In 2019, the legal industry was booming, having steadily grown 5% over the first nine months. The growth, mainly attributed to an increase in total hours worked and firms collecting on strong midyear inventory levels, was halted when the Coronavirus Pandemic erupted in mid March 2020. Many larger firms instituted cash-saving measures as early as April 3, 2020, to protect firm revenue and prevent mass layoff; however, by the end of April the legal industry cut roughly 64,000 jobs.
Many large firms halted summer associate hiring programs, and postponed postgraduate job offers in addition to mass layoffs, leaving thousands of recent graduates unemployed and in an overly saturated market.
While the pandemic grew, many tried to stay positive by holding out hope that the market would pick back up in a few months … because we can’t be in shutdown after labor day. Right? RIGHT?!
Wrong.
As many businesses (and the economy) are enduring their second shutdown of 2020, the legal market is shaky at best. Thomas Reuters indicated that many law firms are wrestling with “how to move forward, promote sustainability and continue to serve their clients.” The vast response has been to halt hiring and wait out the storm. Which means a lot of new(er) attorneys are jobless in an economy that doesn’t even offer service based work.
I, like many, found work in the service industry either waiting tables, or folding sweaters at the outlet mall when I was putting myself through school. When I quit my job in October 2020 (at the height of the pandemic) I discovered very quickly that I wouldn’t be able to hop back onto the foodservice bandwagon to cover my bills while I figured my life out. I was forced to get creative and find an alternative way to support myself and I realized that it’s not always easy, but it is possible.
While I don’t necessarily believe that law school teaches you how to be a lawyer, I can attest that it teaches you how to think like one and that is a valuable tool.
- Step 1: Don’t Panic, You Have Skillz
In my experience, many people cannot afford traditional legal services and seek ways to reduce legal fees as much as possible. This trend has created a new market for a la carte legal services which spurred various platforms for lawyers to find task based legal work. Two of the most used are Upwork and Law Clerk.
Upwork — is like the Etsy of the business world. The platform allows you to post or browse jobs based on your skill set. You simply create an account and get to work. This option is great if you don’t necessarily have a lot of experience as a licensed attorney, but to want gain experience with little risk — i.e. translating documents (if you speak a foreign language); transcribing notes and/or drafting simple documents for clients or fellow attorneys. Upwork is great if you want to gain some exposure to various legal fields without the stress and pressure of taking on a full time client.
Disclaimer — if you are practicing law, be sure to check your State’s local laws regarding malpractice insurance. Even if your state does not require malpractice insurance, I would strongly suggest you invest in a policy. You can find resources at the ABA. Side note ** Do not practice law without a license. That. Is. Bad.
Law Clerk — is similar to Upwork, but it is specifically designed for practicing attorneys. Lawyers who are seeking help, post projects for set fees and “clerks” apply and complete the projects. There is no haggling over price and payment is handled through the site. Additionally, the platform allows “clerks” to browse projects and apply based on comfort level. Each project is assigned a difficulty level between 1 & 4. Once you are selected and complete the job, you receive a review (which helps boost your profile) and payment. Oftentimes, law firms will repeat hire “clerks” for future projects.
Former Employers — Another option to consider is reaching out to former empoyees. If you are in the process of looking for a job, it may be beneficial to reach out to a former employer and ask if you can perform some contract work. (I did this and my former boss gave me a project that same day). Most lawyers, even in a global pandemic, can afford to farm out a project or two and I’ve found that if you’re honest about your situation, the experienced guys and gals are happy to help.
Document review — it may not be glamorous, but it pays well, is often remote and generally stress free. When I first became licensed I took a temp doc review position at Morgan Lewis in center city Philadelphia. The position paid between $28-32 per hour, had a kickass cafeteria and free coffee. It was the perfect job at that point in my life because it allowed me time to refocus my goals, apply for jobs, and put some money away. Not to mention, I made two very close friends. For most, document review is a transitional job and the best part is that everyone knows that. There are no hard feelings when you decide to move on — and that is refreshing.
- Step 2 — Relevancy is Key
Another huge piece of advice is to stay relevant. If you are a good public speaker, offer to speak at High School Mock Trial classes; volunteer with the local bar association; write articles for legal publications or volunteer with legal aid. When the YLD Liaison position for the Women in Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association became available, I didn’t apply. Instead, a fellow board member called me personally and asked that I put my name in the hat. He suggested that I would be perfect for the position because he knew how involved I was in the Montco Bar and with women’s issues.
Through that board position, I was able to further develop connections and advance my career. I was even asked to co-host a CLE on sexual assault in the workplace after other members read my article on the same topic. (CLE will launch in March 2021). Getting involved is, in my opinion, the best way to ensure future work stability.
- Step 3 — Fly Little Bird
Let me tell you a little secret … NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Like, seriously most of the time we are winging it.
ME, I SAID THAT.
One of the biggest deterrents for new and/or inexperienced attorneys is fear. Let me tell you a little secret … NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Like seriously, most of the time we are winging it. The legal field is fluid and always changing, which means how lawyers practice is constantly changing. You have to trust your gut and your education and just go for it – otherwise you will never learn how to do it (motions, complaints, etc.) and you’ll never perfect your practice.
So don’t be discouraged if you’ve never drafted a Motion for an Extension of Time. If you can find an example (aka Google), and know how to do some legal research, you’ll be fine.
Bottom line: If you lose your job during the pandemic, don’t panic. You have options as well as a unique skill set. The key is knowing how to apply those skills and to not allow yourself to run at the first hurdle.