Since there have been over 7,000 layoffs in the legal field during the first quarter of 2009, I imagine every legal professional knows at least one person searching for a job in the legal field. I'm sure these job seekers are taking the obvious steps to secure new employment - networking, searching traditional job boards, updating their profiles on LinkedIn and other social networking sites, looking at different legal markets and considering smaller firms.
However, if everyone is taking the same steps to find employment, how can a job seeker stand out among the competition? I've outlined some new resources - some are new to the market and others have been around for a few years but I only recently discovered them. The majority of the resources are for lateral associates and partners but I've included a few resources for law students and legal support professionals as well. I encourage job seekers to consider using at least one of the resources in order to differentiate themselves from competitors. Feel free to share these resources with anyone you know who is searching for a job in the legal field.
Attorneys
1. Solo Practice University�. Solo Practice University, a web-based educational and networking forum for lawyers and law students, is scheduled to launch this Friday, March 20. It has been referred to as the "practice of law" school that picks up where your legal education left off. Solo Practice University™ will be attractive to both those coming out of law school and those already practicing, according to a Lawyers USA article earlier this year.
2. From Biglaw to Yourlaw. Carolyn Elefant, a former large firm lawyer who now runs her own practice, wrote an e-book, From Biglaw to Yourlaw, which encourages large firm attorneys to view starting a firm as a viable option.
3. Legal Research and Writing Pro. Attorney Lisa Solomon has been freelancing since 1996 and also runs Legal Research and Writing Pro where she helps lawyers start and run successful legal research and writing practices by providing lawyers with books, coaching and teleseminars like the one she is hosting on Thursday (March 19) called Freelance Freedom (2009): How to Get Started as a Contract Lawyer.
4. Lawyer On! The Contract Attorney's Blog. Kimberly Alderman has been freelancing since 2008 after clerking at the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands for two years immediately following law school. Kimberly is also the author of Lawyer On! The Contract Attorney's Blog.
5. The Unemployed Lawyer. This site provides resources for associates, partners and staff looking for jobs, including links to government agencies, national job sites, bar association job boards, career counselors, recruiters and contract staffing agencies, big firms that list openings on their websites, mid-sized AV rated firms that list openings on their websites, corporate job openings and partner recruitment specialists ... a very comprehensive resource.
6. The Posse List. This blog and web site is a comprehensive resource for the litigation document review and investigatory document review industry. The Posse List posts notices about all projects and positions it finds or is told about (both part-time work and full-time work).
7. Flexible Lawyer Jobs. Darling Hill launched this site in 2007 and tweaked the site's focus in 2008 so that it serves as a resource for time-starved lawyers interested in finding flexible and meaningful work opportunities, including those not limited to freelance writing.
8. Alternative Lawyer Jobs. A lawyer/entrepreneur launched this site to serve as a one-stop resource to assist the growing number of lawyers seeking alternative legal and non-legal career opportunities. In addition to this site, remember to check other industry-related sites if you are pursing an alternative career path. For example:
a. The Chronicle of Higher Education. I searched only the job listings for Texas and found two job postings that require a J.D. - (1) Baylor University is seeking an Assistant General Counsel; and (2) Texas Wesleyan University is seeking a Director of Law Library.
b. Jones McClure Publishing (Houston, TX). I noticed that the company is seeking a Graduate Legal Editorial Assistant and law school graduates and lawyers are eligible.
9. In-house Counsel Jobs & Blog. This blog and web site is maintained by a practicing attorney with significant in-house experience.
10. Alternative or Virtual Law Firms. My February newsletter outlines specific alternative firms and links to the firms' web sites.
Law Students
1. Hiring Partner's Office. This blog is written by an anonymous hiring partner and offers advice and guidance to law students.
Legal Support Professionals
1. Virtual Assistants. Legal support professionals can run their own support businesses by becoming a virtual assistant. Examples include Full Service Virtual Support, AW Virtual Bankruptcy Petitions, Your Savvy VA, and ACE Concierge.
2. Paralegal Gateway.
3. Paralegal Focus.
4. Practical Paralegalism.
5. The Unemployed Lawyer. This site provides resources for associates, partners and staff looking for jobs, including links to government agencies, national job sites, bar association job boards, career counselors, recruiters and contract staffing agencies, big firms that list openings on their websites, mid-sized AV rated firms that list openings on their websites, corporate job openings and partner recruitment specialists ... a very comprehensive resource.
