Linda E. Laufer is the resource to consult when you are at a crossroads in your career. As the Firmwide Director of Attorney Development at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, she counsels associates on how to manage and advance their careers within the Firm. She has also served in the career services offices at several law schools, including, most recently, the Career Development Office at Yale Law School. She answers your questions on what to do when faced with decisions about the direction of your career, whether you are in the private or public sector, and are just starting out, are midway in your journey, or well advanced down your chosen path. The views that she expresses in her column are her own and not those of Morgan Lewis.

This Week's Topic:

This week, Linda is offering advice for the summer.

Previous Questions:

• I have been contacting recruiters to help with my job search. Finally, one has invited me in for a meeting. I would appreciate your thoughts on how to handle it - should I treat it like an interview? What do you think about my working with a recruiter?

• Help! I'm a partner in a small New York firm, but my wife and I want to move to Florida. I'm admitted there but have no experience. What can I do to make this move and still have a successful career?

• I am a first-year associate at a small firm that is highly specialized in media law, a position that many others might covet. My fear, though, is that I have been typecast as a media lawyer, making it very difficult to find positions where I can make more money or get more meaty litigation experience.

• Law practice is not for me. I've decided on a new career field, and while my networking has been going well, the right opportunities have not yet come along. Is setting a deadline for myself, to stop practicing no matter what at the end of the year, a useful motivator, or a bad idea?

• I am an unemployed 2010 graduate of a top 100 law school with grades in the middle of my class. Over the summer, I will be studying for and taking the bar exam. Should I also be spending time looking for a job? I�m interested in working for a firm, probably small or mid-sized, although I�d really like a BigLaw job. But, I�ve heard that not much hiring takes place in the summer.

• I�m a third-year litigation associate at a BigLaw firm, but may have to relocate and find a new job in a small town as my wife pursues her graduate degree. Will a stretch working in PodunkLaw mean I can never return to BigLaw?

• If my first full-time job out of law school is non-legal, will law firms be reluctant to hire me for an attorney position?

• I�ve decided that law is not the career for me. How do I narrow my focus in finding law-related work? How do I even figure out where to look?

• I want to move to Brooklyn from a small city in the South. Given that I don�t have money to travel to NYC or live there unemployed for any amount of time, what strategies or techniques could you suggest to put me in front of potential employers?

• I'm an experienced commercial litigator about to get my LL.M. with honors, and I can't get an interview in the corporate/securities sectors. I'm networking, but what else should I be doing?

• I'm a partner at a BigLaw firm, but my career has been stalled since I made partner six years ago. This is entirely my fault. I took a passive approach to my career after making partner: My work wasn't bad, but I didn't seek out new opportunities and basically continued to do associate level work. I'd like to move to a new firm to get a fresh start, but I'm trying to figure out how to explain my lackluster career over the last few years. Plus, my current firm is not all that happy with me, which makes me dread reference checks.

• I�m a Top 25 law school grad, and I�m interested in working at a particular federal agency. Someone suggested that I call other grads who are working at the agency and request informational interviews rather than acknowledge directly that I am looking for a job. That seems disingenuous to me and transparently false. I believe that they would intuit that I am looking for a job and would be put off by the lack of candor.

• Negativity can creep into everyday conversation, even when you are positive about the matter under consideration. So, of course, it can find its way into interview answers, especially when you must respond to a question about a perceived weakness.

• I have a resume of seven years of high-quality experience and a gaping hole in the twelve months. I was downsized during the worst of the recession. Now that I have an interview, how do I handle my hollow year with what I hope will be my new boss?

• My questions are basically (a) what should my game plan be for finding an in-house job; (b) do I focus on jobs in a particular industry or set my net wide; and (c) what are great resources to find private sector jobs?

• Still more on Informational Interviewing.

• More on Informational Interviewing.

• I've started requesting informational interviews to learn about practice areas and, hopefully, to get information and other contacts that would help me land a job, but get few responses. Is there something in the way I'm asking that says "desperate"?

• Firms looking for recent graduates won't look at my resume, even though I only have 1-3 years of experience anyway if you consider my long employment gaps. Since I've been all over the place with my jobs, I don't have any specialization. So, how should I handle job postings? Or should I not bother, and just get a new career?

• I live in NY but am seeking a job in California. Do you think it reflects poorly on my resume to have a NY address? Should I co-opt a family/friend�s address to be local? Would that make my candidacy more appealing?

• I'm a creative writer as well as a lawyer. I wrote some essays and stories that were published and can be easily found if one searches my name online. My question is this: my writing is a little intense, and some might say emotional. It works in the creative field, but I'm worried that employers - if they should find these works - might conclude that it does not work for a lawyer. Is this hindering my job search (which has been fruitless so far)?

• I have an interview coming up at a large law firm. In preparation for my interview, I read through the bios of the interviewing partner and other partners and associates working in the relevant department. Although I will be completing my LL.M. with a solid B average, I feel that my third tier JD and accounting firm experience pale in comparison to their top 20 JDs and various clerkships. I am confident that I am well qualified for the position, but I can't help but to feel a bit intimidated.

• In an effort to build my practice, I have prepared mailings, sent e-mail blasts, launched a Web site, joined Bar groups and the chamber of commerce, made presentations to local students, all of it. The results? Zero, zilch, zip, and bupkus.

• I'm trying various networking ideas in my job search, but when I go to events, I feel overwhelmed, especially in big crowds. I don't know where to start and approaching people makes me uncomfortable.

• In an effort to build my practice, I have prepared mailings, sent e-mail blasts, launched a Web site, joined Bar groups and the chamber of commerce, made presentations to local students, all of it. The results? Zero, zilch, zip, and bupkus.

• I am a midlevel associate. Next fall, I will move into the senior associate ranks. I�ve basically spent the past four or so years keeping my head down and working hard. I would like to stay here and, if possible, become a partner. I know that it�s important these days to have clients, and I would like to be a rainmaker. What should I do to get started? Is it too late?

• I am a midlevel associate at a large law firm. The firm has announced that it will be starting an upward review program which gives us associates a chance to review partners. I am concerned about how this type of program works and whether there is any downside to my participating in it.

• I just started at a BigLaw firm. I want to make sure that I make a good first impression. Do you have any tips for us first year associates?

• I'm a government litigator with pretty much unlimited job security in a lackluster job market, but I have been getting itchy feet in the last year or so. I remain a bit ambivalent about private practice, but I am wondering: (1) Is it a mistake to be looking?; (2) Is it a mistake not to be looking?; and, (3) Is lateral hiring dramatically different?

• My new firm has a formal evaluation process that includes a meeting with one or partners, very different from the informal feedback at my last gig. I think the firm has been happy with my work, but I�m a little uneasy about what to expect. I wonder if you could give me some advice about how to approach this meeting.

• Right out of law school, I launched a solo practice as a criminal trial lawyer. I worked hard, scored some satisfying wins, and, eventually, won the attention of a succesful mid-sized firm. It's been five years, and I just made partner. So far, so good. The thing is, in those five years I haven't stepped foot in a courtroom, and I miss the adrenaline rush of jury trials. Should I quit and start over?

• There a lot of things I should have thought about before going to law school - the list is too numerous to state everything here. So, I'll just stick to the main thing: What kind of legal job can I get that doesn't involve rainmaking? It's not that I'm lazy. I can write and research 24/7 if you ask me to, but the idea of schmoozing makes me queasy.

• I worked in Dubai during my 2L summer, but because of the recession I was unable to find employment there or in NY upon graduation. Should I be looking to move abroad and try to find work somewhere else since I don't have 2L experience in the U.S.?

• I'm a first-year BigLaw associate facing my first self evaluation. I�m concerned about what I should include. What do they expect to see? Should I be concerned about bragging? On the other hand, I don�t want to be too modest. What do you think?

• I'm a college senior and wonder what you think about my going to law school right away, after I graduate next year. I've been interested in becoming a lawyer since high school, when I was in the debate club. My friends who are planning to get their MBA are going to work for a couple of years first. Is that something I should do, or should I stick to my plan of starting next fall, assuming I'm accepted? Also, any thoughts of where I should apply?

• I am about to become a 1L at a top 50 law school and want to make sure I have a job next summer. I�d like to get a jump on my search as soon as possible. Is this a good time? What kind of help can I expect from my school?

• Like the student who wrote to you last week, I am deferred from starting at my firm for a year. As tempting as travel and other options might be, I want to do legal work right after graduation. For that year, some sort of public service fellowship seems to be the answer. How can I go about finding a position?

• My firm has deferred my starting date for a year. I am still trying to decide what to do. What do you think is the best use of my time next year? Travel? Do something creative? Take on the public service legal internship the firm is suggesting? Or should I pursue other career routes?

• I was unable to secure either a second summer internship or a permanent position after law school. I did secure a post graduate fellowship that lasted about two months, and worked as a clerk in a small plaintiff''s side firm before deciding to leave legal work behind permanently in order to pursue a career in politics. At this point, having met with some success in political work, I am interested in the relative stability and calm of a legal career. My question is: what is the best strategy for me to break back into law?

• I am an overseas-trained attorney with an LL.M. received in the U.S., and I have been admitted to the NY Bar. I have been with an international organization for three years doing legal work, but I want to join a law firm and gain core legal drafting skills. My LL.M. and Bar seem not to be enough. What should I do, go back and get a J.D.?

• I have time on my side to find my next opportunity, but am worried about networking in my very discrete area of litigation where everyone knows everyone.

• I have recently moved to NY and left a government position. I have substantial IP and technology experience and some appellate background, but very little in the way of drafting, etc. In short, my resume gets me noticed but it hasn't gotten me a job yet. How can I demonstrate to in-house execs and firm hiring partners that I "add value"?

• I'm a rising 2L at a Tier 4 law school. I plan to graduate with honors. My goal is to obtain a position at an IP boutique after passing the Patent Bar exam. What are my chances?

• I was just made "partner" at a boutique firm. The only problem is it is a non-equity partnership intended to make me more appealing to the firm's clients (and maybe boost what the firm bills me at). But I am still an associate in all but name, with no say in management, no more independence on client matters and no more money. What can I do to change this?

• After five years as an associate at two different BigLaw firms, I find the stress and demands are not for me. Could I be idealizing practice at small firms? If a small firm is for me, what's the best way to land a job?

• In your column last week, you mentioned development plans for associates. My firm has them and each year asks us to prepare one. I�ve thought about it, but I get busy and don�t do it. So far, I�ve had good reviews without my having a plan. But, am I missing something important? Should I prepare a plan? What goes into it? What�s the value? Will it have a negative impact if I don�t do it?

• I am a first-year bankruptcy associate at a BigLaw firm. I�ve met only once with the partner who is assigned to be my mentor, a long lunch about six months ago. I am not getting anything out of having a mentor obviously. Should I wait for my mentor to contact me or should I contact him?

• After five years in litigation at a mid-sized firm, I can�t see myself doing this for the rest of my career. I�ve thought about other practices and leaving law altogether. I�m not really sure what�s best. I think I need a career counselor to help me figure out what to do. How can I go about finding one? What should I look for in a counselor?

• I am a registered patent agent. It's been two years since I passed the patent bar, but I have no actual patent prosecution experience. I have a doctorate in chemistry coupled with a massive amount of technical experience, and 24 credits of first year law. Where do I go from here? Can I ever find myself in a law firm as a technical advisor or a patent agent/paralegal? Should I finish my law degree?

• I have performed a significant amount of work on substantive issues as a contract attorney. What is the best way to reflect these stints on my resume?

• What field of law would you recommend in this job market?

• I have trouble in interviews when asked about my strengths and weaknesses. I can understand asking about strengths, but weaknesses? Do interviewers really expect you to say something negative about yourself? What are they looking for? Reasons not to hire me? Should I just figure they already made up their minds and aren�t interested, so my answer really doesn�t matter?

• In a recent interview, the first question was: �Tell me about yourself.� As I droned on and on, I realized the answer I was providing: "I am a simple-minded bore unable to recall the slightest bit of life experience that has prepared me for this interview, let alone a BigLaw career." I don't think that's the right answer. What do I do?

• After two years as an associate, I'm not sure I want to practice law. I could go to another firm, but I feel like there is much more I would like to do, such as something creative.

• I am a 1L at a top 50 school with no idea what I want to do with my life. Help!

• I was a prosecutor abroad. but in New York, I have mostly done discovery work for several securities class action plaintiffs' firms. I am looking for an associate position with a law firm. Any suggestions?

• I have been a teacher for 20 years. Will my experience work for or against me when competing for jobs?

• Should I tell a partner who has a relationship with a client that I plan to apply for an in-house job at the client's company at the client's suggestion?

• I�d rather do public interest work, but I�ve heard that funding is an issue and that fellowships are a good way to start. What�s your advice?

• Linda answers FAQs about thank-you notes in the BigLaw job hunt.

• I�m a second-year associate at a mid-sized firm. Lately, I�ve heard the senior associates talking about business development and going to different events to network. Is it too soon for me to worry about that?

• Linda offers guidance on staying organized as you you pursue your New Year's resolution to find the perfect job for you.

• So your oh-eight wasn't so great. Linda Laufer will tips offer so your oh-nine will be just fine.

• I'm currently in my second year at a big New York firm, where I am happy to stay, for now. However, if I stay in NYC for the next two to five years, I�d like to go in-house for a magazine or book publisher.

• After four years of practice, I don't think law is my true calling, but I am burdened with massive debt from law school. What should I do?

• I still don't have a job, and I'm past the point where it�s respectable to be "taking time off after the bar." I need something pronto. What can I do to jumpstart my career?

• I still don't have a job, and I'm past the point where it�s respectable to be "taking time off after the bar." I need something pronto. What can I do to jumpstart my career?

• With offers from both BigLaw and the Department of Justice Honors Program, I accepted the DOJ offer and now I wonder whether I made the right decision. Will the door to BigLaw be open down the road?

11/25/08
My finances will not permit me to volunteer, and I am afraid that I will be unable to get a paying legal job next summer. What should I do?

11/18/08
I�m a 1L, and my career office just told my classmates and I that we should not expect to work for a firm this summer.

11/4/08
I feel that I�ll be more successful in the financial industry. If I made a move and it didn't work out, could I return to BigLaw?

10/28/08
Do you have any advice on how a fourth-year associate can break into professional development or business development at a law firm?

10/21/08
My federal clerkship ends next August. When should I begin contacting legal recruiters (or sending resumes on my own) for a BigLaw position next fall?

10/14/08
After nearly 20 years as a MD, I decided to make a career change to the law. But my job search as a 2L has been fruitless, and I am beginning to question my quest for a JD.

10/7/08
An "Invisible Man" working in the BigLaw machine asks Linda how to become a standout, or at least seen.

9/30/08
I'm tired of my Big City/BigLaw life. How can I get a Small Town/SmallLaw job?

9/23/08
My resume shuts me out of BigLaw, and I'm bored and unfulfilled at SmallLaw. Now what?

9/16/08
Is it true that working as a paralegal is more of a hindrance than a bright spot on a lawyer's resume?

8/19/08
Linda offers more interviewing tips for lawyer wannabes facing their first lnterviews.

8/12/08
I�m a 2L at a top 50 school with a bunch of interviews coming up. Any tips?

8/5/08
After two years, I know that I am not interested in practicing law, or, at least at a law firm. Now what?

7/29/08
Linda advises a BigLaw litigation associate on making the transition from the courtroom to the classroom.

7/22/08
I'm a third-year BigLaw associate considering taking a 2-3 year teaching fellowship at a highly ranked law school.

7/15/08
Linda addresses a 3L's confusion about the pros and cons of judicial clerkships.

7/8/08
Would taking a non-practicing in-house job disqualify me from BigLaw in the future?

6/24/08
I'm passing on the offer I got after graduation to follow my fiance to NY. Is it too late to land a BigLaw job?

6/17/08
Linda offers more advice for those seeking their JDs after dark.

6/10/08
Linda explains how to make sure that you are looking for a job that you really want.

6/3/08
Is it harder for part-time students to break into BigLaw after graduation?

5/27/08
How can I start networking in a city where I've never lived?

5/20/08
I took a summer spot at an IP firm due to prior engineering experience. Will a move to corporate BigLaw be possible next summer?

5/13/08
Will extensive experience in a prior career fast-track me for advancement once practicing law?

5/6/08
After eight years as a BigLaw litigator, will lack of transaction work keep me out of in-house?

4/29/08
With no summer job lined up, I left law school as a 2L. Can I land a job if I go back?

4/22/08
I get paid NY rates at a boutique, but friends tempt me to lateral to BigLaw.

4/15/08
After securing a BigLaw job, the real networking begins.

4/8/08
What is the best way to approach networking?

4/1/08
I am a 2L and haven't yet landed a summer position. Does that mean BigLaw is now out of the question for me?

3/25/08
I graduated almost ten months ago and can't get a law firm job. When should I just give up?

3/18/08
Do you have any success tips for summer associates?

2/26/08
I am a paralegal who has worked at several BigLaw firms. Will that experience help me land a spot at BigLaw when I get my JD?

2/19/08
I left BigLaw for a prestigious boutique, but now I'm misearble. Can I go back to BigLaw?

2/5/08
What advice do you have for recent law grads who have yet to secure permanent employment?

1/29/08
My experiences at two BigLaw firms have taught me that I don't want to be a lawyer. Do you have any tips for how to leave gracefully?

12/18/07
Linda Laufer marks the Fifth Anniversary of her "Crossroads" column with tips for breaking from the starting gate in '08 with clear goals and a winning strategy.

12/11/07
I work for a Big 4 accounting firm and am getting an LL.M. in tax. How do I get into BigLaw?

12/4/07
I struck out in the clerkship season, so I accepted my BigLaw offer. Is there a point where I should stop trying for a clerkship?

11/27/07
I've been hopping around since law school, but I don't want my resume to look like I've been hopping around.

11/20/07
When would be the best time for a young lawyer to move into finance � right after law school, as a junior associate, or as a mid-level?

11/13/07
After six years as a BigLaw associate, I can't even get an interview. How can I get hired by a smaller firm?

11/06/07
Although it was unrelated to my departure, I left my last job on bad terms with my boss.

10/23/07
After 15 years as an attorney, I'm looking to reboot my career.

10/16/07
How will moving in-house in banking affect my chances of finding a future position in intellectual property?

10/9/07
How much weight should you give a law firm's Vault ranking in determining which offer to accept?

10/2/07
I volunteer for a law-related Web site. Should that be on my resume although it's more about technology than law?

9/25/07
I'm up for a lateral job paying twice as much as I'm getting now. What should I say about my current salary?

9/18/07
I am a law school grad awaiting the bar exam results and thinking about opening my own office.

9/11/07
I want to transfer to another office, but if I ask and am turned down, then what?

9/4/07
In interviews, how can I answer why I'm looking to leave my current firm without bad-mouthing it?

8/28/07
I like the city where I am serving a federal appellate clerkship. Will this derail me from BigLaw?

8/21/07
I passed the February New York bar and failed the New Jersey exam at the same time.

8/7/07
I joined a Big 4 accounting firm after law school, but hope to move to BigLaw. Would an LLM in tax help?

7/31/07
After two years at a relative's small law firm, I'm aiming to move up to BigLaw.

7/24/07
I have never seen the inside of a courtroom, so I'm eyeing leaving BigLaw for a prosecutor's office.

7/17/07
I just jumped from BigLaw to BigLaw and from litigation to transactions. So I don't know what I'm doing.

7/10/07
Learn the five interview questions that you must not freeze up on to make a good impression.

7/3/07
How can I overcome shyness and master the schmoozing that seems essential in BigLaw?

6/26/07
What are the secrets to BigLaw success?

6/19/07
A series of layoffs cost me three jobs in a short period of time, making me seem like a flake.

6/5/07
Where can a second-career law graduate with decent grades find work?

5/29/07
After a disappointing summer associate experience, a young lawyer looks to get his career back on track.

5/22/07
I'm a mid-level associate looking to catch on in-house, possibly with one of my current clients.

5/15/07
How can I break into estate planning or hedge funds?

3/20/07
I'm a 1L without a summer position.

3/20/07
Do you recommend personalized notes or typewritten letters thanking interviewers?

3/13/07
Formatting and following up on your cover letters.

3/6/07
Tips on writing cover letters.

2/27/07
If I keep doing IT/e-discovery work for a few more years, will I be closing the door on working full time as a lawyer?

2/13/07
As a 50-year-old lawyer who took several years off to care for my children, how can I return to practicing in Manhattan?

2/6/07
After more than 20 years in private practice, I to move to an in-house position.

1/30/07
In picking a law school, how big a factor should postgrad debt be compared to rankings?

1/16/07
As a Canadian, should join a London Magic Circle firm or wait on New York?

12/19/06
I would be willing to sacrifice some salary and bonus for a smaller environment.

12/12/06
Would working as a research assistant this summer hurt my chances at getting a job later?

12/5/06
I'm a 2L, and I've totally struck out this fall. Nothing. Not even an interview.

11/28/06
I want to work in public interest law, but I have a BigLaw offer in NY for the summer.

11/21/06
I�m trying to decide among four BigLaw firm offers for next summer.

11/14/06
I have been thinking of making the jump from corporate associate to the recruiting department.

11/7/06
With no firm experience, only public interest internships, I really want to work at a firm.

10/31/06
I live in NY and commute to a firm in Jersey. How do I catch on with a NY firm?

10/24/06
My husband lives in a different city. Is life as a contract attorney an option?

10/17/06
I need to relocate for family reasons. Should I move first and find work when I get there?

10/10/06
At my annual review I was told that I am not on the partner track because of careless errors in my work.

9/12/06
I have worked for two large, national firms in two different cities. Now, I'm living in a third city.

9/12/06
I'm a third-year corporate bankruptcy lawyer, but I think what I want to do is divorce.

8/29/06
I want to work in public interest law.

8/22/06
Lukewarm about my 2L summer firm, I applied for a clerkship. Should I reveal this in 3L interviews?

8/8/06
I want out of litigation. Can I do this without a BigLaw, Ivy League background?

8/1/06
Should I tell partners of my ambition to lateral to a government job?

7/25/06
Can a student attending law school part-time at night hope to land a Biglaw job?

7/18/06
I just moved to NY and want to take this chance to practice in a new area of law.

7/11/06
I want to move to LA and enter into the entertainment industry.

6/27/06
I work for a bar group. How can I switch to criminal appellate defense?

6/20/06
I'm a 28-year-old engineer. I'm contemplating law school to get away from the geeks.

6/13/06
I have two years of experience on heavily litigated claims. Am I a lateral or first year?

6/6/06
I am at a small Manhattan firm doing work I enjoy. Now the firm is moving to an outer borough.

5/23/06
What about those heavily-advertised services pushing mass-mailings as a way to solicit employers?

5/16/06
I'm unhappy with the increasing focus on litigation in my bankruptcy practice group.

5/9/06
With no law review or moot court experience, I am having a hard time getting interviews.

5/2/06
I am trying to break into a BigLaw firm in the City. I had impecible grades . . .

4/25/06
I worked as a contract attorney. How should I deal with this in future job searches?

4/18/06
To whom should I address my resumé (mail, e-mail, or both?) at at target firm?

4/11/06
I changed firms, but I'm still dissatisfied.

4/4/06
Is clerking a smart move, from a financial perspective?

3/21/06
I am an in-house counsel wanting to switch to a firm, but which department?

3/14/06
I am looking for an attorney position after four years taking care of my children.

3/7/06
What is available to a more mature applicant seeking an entry level position?

2/28/06
To move in-house, would it be a mistake to leave Biglaw for a better mid-sized fit?

1/24/06
Am I better off as a BigLaw staff attorrney or a small firm associate?

1/17/06
I'd rather work for a consulting firm because international business is my first love.

1/3/06
It's my second year in-house, but I just switched companies. How can I move back to a firm?

12/13/05
How can I remain at a large firm under some type of alternative work arrangement?

12/6/05
Which practice areas would speed my transition to a better work-life balance?

11/29/05
I much prefer working on the business side of real estate. How can I cross over?

11/22/05
I'm thinking of switching from M&A to Tax. Will it be harder to go in-house?

11/15/05
My 150 year-old NY-based international firm has dissolved. Will this hurt my resume?

11/8/05
I'm fed up with chasing billable hours and looking to go inhouse.

11/1/05
As a 1L, can I ignore my school's career office and apply to BigLaw firms right now?

10/25/05
The worst year of my life! I have quit two terrible firms after just four months at each.

10/18/05
What advice do you have for someone entering the legal job market as a second career?

10/11/05
I'm choosing between a top national law firm and a lesser ranked regional firm.

10/4/05
I graduated law school last year, but did nothing to start my legal career.

9/27/05
Would taking a clerkship midway through a BigLaw career be perceived as flaky?

9/20/05
How do I find out about jobs that are less about litigating, more about writing and research?

9/13/05
I want to shift to Real Estate Acquisitions, but I'm scared I won't be able to return to being a lawyer.

9/06/05
Should I pursue an LLM right after graduating from law school next year or work for few years first?

8/30/05
Will it hurt me later if I switch to part-time law school so that I can work in litigation now?

8/23/05
Can you give some resources that will help me evaluate if I'd be a better fit in another practice area?

8/16/05
How should I address not getting an offer after my summer associate stint?

8/09/05
Criminal law is my passion. Would working as a court administrator kill my chances with firms?

8/02/05
I worked as a summer associate at a litigation firm, and now know I hate litigation. Am I doomed?

7/26/05
I am a recent graduate from a third-tier law school. It is July, and I am still unemployed.

7/19/05
I'm turning down a NYC Biglaw position to move back to my hometown and make a third of the pay.

7/12/05
I am a NY associate looking to relocate overseas. How should I begin my job search?

7/5/05
What could I expect to earn as a short-term contract attorney?

6/28/05
What are some career options for a JD who has decided to not take the bar exam?

6/21/05
I have been told that I am not aggressive enough in interviews.

5/31/05
I am torn between two law schools.

5/24/05
I'm a solo and musician, and I'm considering moving to NYC for the jazz scene.

5/17/05
What can a 3L who is not a candidate for Biglaw do over the summer to get a career moving?

5/10/05
I am a 3L at a third-tier law school. What are my career options?

5/3/05
What are my chances of being hired by a mid-size firm after having practiced in a very small firm?

4/26/05
I am a government lawyer trying to move to the private sector.

4/12/05
I had ok grades in law school and i have been having a hard time getting interviews for a new job.

4/5/05
What opportunities are there for litigators to go in-house?

3/22/05
How hard is it to lateral and switch practice areas at the same time?

3/22/05
What can I do as a foreign-trained attorney with a slight accent problem to get a NY job?

3/15/05
I got bad grades my first two years at a lower-tier law school. Is my career dead in the water?

3/8/05
As a 50-year-old, will my age keep me out of top law schools or from getting a high-paying job?

2/22/05
Is it worthwhile to try transferring to a higher-ranked law school?

2/15/05
For attorneys working elsewhere, are there better ways to get your expertise noticed by NY firms?

2/8/05
As a mid-level associate, I feel like my professional development is stalling.

2/1/05
Would a few months as a contract attorney be a irredeemable blot on my resume?

1/25/05
How does a first-year law student go about finding paid internship opportunities?

1/18/05
I'm a 3L at a top-20 law school struggling to find a firm position before it's too late.

1/11/05
Is a three- to four-year stint at a BigLaw firm a must for long-term job security as a lawyer?

1/4/05
What is the best way for out-of-state lawyers looking for lateral positions to contact NY firms?

12/28/04
I'm just sick to death of my job. Do many JDs find happiness by going back for an MBA?

12/14/04
Is five years too long to wait to make a lateral move from New York BigLaw to California?

12/7/04
I've worked as a corporate consultant. Can I now join a firm as a corporate associate?

11/30/04
I have one day to choose the firm where I hope to spend the rest of my life. Help!

11/16/04
Is analyzing documents, one line at a time, really what being a BigLaw first-year is all about?

11/9/04
I am a recent law school graduate, but my health kept me from looking for work and caused me to fail the Bar Exam

11/2/04
How can I go about switching from being a litigator to a capital markets attorney?

10/26/04
I have a JD, but I am looking to switch to practicing law after several years in the financial industry.

10/19/04
After four years as a corporate attorney at a large firm, I want to restart my career as a public interest litigator.

10/12/04
As a recent graduate who hasn't found a permanent job at a firm, I am often asked, "Why not?"

10/5/04
After 10 years in-house, I want to join a firm.

9/28/04
My summer firm didn't invite me back, and other firms assume there is something wrong with me.

9/21/04
My bad grades for my first year at a top-tier law school have me terrified that my career is over.

9/14/04
I�m a 45-year old 2L. Will small- to medium-sized firms be a better fit for me?

8/31/04
If I find that the NY law firm lifestyle is not for me, what are my prospects for success elsewhere?

8/24/04
It looks like my firm is going to merge. What can I as an associate do to protect myself?

8/17/04
I have been fired from two firms in two years. Is there any hope?

7/20/04
Do you have any advice on how to get into IP, with either a firm or in-house?

7/6/04
I freeze up in interviews when asked to talk about myself.

6/29/04
I have law and business degrees from outside the U.S., and I have passed the New York Bar. I am wondering what is the best strategy for finding a job in this market.

6/22/04
How can a government lawyer get hired by a large firm?

6/15/04
I want to chuck the partner-track, go back to school and change practice areas. Nuts?

6/8/04
My dream job is to work in entertainment law.

6/1/04
How do I know whether or not I will be considered for partner?

5/18/04
Should I wait until I am a fourth- to sixth-year associate to look for a change?

5/11/04
More options for legal recruiting as a career.

5/4/04
I'm an eighth-year litigator tired of practicing. What can you tell me about legal recruiting as a career?

4/20/04
I have taken a temporary-to-permanent job. How do I describe this move if it goes nowhere?

4/13/04
How important is your work history before law school?

3/30/04
As a 2L, would it be a career-ending move if I don't work at a firm this summer?

3/23/04
I am so tired of law that I am going for an MBA.

3/16/04
I have two years of experience, but I have not practiced since 1998. How do I get back in?

3/9/04
I picked a DC firm over the two top NY firms at which I summered. Big mistake. Huge.

3/2/04
I have a J.D. from a top tier law school, a Ph.D. in biomedical science and no job.

2/24/04
I am a second-year law student who cannot find a summer associate position.

2/17/04
As a first-year, how likely am I to be hired by a firm if my entrepreneurial venture fails?

2/10/04
How do I evaluate whether I should drop out of law school and do something entirely different?

2/3/04
Can I leave my second job in two years job without trashing my resume?

1/27/04
I'm 50 years old and was downsized a year ago. How can I get a job?

1/20/04
I am a foreign-trained attorney, and no NY firms will even interview me.

1/13/04
When I make partner, I want it to be somplace warm. How can I lateral to a another latitude?

1/6/04
I was recently laid off. Are there any risks in claiming that I left voluntarily?

12/30/03
Linda tells you how to get the most of a cover letter when job hunting.

12/23/03
Linda offers advice on polishing your resume.

12/16/03
My resume is a patchwork quilt of short-term gigs. Help!

12/9/03
Are the holidays a good time to be asking people for business?

12/2/03
A firm offered me a salary that is nearly half what others pay for a required 2,400 billable hours.

11/18/03
I graduated from a second tier law school at the bottom of my class. Am I doomed?

11/4/03
What steps can you take to leap into a practice area where you have little or no experience?

10/28/03
I love my corporate transactional practice but the people I work with are sooooo boring.

10/21/03
I am a first-year and hating it. What can I do to switch jobs once I get my bar results?

10/14/03
I have an LL.M. in Taxation that's not doing me ant good getting work as a tax lawyer.

10/7/03
After a layoff and some time in-house, I want to switch my practice to what I learned in-house.

9/30/03
I am a solo practitioner and a physician looking to connect with a large firm.

9/23/03
I am a senior litigation associate at a prestigious firm. Is it to late to take a clerkship?

9/16/03
I have never actually practiced law. Any advice on how I can gain some practical experience?

9/9/03
Two partners at my firm are so horrible that I am going to quit if I have to work with them any more.

8/26/03
How long does it usually take for a BigLaw firm to extend a permanent offer?

8/19/03
How do I contact firms for possible employment?

8/12/03
On a job hunt, I have been networking for more than a year and have found nothing.

8/5/03
Part II of a two-part look at how to take charge of your next job interview.

7/29/03
Part I of a two-part look at how to take charge of your next job interview.

7/22/03
I am a second-year associate in a major NY law firm. Is it too soon to move in-house?

7/15/03
I was laid off a year and a half ago and haven't found a job yet. Should I give up on law?

7/8/03
Would it be a mistake for me to leave a top firm to clerk for a federal judge?

7/1/03
I am a fourth-year associate in an IP firm in NYC. My family, however, hardly sees me.

6/24/03
I am a graduate at the bottom of my class from a second-tier law school, but a lawyer is all I want to be.

6/17/03
After six years as a litigator, is it too late to switch my practice area?

6/10/03
A junior partner has been talking me up around the firm and now a senior partner wants me to work exclusively for him. What should I do?

6/3/03
With six months in at a mid-sized firm, should I accept an offer to temp at a leading NY firm?

5/27/03
I'm a public interest lawyer who can't live off my public interest salary.

5/20/03
A colleague warns me that I am in a dead-end practice area. What should I do?

5/13/03
I joined a now-defunct hedge fund. Am I still employable with a firm or inhouse?

5/6/03
I am a sixth-year litigation associate with employment law experience and I want an in-house job.

4/29/03
The partners are trying to take over billing and management for clients that I brought into the firm.

4/22/03
I am a recently laid-off associate. Should I tell future employers that I left voluntarily?

4/15/03
After several years as a part-time solo raising my kids, I want a full-time position at a firm.

4/8/03
I am a fifth-year at an AmLaw 100 firm on a nonequity partner track. Would I be better off taking an offer from a smaller firm that could lead to an equity stake?

4/1/03
I am a recently minted attorney with young children. What legal jobs are out there that would allow me to have time with my family?

3/25/03
Am I going to have difficulty finding law firm jobs as a 42-year old third-year associate?

3/18/03
I am a recent JD/MBA graduate. Would I be killing any legal career if I took a non-legal corporate job?

3/11/03
How can I move from a government job to joining a firm as an IP litigator?

3/4/03
How can I move from a government job to joining a firm as an IP litigator?

2/25/03
I am a 2L attending a top 25 law school at the very bottom of my class, and I'm really unsure about whether I even want to practice law. Is it worth the money to finish law school?

2/18/03
How can I locate available jobs for attorneys with state and federal government?

2/11/03
How difficult is it to leave the law (say to do something entirely different and non-legal) and then go back to the law?

2/4/03
What steps should a person take during the early and middle stages of their career to prepare for an eventual judgeship?

1/28/03
What resources are out there for someone considering going solo?

1/21/03
I want to return to practice as a commercial litigator.

1/14/03
My dream job would be to teach at a law school.

1/7/03
I have five years on the partnership track as a large-firm litigator, but I want to quit and work on my screenplay.

12/31/02
I am an experienced solo tired of being on my own. How can I find a small firm where I would be a good fit?

12/24/02
I recently graduated with mediocre grades from a regional school and am having trouble finding a job. Would it help my cause to get an LL.M?

12/17/02
I'm a senior associate in a panic about my lack of success bringing in business. Should I be looking for a new job?