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.
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.
