Exploration of the Legal Job Market

Once you can articulate your strengths, skills, motives and goals, you need to find out who would be interested in the "product" you are selling.

Survey what is available in your area of interest in order to uncover what the market's needs are. Remember, do not be so narrowly focused that you can not see options outside of what you have been doing. Think about different ways to apply your skills. For example, if you are an intellectual property lawyer, consider computer companies, publishing companies, high tech businesses or entertainment enterprises. You may know enough about an industry to go into the business side. If you represent investment bankers, consider the financial services industry.

1. Identify people and organizations doing the type of work you want to do.
2. Understand how your skills can be used by those people and organizations.
3. Learn the "language" used in different job settings or alternative careers.
4. Design more thoughtful questions to ask of your contacts.
5. Bring a sense of structure and coherence to a chaotic job market.

Without research, you are placing your job search in the hands of chance. You would never think of risking a client's future to chance by representing him in front of an adversary without conducting proper research first. Likewise you should never represent yourself to potential employers without conducting proper research first. Even though there will be a lot of growth opportunities with small law firms in the nineties, identifying them will continue to present unique challenges for job seekers. Many small firms do not list in Martindale-Hubbell or produce corporate brochures or other marketing pieces, making research difficult.

In addition to using Lexis/Nexis or Westlaw to run searches by individual attorney names, consider using more creative approaches. For example, contact your law school's Alumni Office for a copy of the Alumni Directory. Successful sole practitioners and small organizations know that keeping in touch with their schools is good for business. Consider joining local bar associations as another way to meet people and see "who knows who." Also, don't forget to use the phone book!
This will help you add local practitioners to your contact list.

A visit to the public library can uncover a wealth of information. Most libraries are stocked with company directories and other reference books to help you learn about industries and develop target lists of organizations. You can also uncover information regarding salaries, work hours, the ability to develop clients and levels of practice in different localities.

Look for:

• Major Publications
• Encyclopedia of Associations Gale Research, Inc.
• Encyclopedia of Business Information
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• United States Industrial Outlook U.S. Department of Labor
• Legal Connection Data Financial Press
• David White and Associates Annual Attorney Salary Survey David J. White & Associates, Inc.
• National Business Employment Weekly DOW Jones and Company, Inc.
• Government/Public Interest Directories
• Congressional Quarterly's Federal Regulatory Directory Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
• United States Lawyers Reference Directory
• Congressional Yellow Book Leadership Directories Inc.

Legal Directories Publishing Company

Each volume lists specific state governments, its departments, addresses, executive officers, phone numbers, tax departments, court sections, bar sections and city county lists with city officials, addresses and telephone numbers. Also included are judges, their clerks, court recorders, county attorneys, county auditors, numbers and addresses for county and city jails and sheriffs departments.

Congressional Directory

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC Lists members of both the House and the Senate with brief biographical sketches of members, district descriptions, and also committee assignments. Also includes a list of executive departments, the main officers, and addresses and phone numbers of department offices. Another section includes information on governmental agencies, and the Judiciary. Includes maps of Congressional districts along with statistical information on these districts.

New York State Directory Walker's Western Research Inc.

Provides direct informational access to officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the New York State Government. Also included in this directory are Federal departments, agencies and members of Congress who play a role in defining State programs and policies. Any individuals in the private sector who may influence these areas are also included when the information is available and applicable. The key contacts to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the New York State Legislature and the judicial branch are also included with addresses and phone numbers. The 25 biggest policy areas are outlined along with information identifying contact agencies and state legislators who are involved in formulating and implementing government regulation in these areas.

Federal Law-Related Careers Federal Reports, Inc.

Lists law related careers in the federal government which include descriptions of duties and responsibilities, the number of current positions, federal grade levels, average annual salary, federal agencies employing people in that field and how to inquire about direct hire opportunities.

Federal Careers for Attorneys, Inc.

Contains detailed descriptions of the legal work and application requirements of several federal legal offices and cites the location of several regional/field offices.

Law Firms and Lawyer Directories

Martindale-Hubbell Reed Publishing

Consists of several volumes, separated into three main sections: Practice Profiles, Professional Biographies and Services, and Consultants.

NALP Directory of Legal Employers National Association for Law Placement

Includes statistical information such as areas of practice, size of organization, number of partners and associates, including ethnic and gender breakdowns, starting salaries and billable hours on several employers nationwide.

Leadership Directories Inc.

It focuses specifically on attorney and administrative personnel responsible for management and decision making policies. The law firms are listed alphabetically by name with addresses and communication information. General Information on each firm includes the year the firm was founded, the number of attorneys practicing, specific networks that the firm belongs to plus a brief practice description of the major practice area departments. There is a management section that lists information on the members of the firms major governing committees. The Administration section contains lists of chief administrators of the firms. The U.S. offices of the law firms are listed with their top management and administrative personnel, these are listed alphabetically by state and then by city. The listing also includes any subsidiaries or affiliates.

Who's Who in American Law Marquis Who's Who

Provides biographical information on approximately thousands of lawyers and law related professionals. Examples of information included are individual's education, career history, awards, memberships and areas of expertise or interest.
The American Bar: Reference Handbook Forster-Long, Inc.

This reference directory is divided into two sections: 1) an Individual Attorney Index and 2) Firm Name and Location Index. Each index is divided alphabetically by state and then by firm name. Information includes firm names, addresses, telephone numbers, members and location.

The Lawyer's Almanac Aspen Hall Law & Business

Includes a detailed list of the nation's largest law firms; which firms are growing; the firm's major practice areas and staff data.

Law and Legal Information Directory, Volumes I & II

Gale Research Inc.

Describes organizations, services, programs about the legal field and also directs reader to current facts and details in the legal field. The following are new areas that have been added to this edition: State Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies, Environmental Protection Offices, Banking Authorities, Food and Drug Agency Offices, Departments of Public Health and Housing, Commissioners of Insurance, OSHA, Education Department, Public Utility Commissions and Consumer Protection Offices; their addresses, telephone numbers and contact people are included. The Directory is divided into 40 sections which usually contain the name of the organization, phone number, addresses, officials and titles, any activities, publications and usually a brief description about the organization.

Directory of Environmental Attorneys Aspen Hall Law & Business

Arranged geographically and provides addresses, number of attorneys who practice in this area and the number of offices maintained by the organizations as well as individual attorney biographies. It also arranges information by the following indexes: Law School Alumni, Area of Concentration, Regulatory Agency Experience, Attorneys, and Firm/Organization.
Directory of Entertainment and Sports Attorneys Aspen Hall Law & Business

This book is arranged geographically and provides addresses, number of attorneys who practice in this area and the number of offices maintained by the organizations as well as individual attorney biographies. It also arranges information by the following indexes: Law School Alumni, Area of Concentration, Foreign Languages, Types of Clients, Attorneys, and
Firm/Organization.

Directory of Intellectual Property Attorneys Aspen Hall Law & Business

Arranged geographically, this directory provides addresses, number of attorneys who practice in this area and the number of offices maintained by the organizations as well as individual attorney biographies. It also arranges information by the following indexes: Law School Alumni, Special Knowledge, Foreign Languages, Attorneys and Patent Agents, and Firm/Organization.

Directory of Litigation Attorneys Aspen Hall Law & Business

Each volume is divided into five sections: Attorney Biographies, Firm Descriptions, Area of Concentration, Attorney Index, and Firm Index.

Directory of Bankruptcy Attorneys Thomas Redding & Associates

Arranged by State, each section begins with a map highlighting the Bankruptcy Clerks' office location and the other cities where the court meets. The biographies of the attorneys are listed under the city in which that attorney most frequently appears. Individual attorney and firm indexes are provided.

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Lists members of the association, their addresses and phone numbers. It also has a comprehensive list of committees, their purpose, members of the committee with addresses and phone numbers.

The Medical Malpractice Defense and Health Care Counsel Directory

This is a nationwide selection of law firms and attorneys with important background information included. Addresses and phone numbers as well as hourly rates and a list of representative clients are also included.

Lawyer's Register International by Specialties and Fields of Law Lawyer's Register Publishing Co.

This registry is a list of lawyers and law firms both across the country and internationally who represent themselves as certified or designated practitioners who specialize or concentrate their practices in one or more specified fields of law. The fields of specialty are listed alphabetically.

National Directory of Criminal Lawyers Gold Publishers

This directory was developed to be a source for evaluating the ability and commitment of criminal lawyers throughout the nation. It is divided into two categories. Lawyers were placed in Category I if they fulfilled the following criteria: 1) had been in practice a minimum of 10 years; 2) have developed an outstanding reputation and significant practice; 3) are able and willing to deliver competent legal representation; and 4) other lawyers polled would retain them if in need of a criminal defense attorney. Those placed in Category II have not necessarily developed a substantial practice or reputation, but because of outstanding ability and background, lawyers polled would retain them if in need of a criminal lawyer.

The American Bar: Lawyers of the World Forster-Long, Inc.

Each firm has a description of the nature of the practice, including individual biographies of firm members and representative clients. There is a firm history with the range of hourly rates for the firm. Any of the cities or towns named are followed by the population figures and county names.

Corporate Directories

Directory of Corporate Counsel Prentice Hall Law and Business

Companies are listed alphabetically by name, with attorney biographies following each listing. Indexes are provided by Attorneys, Geography, Corporation/ Organization, Subject Index to Non-Profit Organizations and Law School Alumni.

Judicial Directories

The National Directory of Courts of Law Informational Resources Press

Lists various court systems and the means to communicate with each court. The courts are listed in the reverse order of route of appeal and/or descending order of jurisdiction. The directory is broken down into the following four parts: Federal Courts; State Courts and the District of Columbia; Courts of Territories; and Courts of Native American Tribes.

Judicial Staff Directory Congressional Staff Directory, Ltd.

This directory is divided into seven major sections:

1. Federal Courts: The courts an: arranged by the circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Includes the names of the cities in which the court sits, the states within the courts jurisdiction and the addresses for the court. It also lists the members of the court in seniority order, plus the Court Staff is listed for each judge.
    
2. Department of Justice: Includes the executives and officers of the Department in hierarchical order with addresses and numbers.
    
3. Counties and Cities and their Circuits and Districts: Listed alphabetically by states all U.S. counties with their census counts and the circuits and districts in which they are located.
    
4. Maps of Court Jurisdiction.
    
5. Index of Judges: Each judge is listed alphabetically; by year of appointment and by appointing President.
    
6. Biographies of Judges and Staff: The biographies of federal judges arranged alphabetically.
    
7. Index of Individuals: Lists all the individuals named in the book alphabetically with page references.

The American Bench: Judges of the Nation Forster-Long, Inc.

This resource is divided into two sections: 1) Alphabetical Name Index-lists the names of judges, their titles, the courts the judges sit on and the states they serve. 2) The Structure of the Court Systems-Court outlines that include the judicial structure of each state listed alphabetically. This section also includes biographical data on each judge listed alphabetically under the state in which they serve.

BN A's Directory of State & Federal Courts, Judges and Clerks The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.

Court structures and the path of appeals are depicted by charts. Each court entry contains the name of the court, clerks, judges and geographic jurisdiction. The clerk section includes information on names, addresses and fax numbers. Judges are listed alphabetically, by seniority, court division or title. The directory also contains lists of Federal and State level administrators.

The Directory of Minority Judges in the United States American Bar Association

This directory is broken down into the following four sections African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Native American. Each section is then alphabetical by state, lists the total number of minority judges by state, gives the address and telephone number of each judge.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should be enough to get you started.

• See Top 10 Reasons Most Law Firms Have No Idea How to Hire and Evaluate Patent Attorneys for more information.