Advice for Associates

Are Attorneys Better Off Contacting Law Firms Directly or Using Legal Recruiters in Their Search for a New Law Firm Job?

Question: I just passed the NY bar exam, have some limited legal experience and securities qualifications, but haven't h....

If I Make the Olympic Team, How Will My Law Firm React?

Question: I am an attorney admitted in New York. I have been practicing at a respected, mid-size firm for two years sinc....

My Law firm Fired Me for Economic Reasons but Will Not Publicly Admit This. What Should I Tell Prospective Legal Employers When They Ask Me Why I am Unemployed?

Question: My firm won't publicly admit I was fired for economic reasons. What do I tell prospective employers?....

How Should I Handle Requests to Speak to My Current Law Firm When Applying to New Firms?

Question: I am three years out of law school (first-tier school, middle of the pack in terms of grades). I worked briefl....

When Should an Attorney Start a Job Search if they Are Looking to Move in December?

Question: For personal reasons I plan to relocate to Chicago in December. I am a first-year associate in Atlanta at a la....

What Reason Should I Give for Not Transferring to Another Branch Office with My Firm?

Question: I am currently a second-year associate at a national firm in Boston. Though my grades were very average, I int....

Should You Start Your Own Law Practice After Losing Your Attorney Job at a Law Firm?

Question: I am trying to help my husband make the right decision. He was let go from his firm last week. Come to find ou....

If a Law Firm Asks Me to Interview, Does that Mean I Will Get an Offer from the Law Firm?

Question: I have read the advice that if you are extended an interview, you have a real chance at getting the job.I was ....

How Does an Attorney Know Whether it is Time to Leave Their Current Law Firm and Find a New Attorney Job?

Question: I am a mid-level litigation associate at a large national law firm. In my last review, I was very highly ranke....

Is it a Waste of Time for an Attorney to Apply to Jobs Online?

I don't blame you for being frustrated and I can understand why you might feel as if you are wasting your time by readi....

Harrison Barnes featured in Concerned about lifestyle and balance? You probably won’t amount to much in the law, recruiter says

Attorney Resume and Cover Letter Advice

Here is a collection of attorney résumé and cover letter resources written by experienced legal recruiters, designed ....

The 7 Steps Attorneys with 5+ Years of Law Firm Experience Must Take to Save Their Legal Careers

These seven choices are fundamental to attorneys and their careers. Each of them is evaluated in-depth in this article ....

Going In-house? Why You May Be Saying Goodbye to Law Firms for Good

I used to practice corporate law and as such, I saw many friends, classmates, and colleagues who also practiced transact....

On Being a Happy (and Successful) Lawyer

Stephen C. Ellis is the managing partner at the law firm of Tucker, Ellis & West. Below is the commencement address he g....