“Choosing Small, Choosing Smart:

Job Search Strategies for Graduates”

A Webinar Special PresentationAmerican UniversityWashington College of Law

September 30, 2009

By Donna Gerson

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!

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

Washington, D.C. Lawyer Statistics

The Lawyer Statistical Report, American Bar Foundation (2000)Total D.C. lawyers: 50,914

State population/lawyer ratio: 11/1Male: 66.4% Female: 33.6%Median age: - 43 years oldPrivate practice: 47.5%Solo practice: 20.3%Small firm (2 – 50 lawyers): 21.3%Federal government employment:

41.1%

Why work at a small firm?

•More responsibility early in one’s career

•Use your entrepreneurial skills

•Promotion and compensation

Median Salary Information

Firms of 2-10 lawyers……….. $52,800

Firms of 11-25 lawyers…….... $65,000

Firms of 26-50 lawyers……... $75,000Salaries will vary by locale

Source: National Association for Law Placement Associate Salary Survey (Class of 2007)

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

WHEN DO SMALL FIRMS HIRE?

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

Narrow Your Search• Limit yourself to no more than

three locations

• Why location matters– Client-getting– Retention

• Practice areas – creating parameters

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/guide-private-pi-firms.pdf •Bar Association Directories

More Resources

• Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide (NALP)

• Internet sites: Monster, Craigslist, Emplawyernet

• Directories of non-profit organizations

• Internet Searches

Martindale-Hubbell LEXIS/NEXIS ® Searches

Reference – Martindale-Hubbell Listings, AllTerms and connectors

state (columbia) and firm-size < 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.

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 < 50 and practice (tax)

Networking

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

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

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

Contacting Small Firms

• Address to a specific person – never “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” (unless it’s a blind job posting)

• Emphasize what matters to small firms:– Experience and skills– Desire to work in a small firm– Entrepreneurial skills

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+)

Follow Up:

Phone or e-mail within 5-7 business days.If you are not rejected…write again.

Interview Tips

• Respond promptly• Conduct research• Anticipate objections• Rehearse - Schedule a mock

interview• Write a thank you promptly

(within 24 hours)

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