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All this leads to more lawyers in the job market who, as a group, face particularly unique challenges in the job search. Employers will assume that you went to law school to be a lawyer so any other career path must be a second choice and the minute the market for lawyers returns, you'll be gone. They may also assume that you'll want a higher salary than other workers. So I'm going to be blunt here: You WERE a lawyer. Get over it-- if you want to get a job elsewhere. Read More
I have several friends in the
I have several friends in the legal field who are really struggling at present. They are in the process of trying to stick it out or make a transition. Those in the second bracket are definitely experiencing the difficulties you describe.
reply to "I have several friends"
I hope some of the suggestions in this post help your friends. In much of the work I've done with people transitioning to other careers I find that certain career fields seem to pose distinct challenges: teaching, military, and the law in particular. It is hard for practitioners in those fields to get out of their mindsets and into the mindset of the fields they are seeking-- even when the change is by choice. The perspective they gained from those fields can be a valuable addition to a new job-- but they have to focus on learning the new job first.
If your friends have questions, suggest they post here. I'll try to answer them in a future post.
one more thing
Interesting points, there, Kat.. I agree that "You were a lawyer-get over it" is a very good piece of advice (although easier said than done)...
I wanted to mention one thing that you could have expanded on if your editor had given you more space -- the huge, soul-destroying, crushing student loan debt that almost all lawyers undertake.. These loans are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. (Although they were went I applied for them on being admitted to law school - nice bait & switch there, Congress.)
That is just one point... As an unemployed ex-lawyer, I find it difficult to explain to non-lawyers all the other reasons why it is so horrible to either be a lawyer or to search for a job after leaving the law.
I practiced for 10 years and was laid off during the big downturn, and I know experienced lawyers who were unemployed even before that. Personally, I don't know ANYONE who has gotten a legal job in the last two years.
Large, established firms are hiring lawyers to do mindless document review under these terms: as contractors, not employees... no guaranteed hours (you might work 50 hours this week or none).. assignment can end at any time (e.g., if case settles): $17/hr. No that's not a typo - Seventeen bux and NO benefits.. some places even want you to pay for your own parking. How the hell is somebody supposed to make a $100+ student loan payment working odd hours at that rate?
I had to get a doc review job a couple years back -- back then the rate was at least $25/hr. -- terrible considering all the education and student loans, but the rate is actually going DOWN?
At least I have some experience -- the last few years graduating classes have huge debt ($100K+ is not uncommon).. how are they supposed to pay that off? I'm still paying on my loans 10 years out, and I had a somewhat decent paying job, even though I never made near the big bucks that the top 10% of the class made.
Some people seem to be a good match for the pessimism, perfectionism, and posturing of law, but most of the lawyers I know who stay in law -- even the outwardly successful, well paid ones -- are miserable, and would do anything to get out.
The sad, strange thing is that the people who went to law school were near the tops of their classes in college.. now there's a whole generation of extraordinarily bright, but un- or under-employed young people.
Perhaps your publication could do a follow-up article on the future psychological impact of basically, permanent, nondischargeable debt on a group of people who used to be overachievers.
Correction: $1000+/month
Correction: $1000+/month student loan payment, not $100
Reply to Carolina Boy
Excellent comments and insight. Actually, my editors give me all the space I want-- I just try to keep posts within a reasonable attention span. So I would be pleased to research this more and write about the debt issue-- particularly in light of the characteristics of individuals who go to law school. If you haven't read it, I encourage you take a look at Daniel Pink's book "A Whole New Mind"-- it has some interesting thoughts about the thinking style needed to succeed in today's workplace. I would be curious how you see this fitting in (or not) with the mindset needed to succeed in the law.
I'll post something on this soon...
thanks for reading.
Kate Brooks
Thanks Dr. B. As for the
Thanks Dr. B.
As for the mindset of attorneys, in Chapter 10 of his book "Authentic Happiness", Martin Seligman has a section entitled "Why Are Lawyers So Unhappy." As bad as he describes the legal profession, I could add more and more.
For example, it's not like lawyers are paid to be nice.. They're paid to represent their clients' interests... How would you like to show up to work week after week when your job was foreclosing on people's houses? Or fighting to make sure that the family members of those killed or maimed by dangerous products or behavior don't get a penny more than the law allows?
Personally, I would have made a lot more money if I would have done foreclosure work. Or represented (accused) rapists and child molesters. Or tortfeasing corporations. Sure somebody has to do that kind of work, but it is not for me. Part of what makes me not a good fit for the legal profession.
It is important here to remember that not all law students and lawyers are the same. Most are liberal arts grads who went to law school because they were good with language and wanted to try to do something that would make a difference.
Then the reality sets in. Typically only the top 5-10% make the big bucks (large firms don't even interview the bottom 90% -- and keep in mind that the bottom 90% of law students were likely in the top 10-15% of their undergraduate classes). Some of the bottom 90% do OK.. "OK" means doing tedious work at small/medium sized firms or for the government, and they struggle to pay their loans for decades. However, a significant number of law grads make less than they would have made had they not gone to law school, getting whatever temp work they can get, and struggling under impossible loans.
As bad as I ruined my working life by going to law school, I am even more worried about the classes of 2007 - 11... there are far fewer jobs now, and these folks have much more debt. I worry about the psychological impact of struggling with these kinds of seemingly insurmountable debt & career issues, while dealing with all the other issues everyone deals with. How does one not get depressed under those conditions?
As for the Pink book, right brainers might take over the rest of the world, but the most uncreative, left-brained, pessimistic, dispassionate, unfeeling, empathy-lacking, competitive types will continue rule the legal profession.
Reply to "Thanks"
I fully understand. I have several friends who are lawyers and was married to a civil litigator for many years-- believe me, I know what punishments lawyers are subjected to daily. Seligman is one of the first researchers who has nailed it, I believe. I hope he continues to delve into this area. Be on the lookout for a new blog post which might provide more resources and info. Thanks again for sharing your comments. I'm sure they will be helpful to other readers.
Kate Brooks
Follow-up blog post to this one
Thanks to reader comments I have posted a blog about the cost of law school. You can read it here:
http://bit.ly/cRyiye
More law-related posts to come.
Katharine Brooks
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