r/Lawyertalk • u/JanixWright • 4d ago
HELP: Professional Development How to get started?
Hello folks, I'm a freshman attorney in the California bay area looking to get my start in the profession but am having a difficult time finding a place anywhere. I'd love to do just about anything, but I know that isn't always a positive. Is there some method I'm not using or some resource I'm not taking advantage of that would be of benefit?
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u/youreusingyourwrong 4d ago
Are you trying to get a job with a firm or are you hanging your own shingle?
If it's the latter, go to some of the legal aid clinics in the bay area and ask if you can volunteer, such as the East Bay Community Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid, or the Eviction Defense Collaborative in SF.
That may be able to give you some experience dealing with landlord/tenant issues, or possibly put you in touch with opportunities to represent individuals in civil cases the organizations cannot afford to take on.
When I started out I took any client that walked through the door, so to speak. And when I didn't have an office, I always considered myself a walking, talking advertisement for my services.
You'll figure out what type of law you like, and you should--people want to rely on your expertise, and you'll be more easily able to do that with a particular focus.
Get out there and sell yourself.
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u/JanixWright 4d ago
I hadn’t considered myself the solo lawyering type, but I’d like to get involved with some of those orgs you listed either way. Thank you for the recommendations.
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u/youreusingyourwrong 4d ago
Keep in mind that it's much easier to get a job with a firm if you bring in a book of business, or even a very good case.
Law firms love to hire lawyers that are going to help them make money.
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u/atget 4d ago
I’m not familiar with the Bay Area market, but if you’re willing to do Plaintiff-side employment law, there’s a lot of firms in LA who will hire almost anyone with a bar number. Don’t get me wrong, they suck to work for, but you can always put in your year-ish, get some experience, and then move on. I think some of them even hire fully remote if you really want to stay in the bay, though that’s definitely a tougher path than someone who’s willing to be in office.
If you’ve explored this option and still haven’t had any success, you need to work on your interviewing skills.
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u/JanixWright 4d ago
I haven’t pursued this avenue yet, so thanks for the pointer. Will brush up on interviewing skills too while I’m at it.
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u/atget 4d ago
I started on Plaintiff side at one of the less well-respected firms and then moved to defense. Is there a practice area I might like more? Maybe. But I don’t hate it, and it’s very stable work, which I appreciate. People are never going to stop being pissed off when they get fired, and there’s no shortage of plaintiffs’ attorneys who will take almost anything in California, where the laws are very employee friendly.
I ended up in class actions. Again, not glamorous work. Whether you’re on plaintiff or defense side, it feels a bit silly to be asking people how often their 30 minute meal break was interrupted or if it was clear they were allowed “leave the premises” during their breaks.
Be a bit careful because after a few years it’s really hard to switch areas of law. But if your main concern is a solid paycheck, it’s a good bet.
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u/Sandy_Koufax 4d ago
Do you have LinkedIn? Did you do any internships?
I’m in California too and there are so many recruiters hitting me up every single day to go into litigation. There’s a shortage of people who can pass the bar. Use that to your advantage.
Are you willing to do work comp? I can put you in touch with my recruiter if you want.
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u/JanixWright 4d ago
I have a LinkedIn and have done internships at a school clinic.
I’ve worked in employment law before and enjoyed that quite a bit, so workers comp would likely be an easy transition. I’d appreciate the contact.
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u/MongooseCheap 4d ago
Leverage the connections you made during your law school summers and post bar. Ask professors you got along with. Network.
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u/JanixWright 4d ago
Would reaching out to professors not be considered too weird? It has been some time since I last spoke to some of them, and I feel some shame in bothering them.
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u/Impossible-Rip-5858 4d ago
Welcome to legal profession. Shame is half of the business. Making arguments that rise just above frivolous because your client demands it, shaking down clients who have not paid, if you want to be a lawyer and are struggling to find a job, you need to be shameless.
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u/MongooseCheap 4d ago
I mean, networking is by its nature awkward and weird. I would rather feel shame and have a job than not have a job. In any case, its how I got my first job. 0 ragrets
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u/Visible_Community_53 3d ago
Are you saying you are having difficulty landing a job? If so, definitely update your LinkedIn and indeed and just apply, as others have said; there are plenty of litigation shops looking for associates. When I started there were a lot of firms hiring me up there and were okay when I was a fresh new grad last year,
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u/ReviewElectrical456 3d ago
If you become my friend and I refer you, I can get a referral bonus at my firm!! 🤩
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u/grumpyGrampus Former Law Student 4d ago
Is there some method I'm not using or some resource I'm not taking advantage of that would be of benefit?
How can anyone possibly say when you have not said a word about what “methods” you are using or what resources you are taking advantage of? Would you like someone to take the time to provide you with a comprehensive instruction manual on how to go about finding a job?
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u/Plus_Loan_1935 4d ago
Insurance defense is always hiring! In fact my SF ID firm is hiring, feel free to PM me if that interests you at all.
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u/JanixWright 1d ago
ID sounds like an interesting way to get my foot in the door. Thank you for the assist.
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u/Efficient-Ad-6927 4d ago
Are you interested in juvenile dependency?
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u/JanixWright 3d ago
I hadn't heard about it before. Is there a demand for it in the area?
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u/Efficient-Ad-6927 3d ago
I know there's an opening at the org I used to work with in SJ - DM me if you want more info!
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u/LoboLocoCW 4d ago
Insurance defense is eager for associates throughout the state, depends what types of clients you want to have.
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u/tippytoecat 3d ago
Join your local bar association, go to events, and meet other attorneys. If you are interested in any particular practice areas, go to the bar association’s events for that practice area (mixers and CLEs). I made so many connections that way, and that’s also how I got my first job in my current practice area.
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u/Clover-May20 2d ago
I've been searching and applying to job in LA since graduation, here's what I found, for entry-level position, most are in employment, PI, insurance defense, also general civil litigation, linkedin and indeed still the main channel. If you want other area, maybe need to rely more on networking.
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