Leverage For Lawyers

Posted by Elizabeth Zelinka

 

Every day I speak with Big Law and corporate law lawyers who are curious about the state of the job market.  Most of these lawyers have escaped the ugliness of a layoff (so far) and are diligently plodding ahead on whatever work they can find, eyes on their desks and screens.  They’ve heard snippets of bad news here and there—they might even know some lawyers who’ve been let go—but all in all, they have been fairly unaffected by this crisis.

 

But here’s the reality.  The market for lawyers is gone.  If any of these lawyers ends up in need of another position, there will not be one available—and most are simply stunned to learn this information.  I have seen lawyers with absolute top drawer credentials look for a job in every conceivable space for 9 months—to no avail.  In summary:

• Big Law is not hiring—period—unless you happen to a partner with a large book of business (in which case, job security is hardly a concern)
• Government is not hiring, at least not in a time frame that works for anyone needing a job soon
• In-house departments of corporations are downsizing, and those that are hiring have about 5,000 highly qualified candidates clamoring to be seen
• Non-profits have been flooded with “free” untrained first-year lawyers (thanks to the Big Law deferral plans executed a couple of months ago)
• Academic budgets are tighter than ever, and most law schools are not interested in Big Law lawyers who suddenly develop a passion for teaching

 

 

Elizabeth Zelinka is a Consultant and Career Strategist with Zelinka & Prince Search Partners.  She can be reached through her website at www.zpsearchpartners.com.

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