Additional Job Hunting Resources For Paralegals

Networking Your Way To A Job - The Hidden Job Market

It’s a well-known secret. Everyone talks about it: job seekers, job counselors, job placement directors, even those on the job. You’ll hear it over and over: “One of the most effective tools you’ll ever have is your network.”


That’s all very well and good if you’ve been in the field for a while, but what if you’re just starting out? How do you get a network, and how do you use it?

Probably eight out of every ten good paralegal positions never make it to the newspapers. Those eight positions are filled by word of mouth, proving that time-honored saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It’s necessary, in this regard, to understand the workplace: Who will have knowledge before your supervisors that you are planning to leave your position? Your friends at the job, of course. When talking with other paralegals, remember: they have knowledge before the firm does that their friend or colleague may be leaving. They will know about openings long before the firm’s hiring authorities get a glimmer that there’s an upcoming vacancy.

Tapping into that hidden job market takes time, patience, and hard work. The first thing you have to do is meet working paralegals and attorneys. The next step is to earn those people’s trust and respect. The final step is to let them know you’re in the market for a job.

Probably the easiest way to meet working paralegals is to join and become involved in a paralegal association. Inquire at your paralegal school or local bar association to see if there is a local paralegal association, or a chapter of a state association in or near the city where you live. If none exists, how about starting one? What a great way to meet other colleagues!

Once you join the association, you will begin receiving its newsletter, which often contains a job bank or other such member service listing available positions in the immediate area. The newsletter will inform you of any membership meetings coming up. Begin attending the meetings and introducing yourself to people. Become a familiar face. Volunteer to work on committees. Paralegal associations are always looking for people to help plan meetings, prepare the newsletter, take care of membership enrollment tasks, or serve as a board member or officer. Another possibility is to offer to assist with pro bono projects. Pro bono publico is work done by those in the legal profession on a voluntary basis for members of the community who cannot afford to pay for it. Such work could include tasks like helping a women’s shelter or domestic violence clinic prepare temporary restraining orders, or helping a senior citizen’s home field elder law questions. The point of volunteering to work with the paralegals on these chores (other than, of course, the good feeling you get when you help those less fortunate) is to get to know them better and to let them see the caliber and quality of your work. Many associations also have a yearly “Paralegal Day” where there is some sort of community gathering. Here’s another great way to meet the right people.

When a position opens up in the office next to them, these paralegals will think first about mentioning it to the person they have seen work so hard on one of their committees, not to a complete stranger. A side benefit of being involved in a paralegal association is the valuable skills you will learn running and being part of a professional organization.

If there is no paralegal association near you, contact your local bar association. Bar associations sometimes offer associate membership to paralegals and may allow them to attend meetings. It may be a little bit more difficult to get to know lawyers on this basis, so your best bet is to learn if the bar association has any pro bono activities that you could be invited to join. Many projects can be done by a paralegal-attorney team, such as visiting local high schools on career days. The important thing is to get teamed up with an attorney so that you can begin working with someone who may be a potential employer or who could recommend you to one of his or her friends.

And don’t overlook the in-house corporate counsel. They have their own association called the American Corporate Counsel Association (ACCA). You can reach them in Washington, D.C. at (202) 293-4103, 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5425 or online at www.acca.com, to find out the nearest local chapter to you. If they won’t let you into the meetings, they probably won’t protest too loudly to anyone attending their local or national seminars.

Another great networking resource revolves around your old classmates at paralegal school. If you are an experienced paralegal and lost touch with your classmates, contact your school to see how you might reach some of them.

For recent graduates, some of your classmates may have been hired by a firm they interned with. Some of them may have been legal secretaries who were promoted to paralegals upon graduation. Once those people are established, they may remember someone who was a good student and let you know about any new openings where they are working. Keep in touch with them.

Other key links in your networking chain are your instructors at the paralegal program where you graduated. Many instructors are adjunct faculty members who are actually practicing lawyers or paralegals. Approach any of the instructors who gave you a good grade about their advice on landing a position. If they are not in the market for a new employee, they may have a friend who is. Self-promotion does not come naturally to most people, but in this competitive job market, you have to make the most out of each contact.

Your paralegal school itself may have placement services for its graduates. If it doesn’t, there is always an “informal” placement service existing. Many of the lawyers in the vicinity know the director of the program, and may call him or her to inquire after a promising student to fill a new position at their firms. Make sure your program director knows you are looking for a job and knows where to reach you after you graduate. More than one paralegal has gotten a job that way.

Seminars

Another great way to meet folks is at seminars and not just ones geared toward paralegals. Try attending seminars for attorneys, administrators, litigation support staff, MIS staff, records managers, calendar and docket staff, and librarians any personnel that will have direct contact with paralegals or are actually the hiring authority. Nothing is better than to meet someone in an informal setting and do a little “bonding.” You can let them know right then and there that you are seeking a paralegal position. (Be sure to have business cards or even your resume with you.) Or you might give them a ring later and find out who the hiring authority is in their firm. Remember, you’ve already broken the ice.

Another trick is to send the seminar leaders a letter or to talk with them after the seminar (time permitting). They may come from a firm or in- house legal department or be vendors who are in amongst the hiring authorities. It’s a safe assumption that they’re pretty well connected, or they wouldn’t have been asked to speak. They must know someone in law firms.

Print Media

The next most common way to find a paralegal position is in one of the various newspapers, trade journals, trade papers, or other publications that contain job listings. The first thing that will come to mind, of course, is your local general circulation newspaper’s classified ads. These will usually list openings under “legal assistant” or “paralegal” or perhaps “attorney assistant.”

Many larger cities or regions have a legal or business newspaper that is specifically geared toward the legal profession. For example, there is The Daily Journal in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the state of Washington. Washington, D.C., has the prestigious Legal Times. We enjoy publications such as The Daily Journal because of its interesting people-oriented articles in its weekly California Law and Business section.

These newspapers often list lawsuits that have been filed and bankruptcy filings. They will publish fictitious business name filings, default notices, and other legal notices. Along with these services, many of these newspapers contain classified sections that list openings for attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries. If you are not sure whether such a legal newspaper exists in your area, check the yellow pages in the telephone book or call a law office and ask someone there. Your local library may subscribe to the paper and keep recent copies there for your review.

Local and state bar associations typically publish newsletters or journals. Usually these are only put out once a month, so any job information in them may be somewhat stale. You may be able to find such publications at a law library in your area.

If you are not limiting your job hunt to your immediate area, another source of potential positions are some of the national trade publications. Following is a listing:

ABA Journal
750 N. Lake Shore
Chicago, IL 60611 (800) 285-2221
www.abanet.org/

This is a monthly journal published by the American Bar Association.

National Law Journal 345
Park Avenue South New York,
NY 10010 (212) 779-9200 www.nlj.com

This is a weekly newspaper. Its classified section, Law Journal Extra, contains on-line job listings at www.lawjob.com

Lawyers Weekly 41 West Street
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 451-7300
www.lawyersweekly.com

The American Lawyer
600 Third Avenue, Second Floor
New York, NY 10016
(212) 973-2810
www.americanlawyer.com
A very slick monthly magazine focusing on hard journalism, people profiles, and big cases.

Trial
1050 31st Street, NW Washington,
D.C. 20007 (800) 424-2725
www.atlanet.org
This magazine is published by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. It has its own job listings at www.atlanet.org/jobbank/openings.html

Corporate Legal Times 656 W.
Randolph St. #500 Chicago,
111. 60661 (312) 654-3500
A slick tabloid geared toward in-house counsel.

Law Technology Products News It’s FREE! http://www.ltpn.com
345 Park Avenue South New York,
NY 10010 Fax to (212) 696-1845 to receive a free subscription.

A tabloid with everything you need to know about information technology software and hardware. Mostly filled with press releases from software companies, this publication will give you the latest information on what’s new with technology in the legal field.

Legal Assistant Today
James Publishing 3505 Cadillac Avenue,
Suite H Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (800)
394-2626
Just the very best in paralegal information. Of course, the fact that two of this book’s authors are regular writers for the magazine helps.

Facts & Findings
National Association of Legal
Assistants
1516 South Boston, Suite 2000 Tulsa,
OK 74119 (918) 587-6828

Quarterly journal of National Association of Legal Assistants.

National Paralegal Reporter
National Federation of Paralegal
Associations
P.O. Box 33108
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 941-4000

Published five times per year by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

The Paralegal Educator The Newsletter for The American Association for Paralegal Education
2965 Flowers Road South,
Suite 105
Atlanta, GA 30341 (770) 452-9877
Published three times per year by the American Association for Paralegal Education.

The Health Lawyer American Bar Association,
Publication Orders P.O. Box 10892 Chicago,
IL 60610 (800) 285-2221

A periodical published by the ABA Health Law Section. $40 per year.

American Bar Association 750
N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago,
IL 60611 (312) 988-5522

Many of the special interest sections publish periodic newsletters and journals. Order the ABA Publications Catalogue, which lists hundreds of books, magazines, newsletters, and pamphlets for $5.95, including shipping.

Association of Legal
Administrators
175 East Hawthorn Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(847) 816-1212

Publishes a journal, and newsletter in alternating months, both include classified employment opportunities. Also publishes an annual directory for members only and a very comprehensive salary survey. Membership is $200 annually. Maintains a 24-hour job bank for members.

Legal Assistant Management Association
2965 Flowers Rd. So. #105 Atlanta,
GA 30341 (770) 457-7746
www./amanet.org

Publishes a quarterly newsletter containing employment opportunities, which is available to nonmembers for $45 annually.

Law Office Computing James Publishing 3505
Cadillac Ave. Suite H Costa Mesa,
CA 92626 (800)394-2626
www.lawofficecomputing.com

A wonderful magazine with all the latest technology for the legal field. A hands-on resource that legal professionals depend on!

Use your creativity when making use of these publications. The American Lawyer hosts a section called “Big Suits” and “Big Deals” by region. Fire off a cover letter along with your resume to the law firms involved, addressing how you read about the suit. Now’s the time to inquire whether they can use a paralegal with your excellent blank blank skills to assist them in that suit or deal. Read these directories and trade publications creatively. They can give you a solid information base of who’s who and what’s what in the industry and keep you current in the field.

Look at the stories for hidden information on employment opportunities. For example, if you read about Merrill v. Jones & Jones and guess that this may be a huge case, you may contact either side to see if they can use a paralegal with your skills. Unlike the contents of more general business magazines such as Business Week or Forbes, trade publications can give you specific information.

Pay special attention to the “People on the Move” or “People in the News” columns. Drop a note congratulating the new promotee and see if there isn’t something you can tie in about your background, perhaps the same college, hometown, or even associations. Briefly mention you are job searching.

Also look at the “Special Events” column. Are there seminars, events, or trade shows coming up that you might attend in order to network? Here is a perfect opportunity to work that room.

Don’t forget a very important employer of paralegals seeking alternative careers: vendors. Being a vendor does not necessarily mean you wind up in sales (although sales can be a very lucrative position!). It may mean a position as corporate secretary, research and development, software training, deposition services, marketing and public relations, technical writer, trial support, data conversion, document processing, consulting, real estate services, information technology services, or recruiter, to name a few. And don’t put down vendors, as is the case with many people in the law firm. Let’s just name a few “vendors”: IBM; Xerox; Prentice-Hall; LEXIS-NEXIS; West Publishing Group; Pitney Bowes; Hildebrant (consultants to law firms); PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Thompson & Thompson (trademark search); The Estrin Organization; Microsoft.

Legal And Other Directories

Legal directories list attorneys and law firms by city and state. These directories give a great deal of information about the firms, including the address and phone number of the firm, names and biographical data of the attorneys in the firm, a description of the types of law the firm practices, a list of the cities where the firm has offices, and a list of representative clients. Directories like these are useful. First of all, if you learn of an opening at a particular firm, you can do a little preliminary research to see if it is a place where you would be interested in working. Another use for legal directories is for blind mailings (see the following). Keep in mind that firms must pay a fee to be included in these books. Therefore, you will not find every attorney and firm listed. The local law library in your area should have one or more of the directories listed below.

Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

This is the granddad of all legal directories, published since 1868. The volumes contain more than 900,000 lawyers, firms, and corporate law departments. The corporate section contains profiles of the companies listed, and a list of the attorneys and their titles. Many of the corporations have a “legal support personnel” listing that gives brief biographical information on the paralegals who work there, their education, and areas of responsibility. If you are interested in working as an in-house paralegal for a corporation, this would be a good place to check to see if the company employs paralegals. Martindale-Hubbell’s Web site can be found at www.martindale.com.

Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters

This directory, published since 1928 by A.M. Best Company, is targeted to insurance companies seeking counsel to represent their insured’s. The law firms listed in this directory specialize in insurance defense litigation. Listings are similar to those found in Martindale-Hubbell.

Directory of Corporate Counsel
This legal directory is similar to Martindale-Hubbell’s corporate law department section. Published by Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, it lists attorneys who are in-house counsel for various corporations.

Standard and Poor’s Corporate Records
Boasting the top corporations in the country, this directory is chock full of valuable information, including tidbits on the legal department.

Million Dollar Directory
Published by Dun and Bradstreet, this publication lists substantial corporations throughout the United States.

Local Business Journals Book of Lists
The Business Journal in most cities publishes a yearly Book of Lists, which includes the top 50 or 100 law firms in the city or state, along with the Managing Partner or Executive Director. It will also list large corporations in various specialties, such as the largest banks, insurance companies, hospitals, real estate companies, investment bankers, health care companies, and more. Many of those companies have legal departments. Get on the phone and find out!

Parker’s Directory
California has a directory that lists all the firms in the state by region, along with address, phone, and fax numbers. Most other states have similar directories.

Parker Directory
121 Chanlon Rd.
New Providence,
NJ 07974 (800) 323-4958

Yellow Books
A series of fourteen directories of law firms, corporations, news media, associations, not-for-profit organizations, financial organizations, and federal, state, and other entities. These handy directories tell you who’s who in the management of leading corporations, law firms, and other entities you’ll need to research.

Leadership Directories
104 Fifth Avenue New York,
NY 10011 (212) 627-4140

Directory of Leading Private Companies
Reed Reference Publishing 121
Chanlon Road New Providence,
N1 07974 (800) 323-6772

Moody’s Industrial Manual
A listing of about 3,000 publicly traded companies.
Moody’s Investor Service 99
Church Street New York,
NY 10007 (212) 533-0300

Thomas Register of American Manufacturers
A twelve-volume directory that lists almost all U.S. manufacturers—both privately held and publicly traded.
Thomas Publishing Co.
1 Pennsylvania Plaza New York,
NY 10119 (212) 695-0500

Directory of Legal Employers
A list of more than 1,000 private, government, and not-for-profit legal employers released annually by the National Association for Law Placement. Available in most law school career services offices or for $49.95 from the publisher.
Harcourt Brace (800) 787-8717

Law and Legal Information Directory
Descriptions and contact information for more than 30,000 law-related institutions, services, and facilities, including bar associations, court systems, law schools, legal periodicals, public defender offices, and more.
Gale Research 835
Penobscot Bldg.
Detroit, MI 48226-4094 (800)
877-Gale

Dun’s Directory of Service Companies
A comprehensive guide to service industries, including accounting, legal, research, motion picture, recreational, management consulting, engineering, and architecture services.

Dun’s Marketing Services 3
Sylvan Way Parsippany,
NJ 07054 (800) 526-0651

American’s Corporate Families and International Affiliates
More than 1,700 U.S. companies and their 13,000 foreign subsidiaries as well as 6,000 U.S. subsidiaries of international companies.

Dun’s Marketing Services 3
Sylvan Way Parsippany,
NJ 07054 (800) 526-0651

Directory of Corporate Affiliations
Divisions and subsidiaries of 4,000+ companies. You’ll also get the names of officers at the divisions and subsidiaries.
Reed Reference Publishing 21
Chanlon Road New Providence,
NJ 07974 (800) 323-6772

Dun’s Career Guide
Another of Dun’s guides, here is a listing of employers by state. One problem with this guide, however, is that it is overly general and may not get you to the legal department.

Dun and Bradstreet Reference Book of Corporate Management
Covering executive bios, from the vice president level on up, this guide offers nice intelligence to be used in your cover letter or interview.

Dun’s Marketing Services 3
Sylvan Way Parsippany,
NJ 07054 (800) 526-0651

Source Directory
A great listing of publications technical, financial, business, and trade.

Predicasts 1101 Cedar
Avenue Cleveland, OH
44106 (216) 633-2938

Standard Periodical Directory
More than 85,000 publications in the United States and Canada

Oxbridge Communications 150
Fifth Avenue, Suite 302 New
York, NY 10011 (212) 633-2938

Wall Street Journal
We’ve never really seen an ad for a paralegal here; however, we’ve seen plenty of ads for in-house counsel and attorneys for institutions. Chances are, if they need attorneys, they may need a paralegal. It also has great job hunting articles and right-on-point articles about staffing trends.

Wall Street Journal 200
Liberty Street New York,
NY 10281 (212) 461-2000

Use local newspapers to help you with your job hunt. Find out from your paralegal network whether your region prefers to advertise in a legal trade newspaper or the local city newspaper or both. Remember to think creatively and review articles looking for hidden opportunities. If you are thinking about relocating, go to the nearest newsstand or get on the World Wide Web and research newspapers from the areas of the country you’re thinking about.

To find the names of out-of-state newspaper and business publications, check
Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media
Gale Research, Inc.
835 Penobscot Building
Detroit, MI 48226-4094 (800)
877-GALE

This directory is available at many libraries.

If you are seeking an alternative career outside the legal field, you may want to check a directory on trade associations and start there.

National Trade and Professional Associations

Columbia Books
1212 New York Avenue, NW
Suite 330
Washington, DC 20005 (202)898-0662

National Association for Law Placement
An organization of legal employers and bar associations engaged in the recruitment and placement of lawyers. Where lawyers are hired, so shall paralegals follow.

1666 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 325
Washington, DC 20009 (202) 667-1666

Encyclopedia of Associations
More than 23,000 associations in the United States listed in seventeen categories, including trade, commercial and business, legal, government, public administration, military, and educational. Excellent resource for those paralegals seeking alternative careers.

Gale Research
835 Penobscot Bldg.
Detroit, MI 48226-4094
(800) 877-GALE

Blind Mailings
Many paralegals have gotten jobs by simply mailing their resumes and cover letters to target firms. This is probably the only place in this book where you will find us allowing that a certain element of luck is involved (we place great emphasis on skill and perseverance). Your resume must hit the personnel manager’s desk at exactly the right moment. That right moment is within a day or two of (1) a firm paralegal’s giving notice; (2) a firm paralegal’s having been fired; or (3) the firm’s decision to create a new paralegal position.

Your best resource for doing such a blind mailing is one of the legal directories, such as Martindale-Hubbell. Peruse the listings in the city or cities where you are interested in working and find firms that practice the kind of law you would like to try. Send your resume and cover letter to those firms, addressed to the attention of the personnel manager. It is an extra nice touch if you call the firm first and obtain the name of the personnel manager or hiring attorney, so that the letter can be addressed specifically to that person. If nothing else, it shows that you are doing your homework!

Articles By And About The Firm Or Corporation
Read, read, read! By scanning the legal trade publications and your local newspaper, you will spot articles about firms, in-house legal departments, and individuals. Appeal to the ego. Let’s say the New York Times wrote an article on John James, an attorney with White, Brown 8c Green regarding the fantastic settlement he obtained for the Voirdire Corporation regarding a copyright infringement matter. And, because you just happened to have a background in litigation, intellectual property, or publishing, you send Mr. James a letter congratulating him on his victory. Mention your background and include your resume. Be sure to sell the features and benefits as to why your background fits into his practice specialty. Point out why he needs you: in order to continue his wonderful success! Now is not the time to be shy.

The Old Boys And Girls Network
Everyone is kind to his or her fellow alumni. While you are researching Martindale-Hubbell and other directories mentioned previously, be sure to look for schools attended by lawyers. Every time you see someone from your alma mater, mention it in your cover letter to that person. Usually, these resumes will get handled, some even get special attention. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but boy, it sure does work!

American Society Of Corporate Secretaries, Inc.
For those experienced paralegals in corporate law, a bump up to corporate secretary in a corporation is a natural career path. The 1995 salary survey conducted by the ASCS showed salaries between $60,000 and $120,000 per year. While 60 percent of those surveyed were attorneys, the remaining 40 percent are non lawyers such as yourself. Contact the association at

521 Fifth Avenue, New York,
New York 10175, or
Call (212) 681-2000.

American Staffing Association
This granddaddy of staffing organizations can assist you in locating a full time or temporary staffing organization that specializes in the legal field. Located in Alexandria, Virginia, they can be reached at (703) 549-6287. Call and ask for the membership directory services.

Alternative Careers
Not all paralegal jobs have the paralegal title. Yet, by reading the job description or recruiting ad, you may discover that the position calls for paralegal skills. These jobs can be found through the normal channels of job searching. However, you’ll need to have your investigator’s hat on and be well versed with just what paralegals do in order to spot an opportunity. Alternative careers are great for experienced paralegals seeking something different from a traditional law firm or in-house legal department position. These positions are also very suitable for paralegals just completing their certificates.

One good way to find alternative careers is to just read the Sunday classified section of your newspaper. Read each and every ad. Look for jobs that require paralegal skills. Some will ask for contract administration background, real estate background, negotiating skills, research, fact-finding, or knowledge of legal terminology. Here are just a few of the careers found in alternative titles:

• Contracts Administrator
• Policy Managers
• Litigation Support Managers
• Documentation Specialists
• Legislative Analysts
• Financial Services Paralegals
• Regulatory Analysts
• Legal Analysts
• Compliance Officer
• Internet Research Specialist

Sounds like paralegal jobs to us.

Sample Advertisements

Trademark Administrator
We are looking for a take-charge individual who can work equally well independently and in a team environment, someone with strong interpersonal skills who can confidently interact with others at all levels. Responsibilities include planning, administering, coordinating, and implementing administrative processes and projects relating to trademark searches, registrations, renewals, agreements, investigations, and litigation activities. This includes adherence to company guidelines, protection of company interests, and identification of, and compliance with, common-law rights, and foreign, local, state, and federal regulations.

A college degree and at least 3 years’ domestic and foreign trademark registration and prosecution experience required. Excellent writing and administrative/organizational skills with attention to detail are essential. Must be computer literate with strong database management skills.

Supervisor, Retail Contracts
XYZ Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, has an opportunity for a Supervisor, Retail Contracts. This position will be responsible for review and coordination of convenience store and retail gas station real estate contracts as well as assisting with branded concept agreements in retail marketing. Close coordination is involved with in-house and outside counsel as well as retail operations management. Candidates should have four or more years’ experience in review of commercial real estate contracts, financing issues, and retail contract agreements. Some experience with mortgage and loan processing would be helpful as well as some supervisory experience. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred in Business or a related discipline. We offer competitive salaries as well as comprehensive benefits, including a 401 (k) savings plan.

Licensing Coordinator
ABC Books Worldwide, a leading computer and trade publisher known for best-selling book brands, seeks an experienced professional to assist our Manager of Legal Services with our growing licensing activities. You will be responsible for handling requests for permission to excerpt from our books, including researching all permissions issues, interfacing with the various departments involved in the process, and following up to assure compliance. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience with granting permissions and good knowledge of copyright issues. Qualified candidates must possess computer database experience, excellent organization, writing, and interpersonal skills, with strong computer skills.

Paralegal/Research Specialist
San Francisco: Paralegal/Research Specialist at private company. Small, 20-year-old firm provides expert witness services to personal injury and employment law attorneys. Duties include assisting expert in working up cases, conducting on-line and phone research, reviewing/ summarizing documents, writing reports. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year of experience. Excellent oral/written English skills, analytical/critical thinking skills. Proficient in WordPerfect 6.1 or higher, experience using database programs.

A very good book on alternative careers for paralegals is “Life Outside the Law Firm: Non-traditional Careers for Paralegals” by Karen Treffinger (Delmar 1995). In it, Ms. Treffinger interviews paralegals with very absorbing and rewarding careers. For those of you open to expanding the role of paralegals, we suggest you check it out.

On-Line Job Hunting
The newest way to search for a position is over the Internet. Many head hunters and legal staffing companies, attorney and paralegal associations, government agencies, and corporations advertise openings via the World Wide Web. Even large law firms post openings on their Web sites. The rewards for this for these employers is that they are getting job applicants who are already computer literate. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be surfing the net!

Web-Based Job Databases
The top six job boards, according to the latest data from www.100hot.com (a group that measures the popularity of various Internet services), are the following:

1. Monster Board (www.monster.com)
2. Headhunter (www.headhunter.net)
3. Online Career Center (www.occ.com)
4. Career Path (www.careerpath.com)
5. hotjobs.com
6. jobbankusa.com

Legal Employment Sites (selected at random)

1. The Estrin Organization (www.estrin.com)
2. Law Mart (www.textlaw. com)
3. Attorneys@work legal jobs (www.attorneysatwork.com)
4. Cal Law Legal Classified Index (www.callaw.com)
5. Lawyer’s Weekly Classifieds (www.lawweekly.com)
6. Law Journal Extra! Law Employment Center (www.lawjobs.com)
7. Nationjob Network Legal Listings (www.nationjob.com/legal)
8. Paralegal Classifieds (www.paralegal-jobs.com)
9. The National Association of Legal Secretaries Job Bank (www.nals.org/bank)
10. NALA (National Association for Legal Assistants): www.nala.org. NALA has a career center. (See articles by the authors on this Web site.)
11. eattorney.com
12. legalstaff.com
13. Lamanet.org
14. lawinfo.com
15. TexLaw Career Resource Center: Paralegal jobs in Texas (www.texlaw.com)
16. U.S. Justice Dept. Employment (www.usdoj.gov)
17. Legal Employment Search Site (www.legalemploy.com)
18. Commonwealth Employment Opportunities Jobs in Massachusetts (www.state.ma.us)
19. Federal Trade Commission Jobs (ftc.gov/ftc/personnel/jobs.htm)
20. Directory of Legal Recruiters, Legal Recruiters in California (www.callaw.com)
21. Employment opportunities with Kia (www.kia.com/employ)
22. Book of U.S. Government Jobs (www.federaljobs.net)
23. BestSFjobs, Jobs in San Francisco (www.bestsfjobs.com)
24. Findlaw.com