Advice for the Lawlorn Archives

Ann Israel is the legal profession's Dear Abby. A New York legal recruiter since 1979, Ann is president of Ann Israel & Associates, Inc. and a past president of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants. She answers your questions about finding a better law firm job, dealing with headhunters, resumes, and much more. Questions about changing the course of your professional life should be directed to our other expert.

When advertisements for legal jobs state they want somebody from a "top ten law school," just how serious are they? What if you had good grades at a top twenty law school? What if you had excellent grades from a top forty school? They're not trying to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, are they?

I am looking for a job with a small/local firm to gain experience. How bad is the market? I do not care about the salary as long as it is at least $55,000. I just need the experienced at a diversified practice. A friend of mine in the same situation has not been able to land a job for the last 9 months. Is that normal?

How can a mid-level lawyer ask questions at an interview about a firm's financial viability? Also, is there some other way to investigate this? I'm asking because I'm conscious about what's been happening at Dewey.

After five years of clerking and working in a hot practice area at a small firm, I want to break into BigLaw. The hitch is that my only offer is with a firm that has a "meatgrinder" reputation. Would it be worth it down the road to be miserable for a couple of years?

As first-year, I have unexpectedly been offered the opportunity to lateral to the London office of another firm to join a practice which is not available at my current firm. Will moving as a 1L harm my career going forward? Can I do this without burning any bridges at my current firm?

An Ivy League law grad is unable to get even an interview after months of job-hunting. Ann Israel offers some advice on how to build monentum for his slo-mo m.o. Oh, and the Grateful Dead lay down wisdom regarding his day job in the meanwhile.

What advice or strategy would you suggest for me to go about pursuing a federal clerkship? The word is that the federal courts only "really" consider those from, say, the top 10 schools, i.e. the Ivy League, etc. Is this true?

I am a first year associate at a top-tier New York Law firm with an Undergraduate Honours Business Degree and a Law Degree from top schools in Canada. I found out 2 months ago that I was being laid off and have had no luck finding a new position. What can I do? Should I consider moving back to Toronto?

Do you have any insights on what to do if you think the people at your current firm might sabotage you by giving bad references solely because they are angry that you want to leave (or want to limit your options and make you stay a bit longer)?

I have an excellent position as a mid-level in-house lawyer, and my long-term goal is to make General Counsel, but I'm worried that I won't be a competitive candidate without the Big Law seal of approval on my C.V.

I am at a firm where the partnership track is not clear and I'm supposed to "ask" to be put up for partner. When is the best time to ask for this?

So the major firm you are interviewing at tomorrow practices business casual year-round. So what do you wear for the life-changing, grip and grin? Well, pilgrim, Ann Israel offers some advice on this situation, so you might want a back up plan to your cargo shorts and gator encusted polo shirt.

I applied for a job that's in keeping with my new life goals - it's closer to home, great work environment, and my husband and I are now a dual-income family so salary is less important than when I was the sole breadwinner. How can I convince the employer, who says I'm overqualified and make too much money, that I wouldn't quit six months after he hires me?

Someone must have been a very good girl or boy indeed. This week Ann tackles a "problem" many recent law grads would love to have: What to do with one offer for a good job in hand when you have just had your first interview for a "perfect" dream gig? Here's hoping all our readers' holidays are so happy!

There must be fifty ways to leave your employer. Just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. Don't need to be coy, Roy. Just listen to me. Hop on the bus, Gus. Don't need to discuss much. Just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free. In other words, Ann offers advice on crafting a resignation letter.

Ann Israel offers advice to a senior associate who has plunged out of her depth with a move in-house as the only lawyer in a thriving young company. She finds herself overwhelmed with mushrooming responsibilities and management that tables all her concerns for "consideration." Unfortunately, Ann notes that in our time the word "consideration" is really just a way to placate someone and put them off from really doing anything about the issue.

I went through an interview that went great, and I got feedback from my references like, "I wouldn't normally tell you this but I would be very surprised if you don't get this job," and "they said you are a perfect fit for their office." Then the would-be employer just stopped returning my calls and I later learned they had hired another applicant. Is this the kind of demoralizing behavior I should expect from prospective employers in this job market?

I have heard from my supervising partner that I am about to be promoted to partner. While I am delighted to become a partner, I am little reluctant to manage some of my friends who are associates in my section (especially those who are not being promoted this year). What advice can you give me about making the transition to partner and dealing with associates/friends?

I recently started as a first-year in a law firm. Unfortunately, in the short time that I have been at my firm, the environment has gone from simply not fitting in to being treated so badly that I don't want to get up for work in the morning. I am very eager to lateral out. My question is whether other firms will hire someone with less than a year of experience at a firm. Also, do you know of other types of employers who might be willing to hire a J.D. with limited experience?

One recent law school grad, ignored by recruiters, questions Ann Israel's explanation of the real-world economic reasons why he is not a candidate for recruiters' interest, and asks: Why would people who work for 2 years in a major law firm need any help? I don't get it!

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