CA Job Search SOS Forum

[ffsbenovalready]

I have been a passive reader of this forum for some time now- so I'm ready to be ripped a new one.

First,

Graduated in 2011 from a law school in Puerto Rico, so it's not even ranked. Barred in PR, Florida, and DC. Moved to CA recently and sat for the July bar exam. Think I did ok.

Before moving to CA, first I worked as a legislative advisor for a gvt agency in PR, then I worked in an international firm abroad for 2.5 years doing significant transactional work.

Now,

I have been looking for work for MONTHS. Admittedly I don't know the market well so often times I'm applying as a shot in the dark to most places. I've gotten a few call backs and a handful of interviews. C'mon! At this point, I don't even care what type of law I do, I just want a job! Any tips, tricks? I'm desperate now.

[SmokeytheBear]

1. Being barred will be a massive help.

2. What kind of work are you looking for? What type of law?

3. Once you are barred, join some various bar associations for a practice area and a community. They have tons of events that are basically just networking opportunities.

[ffsbenovalready]

Thanks Smokey!

1. November can't come soon enough. At least at first, I was hoping to find something where I didn't need the CA bar and could get by with my other bars but, I found that even jobs that didn't require a CA bar, at the interview they would always bring it up. Hence, I decided I had no choice but to take it. Hoping I did enough to pass now.

2. I am focusing on small to midsize law firms. This is a disconnect from my most recent work experience, (transactional work, oil and gas, international arbitration etc) that is mostly done in Big law. However I don't have the pedigree for big law, so here we are. I've been looking for every/anything from, transactional, corporate, to immigration. Mostly on linkedin or indeed. Paralegal, to legal assistant, to associate. And no, I'm not saying I've tried it all, I'm here hoping I get some enlightenment as to what ELSE to try.

3. Hoping I pass and can take advantage of this. Argh!

[lolwat]

I'm not totally sure you need to be barred to join LACBA OCBA etc

I would perhaps suggest trying to find an area you're interested in, look up individuals practicing in that area, see how many people in that practice area you can meet up for coffee with, and go from there. You might find it's actually easier to target something more specific rather than desperately applying to literally everything and anything out there.