Career Transitions for Lawyers

1. Career Transitions for Lawyers For LAP Counselors

2. First interview-get job history, from their very first job to date • Tell me about the job that you enjoyed the most • Talk about their time line-most Lawyers can be placed in about 3 months-if they really want a job • Some Lawyers don’t really want a job • Find out about their self imposed limitations-the box exercise

3. Money parameters-average Lawyer makes 78k-small firms and solo Lawyers make less-large firm Lawyers make more • Geography limits-Law jobs are very unevenly distributed-some Lawyers will not move even when in dire straights-northern areas and Alberta seem to be easy to get a job • Prestige, power and recognition-ego and entitlement are huge

4. Irrational commitment to a poor choice-I took 7 years to get here and by God I won’t do anything but private practice • Other limitations-suspensions, disbarment and non members-there are actually many jobs that don’t require a membership • Structure is important-I like to see clients once a week and each week they have an assignment

5. Lawyers should have “What color is your parachute” and “What can you do with your law degree” as texts • General plan as follows • 1.Assessment-Lap has many and WCYDWYLD has many-focus should be on Values and basic drivers • 2.Skillscan is often helpful • 3.Some general areas can be determined from this

6. 4.It is unrealistic to be specific at this stage • If a general area can be found it is time for Informational Interviews which are critical • Clients should have several versions of a resume and cover letter at this point-samples are in WCYDWYLD • Clients should be encouraged to make 2 applications per week-also apply first judge later should be the rule-almost all lawyers under apply and underestimate their abilities

7. Getting out of a fog exercise • Most clients need encouragement in large doses at every stage • Main objective is to keep them on track and keep focusing on the goal • Main problem is complacency or putting job search on the back burner • Emphasize the networking and warm contact-most jobs will be found through networking

8. Headhunters only work for in demand areas and they tend to want younger lawyers • Good news-it is a great time to looking things are booming and government is hiring • Motivated Lawyers will get a job or at least some great leads within a month • Clients really value the support • Depression is a common side effect of unemployment

9. Tough cases: lawyers that have serious mental health issues or personality problems usually don’t interview well • If they are getting short listed but not hired they need work on their interviewing skills –do rehearsals • If they are not getting short-listed they may need help on resumes and cover letters, or they may be under applying

10. The reality is that it is a numbers game you need an average of 30 applications to get 3 shortlists to get one job • Most lawyers will have 1 or 2 shortlists for every 10 apps • Note: applying for jobs that they are grossly over qualified for usually backfires