Transitioning into the practice of law or searching for a legal position can be overwhelming even in the best of times. Throw in a global pandemic, a national crisis, and the beginnings of an economic downturn and the experience can be downright daunting.
These unprecedented circumstances call for creativity, resiliency, and a renewed consciousness to successfully navigate the current legal employment landscape. Here are a few of the tips we’ve collected to assist you in finding your first legal job or finding your next legal job during these uncertain times.
Keep everything in perspective. With industry reports of selected hiring freezes, furloughs, compensation reductions, and even layoffs, news about the legal industry job market might seem disheartening right now. But keep in mind that the news tends to report on the negatives and doesn’t always provide a balanced view of how things really look. While the legal industry job market is indeed more difficult right now, many employers are still hiring and attorneys are still landing both interviews and jobs. Your job search may look different (and take longer) than you’d anticipated, but hiring is still taking place.
Read up on video interviewing and practice. The dynamics of video interviews are significantly different than those of in-person interviews. Sharpening your virtual skills so that you appear professional, while also allowing your personality to shine through via video are critical. You don’t want to be left scrambling to understand the best practices of video interviewing at the last minute—start working on these skills now to give yourself time to polish them before the interview requests arrive in your inbox.
https://www.vault.com/blogs/interviewing/11-tips-for-video-interview-success
Adjust your expectations. As noted above, in this market, your job search is likely to take longer than you’d planned—the number and nature of job openings is contracting and shifting. Try to let go of what you think a job search “should” look like. Accept the current reality and lean into shifting your expectations to a new normal. We are all learning how to be “pandemic professionals” together. Employers are navigating the same uncertainty, pressures, and demands that you are balancing. There is no extra credit for doing this perfectly. Focus instead on managing your job search effectively.
Stay in Touch. If you are a law student whose summer position has been eliminated or a new lawyer whose promised position has been put on hold, stay in touch with the firm or organization. You put in a lot of work to land your offer, and the firm/organization likewise put in tremendous effort to recruit you and offer you a position. You both made an investment in each other, and you should foster those connections for your future career. Those positions may become available again and a legal employer is more likely to return to someone they know and have a relationship with to fill those positions.
Lean into (remote) networking. Many employers with open positions might not be posting them on online job boards but are still trying to find talent through their networks—whether to fill an immediate opening or to line up talent for when hiring picks up. This makes networking more vital than ever. Reach out to your contacts with a service-oriented mindset—ask them how you can help rather than just touting your skills. Aim for authentic connection on a human level. You won't be able to grab a quick coffee or glass of wine with a contact or meet up over lunch for an informational interview. But you can find ways to network virtually so that you can maintain and grow your network. First, make sure your LinkedIn profile is polished and then take time every day to check in with connections and also research new connections. If you are interested in doing an informational interview, phone or video chats are just as effective, so don’t shy away from those options. And if you just want to catch up with some connections, schedule time for a virtual coffee or happy hour—which will probably do wonders for your stress level too.
Find a search firm you trust. If you are an experienced lawyer seeking to lateral into a new position or replace a recently lost position, there are countless search firms out there, but they are not all made the same. Do your research; speak with multiple headhunters; and find one that you connect with, who understands your goals, and who will be straight with you during this rocky time. Now is not the time for coddling; you need to know what is happening in the legal job market and where you stand.
Play the long game. It’s easy to fall into the trap of tunnel vision when you’re anxious to secure new employment. If you can expand your perspective, you’ll have a better chance of success. Imagine where you’d like to be a year from now—and play out multiple scenarios. Keep conversations going with a wide variety of contacts. Remain flexible as the market continues to change. Be open to possibilities like a lateral move, a new practice area, or a temporary placement. Broadening your idea of what your next position might look like will open your eyes to more possibilities. Experts say that the sectors expected to expand include health care, insurance, tax, restructuring/bankruptcy, and employment law. Keep an eye on trends, and look for ways to hone your expertise in such areas.
Cultivate resilience. If you’re out of work, remember all the wellness-related activities you wished you had time for when you were at your busiest. Developing those habits—like physical activity, eating well, good sleep hygiene, and mindfulness practices—will serve you well right now and far into the future. Consider creating a daily schedule (and making a commitment to stick to it!) that helps you work toward your goals and milestones. Focus on what you can control—your own actions and strengthening your coping mechanisms—and try to let go of what’s outside your sphere of influence. Acknowledge that this time period is difficult and that moments of struggle are valid and expected. It’s okay to have bad days—that’s just human nature. At the same time, celebrate your efforts and reward yourself for small wins. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Help others, empower yourself. Taking action always feels better than sitting idly and awaiting what fate throws your way. Sometimes the best way to stay in motion is to help others who are also struggling. Virtual volunteer opportunities abound—both within the field of law and in many other areas. When you make a difference in someone else’s life, you get a powerful reminder that your actions matter and have value. We all work to make a living, but our careers provide far more than an income. A job is often a source of purpose, a sense of identity, and a means for making a difference in the world. Remember what drove you to enter the field of law in the first place, tap into that smoldering spark of passion, and use it to propel you into action that supports both your success and your well-being.
A “silver lining” with COVID-19 is that it is forcing the legal profession to realize that we don’t always have to do things the way we’ve always done them, especially when you can’t. Post-virus, the profession will look different and your role in it will likely be forever changed. The legal profession is resilient and so too are the people within it. Everyone seems to agree that “this, too, shall pass.” And when it does, people will still need lawyers. Stay strong, seek support, and stay well and stay healthy so you can be there when opportunity knocks again.
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