a massive amount of potential positions on a constant
and ongoing basis. If your resume and materials arrive
unsolicited at the right firm at the right time, you
may get an outstanding opportunity.
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Legal Authority
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Legal Authority is the largest portal of legal employment opportunities in the world, seamlessly bringing attorneys and employers together throughout their career cycle.
Read more about Legal Authority
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Legal Authority's Articles on Outplacement Legal Authority
Your options -- government jobs.
Your options -- public interest jobs.
Your options -- prosecutor and public defender jobs.
Your options -- clerkships.
Your options -- academic positions.
Your options -- in-house law jobs.
Your options -- law firm jobs.
Get on track -- the state of the job market.
Get on track -- your cover letter.
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