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Informational Interview

Alma Mater set up an informational interview with a grad who also happens to be a Partner at a BigFirm in Boston. I could write about it, but I think I conveyed it all in a conversation with a friend of mine:

me: well, we're all screwed
friend: why?
me: I don't know, this attorney sounded like a poster on JD Underground. Super nice though. Really nice.
friend: I'm sure
me: he was like less mean-spirited but he was like, yeah we've grown as a company and our summer associate class has shrunk by 20%
friend: did he say why?
me: we rely on temps and we profit from it
friend: hahaha awesome I'm moving overseas, immediately
me: He says they do WAY more lateral hiring than when he got in, and he lucked out because the market was ripe and he lucked in on his position despite being a [Alma Mater] grad
friend: sounds great so did he give you any useful "advice"?
me: Says his firm only looks at resumes with the six Boston area schools and the top 20, basically not really any useful advice - said to go to business association events, basically meet people because I'll get my break through "luck"
friend: nice I love that "luck" angle
me: I think he was on the verge of telling me to look outside the law, but stopped
friend: it's super helpful wow really? what makes you think that?
me: I don't know, I think he realizes how hard it is out there and I might be able to make a better start for myself in another profession. but yeah, he said if I can get any kind of state or federal job, I should take it immediately
friend: Does he realize how much in loans you have to pay off?
me: I said, I have $100K in loans and growing... and he said it's either going to be "luck," meeting the right people or hitting someone at a time when they're looking for a licensed entry level or else building experience through other type of work and then lateralling in somewhere
friend: I'm sorry - are you doing ok?
me: I mean, I couldn't blame him! It was a realistic look at the market, and he wasn't bullshitting me at all.
friend: true
me: And he was really lighthearted about it all
friend: he can afford to be! but yeah, I know what you mean
me: And then of course, he turned to talk of Brown and how his kid wants to go there.
friend: that's nice
me: So of course, I gave him some scoop, but then I said, he's lucky his dad can pay for it, but as you can see, it isn't necessarily a good investment.
friend: hahaha awesome
me: but he wasn't taken aback, I wouldn't have said if I didn't think he was a straight-shooter
friend: of course, "his" kid would never end up like YOU, because he'll have connections through his father
me: and then I told him that firms are bankrupting me and his kids' future with their hiring practices that he just laid out for me
friend: wow what was his response?
me: "I think you're right. But hopefully the market will improve and we'll be able to be more hospitable to law graduates."
friend: bang head against wall
me: And then he told me that he thinks the law schools are just as accountable for "selling" a market that just isn't out there. And I wholeheartedly agreed. so yeah, I just hope one of these government positions pans out so that I can 1) do what I spent all that time and money supposedly preparing for, and 2) not have to rely on luck anymore

Full post as published by Wicked Words on May 02, 2008 (boomark / email).