Present Status of the Legal Job Market

Today's legal job market is far different from that which existed just a few years ago. In the 1980s, high-paying legal jobs were plentiful. Students graduating from a good law school with decent grades usually had several job offers to choose from. Second-year students were also swamped by offers of summer law firm clerkships, often sweetened by outlandish perks and a summer schedule packed with fun-filled, firm-sponsored activities. During the 1980s, salaries for lawyers continued to escalate dramatically each year as legal employers strove to keep pace with the seemingly ever-increasing demand for their services.

The boom time of the 1980s legal market is now gone, probably forever. Besides a general downturn in the economy, the rising cost of legal services has caused many businesses and individuals to try to avoid hiring lawyers whenever possible. Many corporations are restricting the amount of work assigned to outside lawyers by having more of their legal work done by in-house staffs. Large corporations have also started closely monitoring their monthly legal bills in an attempt to prevent their outside attorneys from undertaking and charging for all but the most essential legal tasks. The sharp and continual increase in the number of practicing attorneys has resulted in fierce competition for legal clients and less work for the average attorney. At the same time, constantly shrinking budgets have significantly cut the ability of numerous city, state, and federal agencies to prosecute or defend against legal actions. Not surprisingly, the demand for law students and recent law school graduates is noticeably lower than in the past.


Because of these new economic realities, law students now need to plan more carefully their job searches during and after law school. The days when an average law student could simply walk into her placement office, sign up for and attend a couple of interviews, and walk away with a good job are over. This chapter therefore focuses on ways you can increase the odds of finding legal employment in todays tough job market. It begins by setting forth general job-hunting tips for finding legal work throughout law school and upon graduation. Subsequently, specific guidelines and considerations pertinent to looking for work after your first, second, and third years of law school are discussed in detail. Working part time during law school is also discussed in this article.

Believe in Yourself

As the old saying goes, if you do not believe in yourself, no one else will. Looking for a legal job, like any other, can be frustrating and humbling, especially in today's tight job market. Some jobs that you really want, you will not get. You need, however, to maintain a positive attitude during your job search and continue on with the hunt in an aggressive and confident fashion.

In summary, though you need to try to get the best grades possible throughout law school to increase your marketability, numerous other ways exist to help you distinguish your resume from those of your peers. You should, however, be careful not to pursue too many of these other options since almost all legal employers are generally more impressed by the quality of your credentials than by their quantity.