hello!

7 Comments

1. Shana AelonySeptember 13,2023 at 12:42PM UTC

   Congratulations! I see two ways to reconsider your criteria. First expand from companies- if your desired law specialty permits- to government/municipalities/nonprofits/educational institutions, etc.

   Second you haven't found "reasonable" paying jobs. You deserve your worth! Still, worth considering positions that start lower than you expect if the organization, opportunity, culture, ethos, area of expertise, mentorship experiences etc. Increase its value to you.

   Not sure whether 100 compay applications means online submissions, or whether you have progressed to interviews etc. Either way, networking in your desired area might be a game changer, (forgive me if you are already doing this). Consider associations for attorneys, doing pro bono work for legal services organizations to add to your internship portfolio, collect references from past employers call folks for coffee and think of ways of interest to you to expand that network whether via virtual conference or in person tennis group etc.

   Final thought is that in the US to my understanding a lawyer isn't viewed as fully formed until they have been qualified by passing a State bar exam. Is there an exam you can take to show your worth further to potential employers?

   It's a lot of work, and I hope you shortly have offers pouring in and need to return to Fairy Godboss for advice on what to choose. Best of luck

2. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 6:06PM UTC

   Thank you for taking your precious time and guiding me. I'LL keep all the points in mind and act accordingly. Currently I am looking for similar internships so that my time could be utilised wisely. But, nevertheless thankyou for helping me ?

3. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

   Did you graduate from law school in India or in the USA? Your post is a little unclear as to where you got your degree and where you are applying. If you are in the US, have you passed the bar and are a fully qualified lawyer in that state? That will certainly be holding you back if not. Many people who graduate from US law firms have done summer associate work or forged connections with firms, clerkships, etc. It sounds like you are looking to bypass working at a law firm and going right to an in-house role, which is very difficult when you don't have the reputation of a firm behind you already. If you do want to be on an in-house legal team, try networking with lawyers in those roles, in-house counsels at companies you want to work out, and see what they recommend. Best wishes!

4. AnonymousSeptember 14,2023 at 6:03PM UTC

   OMG! sorry I forgot to mention, but I graduated from an Indian law School, but I have passed my Bar exam and all in India. But, I'll keep your advice in mind and act on it. Thank you so much ?

5. AnonymousSeptember 15,2023 at 1:11PM UTC

   So, are you looking for jobs in India or the US, or does it matter? Depending on your school's accreditation, you might have trouble being accepted to a US bar. It also might depend on the type of law you want to practice, as some disciplines have significantly different laws depending on the country you go to or the region/state within the country. My husband obtained his certificate in Paralegal studies from a school out of state, but our state did not accept their accreditation, so he was not allowed to get licensed. I know the regulations for joining the bar are much more rigorous for attorneys than paralegals. No matter where you are looking, your network is going to be your best resource for finding openings and acceptance.

6. AnonymousSeptember 15,2023 at 5:57PM UTC

   Do some pro bono work to fill in the gap which will get you the experience you seek. Also advise to be sure that you use grammar checker and spell checker when writing cover notes and letters as your communication skills will be questioned if you don't use proper American language - assuming you are here of course.

7. AyianSeptember 16,2023 at 9:01PM UTC

   There are too many unanswered questions here for any of us to be of much help. I see below that you graduated in India, but are you seeking a role in India or somewhere else in the world?

   If in India, most of us will not understand the social and economic system well enough to direct you further. You will wish to ask an Indian-based jobs board, career advisors at your university if they have those, or possibly a law firm in which you have some connection. Sometimes in the US, people who are interested in working for a company but do not have a direct connection will ask to go to lunch with an employee, manager, or the owner to ask such questions about how they got started and/or how to get started in the field. I do not know how appropriate that may be in India, but it's worth considering.

   If you're attempting to get a job outside of India, there are many times many barriers. Firstly, what field did you study law in? If it's not international law, you will generally not be qualified in another country without additional study - preferably in that country. Additionally, most countries do not readily accept workers from other countries without some kind of concession. For example, in the US, an employer would have to apply for your work visa, which requires them to first post the job, not be able to find a qualified candidate in a given time, and then prove that they were unable to find someone already authorized for work and that you are qualified for that work. It costs the company money to sponsor you and the work visa is not transferrable, so if you are let go for any reason, you will no longer have authorization to stay or work in the US. Many other countries have similar policies, which makes applying from another country a difficult prospect. If you are set on working in another country, I recommend visiting on a travel visa, taking appointments with law firms there that you have arranged in advance, and asking them about their process, needs, and prerequisites to employment. Even if you don't get a position with them as a result of your visit, you should have a greater understanding of what it would take to make it happen.

   As I mentioned, there are too many variables to specifically help you, but I hope this has given some broad strokes answers that can help you frame your next questions or actions to take. Best wishes!