New York Lawyer
December 23, 2004

Q:
I graduated from law school in 2003. I landed a nice job as a first-year associate, but unfortunately failed the bar twice. I passed it on my third try, but I still lost my job.

I was very happy there and greatly respected by my colleagues, who tried to keep me. But big firm policy forced their hand. I have tried to get over this, but the more time that goes by without a job, nor prospects, the more I feel depressed and unsure about where my life is going. I tried so hard to get to this point, and, now, nothing seems to be working out.

The market is bad, and I only have one year of experience behind me. I had two interviews at smaller law firms, in shady areas and without much business, but they also had an issue with the bar.

Please advise on how to get a handle on my career and how to deal with the depression that seems to be getting worse.

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A:

First of all, my sympathies -- having trouble passing the bar is an awful burden. And the added ignominy that is heaped on in the wake of failure only worsens an already tough situation. But there�s hope.

Initially, you need to deal directly with your depression. Dr. Ellen Ostrow is president of Lawyers Life Coach and serves as a psychological and executive coach to lawyers from coast to coast (and around the world, actually). She advises that you see a doctor or a mental health professional to determine whether you are clinically depressed or not. If you are, she says, "It�s going to make you extremely pessimistic, and you won�t have the energy to do what�s necessary for an effective job search. And it will most likely affect how you behave during interviews. Depression can also make decision making difficult, by slowing down your responsiveness. You can seem sad and down and irritable."

She sums up the obvious: "None of those things is going to help you get a job."

Dealing with your depression can help to bolster your confidence, and your presentation when you network and interview, to counteract any presumption of a lack of competence because of the number of times you took the bar.

From that point, your job search will be similar to anybody�s job search who is not coming directly out of law school.

First you will need to focus on a clear goal.

You will then need to network, network, network: go to bar association gatherings, reconnect with your law school placement office, talk with alums, make phone calls, and the like. Find out if someone at your old law firm is willing to vouch for you, or put you in contact with firms to network with.

You can also do temp work (which can turn into permanent work), do some pro bono work, or volunteer on a bar committee -- these also will help build contacts and enlarge your personal network. According to Ostrow, "Only 20% of jobs are gotten without this personal networking among contacts."

If the first job you get as a result of this effort is not perfect, that�s okay. It will be a stepping stone. This is a matter of plugging away until you get what you want. There are many, many folks out there who failed bar exams and went on to have great careers, so please don�t be discouraged. Ostrow has worked with many individuals who have had tough job searches, and she is emphatic: "Everybody�s who persistent gets a job, and gets a job they�re pleased with."

Sincerely,
Holly English