Fear is rising among 2Ls and 3Ls about what kind of job opportunities, if any await them in the job market. A recent article on Law.com depicts growing concern among students about the economy and legal job market.
Career service deans and directors create the article’s backbone as it snakes between mocking law student fear and legitimizing it. The truth is nowhere inbetween. If you are worried about finding a job, you have every right to do so. Firms and “boutiques” will undoubtedly undergo cutbacks as the economy contracts. Job slicing will not be as severe as with other more directly economy tied sectors, but will still be present.
A seperate but related concern is the increasing competition among grads for openings. Put simply, there are more in the work force than there are job openings. Recent grads have struggled finding a job for several months after passing the bar.
The cure? The harder you work, the better your resume/skills are and the more likely you will get a job. It is an increasingly tough market, so you must be able to distinguish yourself from other candidates. If your appeal is not enough to gain employment, turn to solo practice while taking independent contract work and keeping your eye open for opporutnities.
What about an internship in the field? Maybe that will help the students get a job and be on a track to gaining emploment in the field.
I would also think that isnt it all about networking. Sometimes, networking doesnt work out, but if you keep trying, sometimes there are jobs and people you didnt know that were out there that are willing to help you in the field of job employment.
I agree, it will take more sticktuitiveness to land a job but in the end persistence will pay dividends.