“Choosing Small, Choosing Smart:
Job Search Strategies for Graduates”
A Webinar Special Presentation
American University
Washington College of Law
September 30, 2009
By Donna Gerson
The Rules Have Changed
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Greater emphasis on lateral hiring.
Compensation at some large firms will be rolled
back.
Lock-step promotion will be eliminated at some
large firms.
Fewer equity partners will be named.
Greater emphasis on practical skills.
Greater emphasis on client-getting as a new lawyer.
Professionalism is more important than ever before!
Definition of Small Firm
• Typically, “small firm” is defined as a
firm with 50 or fewer lawyers.
• This definition will vary by geographic
region.
• Branch offices of large firms are not, by
definition, small firms
Washington, D.C. Lawyer Statistics
The Lawyer Statistical Report, American Bar Foundation (2000)
Total D.C. lawyers: 50,914
State population/lawyer ratio: 11/1
Male: 66.4% Female: 33.6%
Median age: - 43 years old
Private practice: 47.5%
Solo practice: 20.3%
Small firm (2 – 50 lawyers): 21.3%
Federal government employment: 41.1%
Why work at a small firm?
• More responsibility early in one’s
career
• Use your entrepreneurial skills
• Promotion and compensation
Median Salary Information
Firms of 2-10 lawyers………..
$52,800
Firms of 11-25 lawyers……....
$65,000
Firms of 26-50 lawyers……...
$75,000
Salaries will vary by locale
Source: National Association for Law Placement Associate
Salary Survey (Class of 2007)
What do small firms seek?
• Experience
– Clinics
– Programs for academic credit
– Paid work
– Volunteer work
• A desire to work in a particular city or town
• Intelligence
• Bar passage
WHEN DO SMALL FIRMS HIRE?
• When the need arises
• The self-initiated job search
Narrow Your Search
• Limit yourself to no more than three
locations
• Why location matters
– Client-getting
– Retention
• Practice areas – creating parameters
Resources
• Directory of Small Firms
• Symplicity
• Public Interest Directory of private law
firms (by state and city)
– http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/o
pia/docs/guide-private-pi-firms.pdf
• Bar Association Directories
More Resources
• Federal Legal Employment Opportunities Guide
(NALP)
• Internet sites: Monster, Craigslist, Emplawyernet
• Directories of non-profit organizations
• Internet Searches
Martindale-Hubbell
LEXIS/NEXIS ® Searches
Reference – Martindale-Hubbell Listings, All
Terms and connectors
state (columbia) and firm-size < 50 and practice
(tax)
• There will be repeats, etc. in your list of search results.
• You may find solo practitioners.
• Martindale-Hubbell is not a complete directory of all
lawyers.
More on Martindale-Hubbell
• You can search by law school, college,
languages, zip code
Another example:
city (“new york”) and law-school (american)
and firm-size < 50 and practice (tax)
Networking
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Career Services Office
Law school professors
Former legal employers
Former employers generally
Family
Neighbors
Networking
• Friends
• Community and social organizations
• Bar associations (mandatory & voluntary)
– Committees, Divisions, Sections
• Law school alumni/ae associations
• College alumni/ae associations
• Online resources: LinkedIn.com, Facebook
Bar Associations
American Bar Association Law Student Division www.abanet.org/lsd.
Bar Association of the District of Columbia –
www.badc.org
Other state volunteer bar associations
Specialty and affinity bar associations
Contacting Small Firms
• Address to a specific person – never “Dear Sir
or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern”
(unless it’s a blind job posting)
• Emphasize what matters to small firms:
– Experience and skills
– Desire to work in a small firm
– Entrepreneurial skills
Dealing with Grades
• Selected Grades: Torts (A); Contracts (B+);
Civil Procedure (B+)
• Legal Research and Writing Grade: A
• Tax and Related Courses: Taxation (A); Federal
Tax Law Seminar (A-); Independent Study,
“Maryland Estate Tax Law” (A); Securities Law
(B+)
Follow Up:
Phone or e-mail within 5-7 business
days.
If you are not rejected…write again.
Interview Tips
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Respond promptly
Conduct research
Anticipate objections
Rehearse - Schedule a mock interview
Write a thank you promptly (within 24
hours)
Conclusion
• Small firms can be great places to work
• You will find a job but it will take time,
energy, and effort on your part
• Network, network, network!
• Partner with career services to get the
advice and coaching you need