Jobs in this Economy - Should We Worry?

Over at Law.com is a post entitled "A Grim Verdict Awaits Law Grads". The news isn't pretty.

No, the sky is not falling in. But let's face it: the economy sucks. So to think that there will be traditional legal jobs rolling in the minute we graduate is just plain foolish.

When I graduated from undergrad back in 1994 (I'm no spring chicken) the economy was murky. My advisor suggested that with a bachelors in English I should look for an Office Manager position until the economy improved. While I appreciated her advice, I actually took another route and went to work for a non-profit. The pay wasn't the best but I gained tons of experience. That non-profit experience helped translate into a higher paying / more prestigious job when the economy improved (as it always does.)

So 14 years later, the economy is back down in the sub-basement, so to speak. But there are still jobs out there, even if I skip the Office Manager type-advice. So here's some options for those who are concerned about job prospects in this economy:

• Solo Practitioner. Check out Solosez, My Shingle, Build a Solo Practice blogs for starters. Hang your shingle with pride. Go down to the court house and sign up for indigent defense cases - at least you will get paid from the court. Get the word out to your family and close friends that you're in business. And contact local attorneys to see if they need help - even on a contract or part-time basis.
• Contract attorney. Otherwise known as "document review". It may not be the most glamorous work but at least it pays.
• Government attorney. The US government is still hiring. Check out USAJOBS for specific job postings. The US government also allows those with a J.D. to qualify for jobs they wouldn't otherwise qualify for - even non-attorney positions.
• Paralegals. Might as well have your J.D. pay for itself in a legal way, even if you aren't working as a full-blown attorney.
• Public Defenders / Prosecutors. Congress has recently passed a bill to help pay for law student loans for those going into public defense or prosecutor roles. You can receive up to $60,000 loan reimbursement for your public service.
• Nonprofits. They may not be able to pay much, but you'll gain tons of experience! And with the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, you won't pay more than 15% of your discretionary income on your student loans even while working at a lower wage. And if you work for a non-profit for 10 years (non-consecutive), you can earn loan forgiveness.
• Nonlegal Careers for Lawyersby Gary A. Munneke. Buy it or borrow it from the library. It will give you plenty of ideas on things to do when a regular attorney job is scarce.

These are only a few examples of work that can be done out of law school even when the economy stinks. So don't dispair. There are jobs out there, even if BigLaw is drying up.