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The Job Search Nightmares
My condolences and thoughts of encouragement go out to Woman of the Law who has had a hell of a time nailing down a job since graduating from law school last spring. If I have the story straight, it seems that first she thought she had a fellowship, then the state thought the idea was so great they took it over to do it themselves, leaving WoTL w/out a job. Then she had an offer somewhere, which she accepted, but they seem to be not getting back to her. The whole traumatic experience has brought her to the point where she writes:
[I] wondered what kind of men I could pick up with a line like, “Hey, I'm sexy and unemployed... wanna come back to my mom's house, drink my little brother's beer, and make out on my little sister's bed?” This is the life I envisioned when I took on $150k in prestigious law school debt, Yesssssssirreeeeee.
Man. What can you say to that? Ok, first I had to laugh. Is that the best pickup line ever, or what? I mean, it's so sad and full of wierdness that it might actually work. At the same time, it's so gut-punchingly scary that I basically have to laugh or else I'll seize up with anxiety because what I see here is basically a variation on my own worst fear: That this time next year I, too, will be unemployed and at loose ends with mountains of debt walling me in on every side. OMG, the sky is falling, the sky is falling! I can't even really think about it. And I guess, when all is said and done, the best thing to do is to keep trying, and to maintain your sense of humor. That's what WoTL seems to be doing, anyway, and I definitely admire her for that.
In a sort of different take on the unemployed recent law grad, Andrew Raff (from whom you can look forward to a great little interview on Ambivalent Voices soon) seems to be not overwhelmingly worried about the situation. In fact, he's spending at least some of his time being a rock star and releasing some kick-ass tracks for our musical pleasure. Cool.
Posted September 8, 2005 09:46 AM | 3L
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Thanks for your condolences. :) I really hope my experience is not the norm. As for the fellowship, I withdrew my app from consideration (after substantial state-mandated revision) to take this other job, because the fellowship award won't be announced until November, and I didn't want to forego a job offer to gamble on another. So of course, I'm left wondering now whether I should have just kept going with that fellowship since my employment STILL! seems to be up in the air.
I wish I could offer sage words of advice for those doing public sector interviewing, but I'm not sure I'm in a really good place to do that. :) The best I can do is share what I learned about public defender interviewing as I went along (my career office had not a clue in the world). We should chat over email about it.
My first piece of advice is: Even though you may start submitting resumes and even doing mini-interviews now, with the exception of a few offices, you will most likely not know whether or not you are employed until about a year from now. Embrace that - no need to spend an entire year fretting (like I did)!
Posted by: womanofthelaw at September 8, 2005 10:21 AM
we should all meet up to commiserate/scare each other at the EJW Career Fair!
Posted by: monica ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://mowabb.com/ai/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 8, 2005 06:00 PM
Well, first, not every PD's office is so slow, but the truth is that many are.
It might help to think of it as preparing you for the job. Once you do get hired at the PD's office, you will need the same incredible amount of patience.
Patience with the office is key. Just remember that waiting weeks to hear back from someone is the same thing that will happen in the office. When the printer breaks down in a big law firm, you call the tech and it's fixed within an hour. When the printer breaks down in a PD's office, it might be a week. It stinks, but it comes with the territory.
Also, to be a PD, you'll need an incredible amount of patience with your clients and the judges and just about everyone else you can encounter.
That said, I can totally sympathize with those waiting to hear. I remember crying to my mother on the phone - what would I do if I never found a lawyer job? Go back to my high school summer job? Watch Jerry Springer everyday and live on the couch?
So, yes, the wait is terrible. I had an offer by graduation (so I know now that I didn't have it as bad as some people do), but it still felt terrible compared to my classmates who got offers at the end of their second summer from the places they had summered at.
Hang in there and just keep repeating, "This will help me be a better PD... This will help me be a better PD..."
Posted by: blondie at September 11, 2005 08:57 AM
