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Choosing Small, Choosing Smart Job Search
Strategies for GraduatesA Webinar Special
Presentation

• American University
• Washington College of Law
• September 30, 2009
• By Donna Gerson

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The Rules Have Changed

• Greater emphasis on lateral hiring.
• Compensation at some large firms will be rolled
  back.
• Lock-step promotion will be eliminated at some
  large firms.
• Fewer equity partners will be named.
• Greater emphasis on practical skills.
• Greater emphasis on client-getting as a new
  lawyer.
• Professionalism is more important than ever
  before!

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Definition of Small Firm

• Typically, small firm is defined as a firm with
  50 or fewer lawyers.
• This definition will vary by geographic region.
• Branch offices of large firms are not, by
  definition, small firms

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Washington, D.C. Lawyer StatisticsThe Lawyer
Statistical Report, American Bar Foundation (2000)

• Total D.C. lawyers 50,914
• State population/lawyer ratio 11/1
• Male 66.4 Female 33.6
• Median age - 43 years old
• Private practice 47.5
• Solo practice 20.3
• Small firm (2 50 lawyers) 21.3
• Federal government employment 41.1

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Why work at a small firm?

• More responsibility early in ones career
• Use your entrepreneurial skills
• Promotion and compensation

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Median Salary Information

• Firms of 2-10 lawyers.. 52,800
• Firms of 11-25 lawyers.... 65,000
• Firms of 26-50 lawyers... 75,000
• Salaries will vary by locale
• Source National Association for Law Placement
  Associate Salary Survey (Class of 2007)

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What do small firms seek?

• Experience
• Clinics
• Programs for academic credit
• Paid work
• Volunteer work
• A desire to work in a particular city or town
• Intelligence
• Bar passage

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WHEN DO SMALL FIRMS HIRE?

• When the need arises
• The self-initiated job search

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Narrow Your Search

• Limit yourself to no more than three locations
• Why location matters
• Client-getting
• Retention
• Practice areas creating parameters

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Resources

• Directory of Small Firms
• Symplicity
• Public Interest Directory of private law firms
  (by state and city)
• http//www.law.harvard.edu/students/opia/docs/guid
  e-private-pi-firms.pdf
• Bar Association Directories

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More Resources

• Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide
  (NALP)
• Internet sites Monster, Craigslist, Emplawyernet
• Directories of non-profit organizations
• Internet Searches

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Martindale-Hubbell LEXIS/NEXIS Searches

• Reference Martindale-Hubbell Listings, All
• Terms and connectors
• state (columbia) and firm-size lt 50 and practice
  (tax)
• There will be repeats, etc. in your list of
  search results.
• You may find solo practitioners.
• Martindale-Hubbell is not a complete directory of
  all lawyers.

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More on Martindale-Hubbell

• You can search by law school, college, languages,
  zip code
• Another example
• city (new york) and law-school (american) and
  firm-size lt 50 and practice (tax)

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Networking

• Career Services Office
• Law school professors
• Former legal employers
• Former employers generally
• Family
• Neighbors

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Networking

• Friends
• Community and social organizations
• Bar associations (mandatory voluntary)
• Committees, Divisions, Sections
• Law school alumni/ae associations
• College alumni/ae associations
• Online resources LinkedIn.com, Facebook

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Bar Associations

• American Bar Association Law Student Division -
  www.abanet.org/lsd.
• Bar Association of the District of Columbia
  www.badc.org
• Other state volunteer bar associations
• Specialty and affinity bar associations

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Contacting Small Firms

• Address to a specific person never Dear Sir or
  Madam or To Whom It May Concern (unless its a
  blind job posting)
• Emphasize what matters to small firms
• Experience and skills
• Desire to work in a small firm
• Entrepreneurial skills

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Dealing with Grades

• Selected Grades Torts (A) Contracts (B)
  Civil Procedure (B)
• Legal Research and Writing Grade A
• Tax and Related Courses Taxation (A) Federal
  Tax Law Seminar (A-) Independent Study,
  Maryland Estate Tax Law (A) Securities Law
  (B)

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• Follow Up
• Phone or e-mail within 5-7 business days.
• If you are not rejectedwrite again.

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Interview Tips

• Respond promptly
• Conduct research
• Anticipate objections
• Rehearse - Schedule a mock interview
• Write a thank you promptly (within 24 hours)

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Conclusion

• Small firms can be great places to work
• You will find a job but it will take time,
  energy, and effort on your part
• Network, network, network!
• Partner with career services to get the advice
  and coaching you need