Practice Management

Not all that long ago I sat with recent law school graduate in court and just shot the bull while we waited for our case to be called.  She was on her second job in 18 months, and she was working for a bankruptcy and consumer law litigation boutique.  It represented an area of law with which she had no interest and it showed. 

Before that she worked briefly with an insurance defense law firm.  She had graduated near the top of her class from Texas Southern University / Thurgood Marshall School of Law, but she did not stop there.  She persevered and went on to obtain an LL.M. in International Law from a prestigious law school.  Her parents had been diplomats and she spoke several languages.

Despite all of this she told me that she just could not seem to convince a law firm in her preferred line of work to employ her.  Because of financial constraints, including student loans, she found herself settling into firms she did not like and into practice areas in which she had absolutely no interest.

Here was an exceedingly bright and energetic lady, who was extremely well educated, who knew exactly what she wanted to do, and could not find the right fit to make her happy.

I think that sometimes we have a problem as lawyers trying to find a perfect fit in what is really an off the rack law firm environment, and we get disillusioned.

This lawyer told me that she keeps sending out resumes and continues to search for the perfect job, but she has yet to find it.  I wished her the best of luck and suggest to her that maybe her next employer should possible be herself.  She discounted this idea, but I told her that it sounded like to me that she knew exactly what she wanted to do, she knew the people, groups and organizations it would take to succeed in her desired niche.  Besides, it only stood to reason that if she is looking for a perfect fit, that only her own law firm might provide this.

Her objection was the costs of such an undertaking.  Admittedly earnings are important, but my point was that it does not cost as much as she might think.  I asked her if many of her clients would be local.  She believed most would not.  So, I told her she could work out of your home.  I asked her if she already has broadband in her home, and she said yes.  I asked her if she had a computer, scanner, and printer at home, and she said yes.  So, my question was what more do you need except the same dedication that she has shown trying to find a job?

Ultimately, I do not think she took my advice, but I would like to suggest to you that if you are trying to find a more perfect fit in the legal world, then you might wish to avoid the off the rack law firms and try working for yourself.  You just might be you best employer.