ADVERTISEMENTS

The letters were something I put off as long as possible. When I finally sat down to write them I was exhausted and emotional. I had to write out clearly and concisely what happened to me. Why I have no income. I wrote about law school, studying for the bar exam, going back to my old job for a small hourly wage, finding my first job and losing it. It was painful to write, bringing back memories of things I'd rather forget and leave behind. There on paper, in black and white were my shortcomings. There was no room to tell them about the hundreds of resumes I've sent out. There wasn't a box to check off that I've been deemed over-qualified to wait tables, answer phones or work in retail. There wasn't a small line to write in the look I get when I hand in my resume to a retail shop and they realize I'm a lawyer. An unemployed lawyer. I've told hiring stores I'm willing to work in the stock room and work the Friday and Saturday night shift. But there wasn't a spot for that in the letters I wrote either. 

This economy is trying and it hurts to be part of the statistics. I wasn't raised to borrow money or stay at home. During college I worked 2 to 3 jobs every summer to make enough money to have spending money during the school year. In law school I went to school full time and worked full time at BPLF, doing my homework in the office on the weekends and writing memos for work while in class. I was up and out the door early every morning, and often didn't come back in the door until after ten p.m., in a suit, dragging two huge bags with my work files and school books. 

I don't know how I got here. Writing letters explaining where I've failed. Staring at a blinking cursor, trying to figure out how to word "I have no money and no job...I get by on the kindness of my friends, the eloquent timing of sales and coupons, the generosity of my parents, and the love from my fiance." 

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.