| Legal resumes have a short shelf life. They are like | | | | couple of years, this type of entry could have the |
| dairy products; you need to check their expiration | | | | opposite effect on a recently laid-off general counsel |
| date often. When does a legal resume expire? When | | | | or senior level attorney. This type of work will be |
| the date of your last position is a calendar year | | | | perceived as low-level, low-paying work, and rather |
| behind the times. In other words, if your last position | | | | than providing you with credit for being hardworking, |
| ended in November 2009, and you are finding | | | | it will make you appear desperate and lower your |
| yourself in calendar year 2010 without a new entry, | | | | profile. Sometimes you have to do what you have to |
| you can consider your legal resume to be stale and in | | | | do to pay the bills, but your legal resume need not |
| need of immediate attention. | | | | reflect that. |
| If you were recently laid off or have been out of | | | | The other option that many out-of-work attorneys |
| work for less than six months, potential employers | | | | take is to set up their own shop, and go solo. |
| will ask why you are out of work, but you will still be | | | | Recruiters view solo resumes as the "kiss of death." |
| considered for positions. If you have been out of | | | | Companies and law firms pay recruiters a premium to |
| work for more than six months, with nothing new on | | | | recruit what is perceived to be "creme de la creme" |
| the legal resume to show for, you will soon discover | | | | candidates, and solo practitioners do not fit that |
| that the job search has just gotten that much | | | | definition for the majority of employers. The bias |
| harder. Inevitably, employers will go from questioning | | | | against solos also stems from practice focus. Most |
| what happened with your last position, to why you | | | | solos specialize in practice areas like criminal law, real |
| are still out of work, why no one else has snatched | | | | estate closings, consumer bankruptcy, or family law |
| you yet, and what you have been doing with your | | | | that large firms and companies do not handle. While |
| time. | | | | attitudes are changing and going solo is seen less as |
| Time is a legal resume's worst enemy. The | | | | an act of desperation than as a willful act of |
| assumption is that there must be something wrong | | | | entrepreneurialism, these biases remain rather strong |
| with you, as your stale legal resume will be unwillingly | | | | and your solo experience will not help your candidacy |
| indicating. Employers have biased, and none as strong | | | | for another type of legal job when exposed on the |
| as "survival of the fittest." This is especially true in | | | | resume. |
| the legal industry. Whether right or wrong, the basic | | | | What is the solution to keep your legal resume from |
| assumption held by potential employers is that even | | | | going stale? If you have some transferable business, |
| under the worst possible economic conditions, | | | | consider cutting a deal with a law firm and taking on |
| companies and law firms hold on to the | | | | an of counsel position. This may mean working on an |
| best-of-the-best, and only layoff those the weakest. | | | | hourly basis, rather than receiving a salary, and |
| While some employers will give newly unemployed | | | | making other kinds of compromises. However, this |
| attorneys the benefit of the doubt - perhaps there | | | | will allow you to hitch your star to another firm, |
| was a mistake made, and a competitor will pick up | | | | refresh your legal resume, get back on a firm's |
| this person right away - that benefit will be short | | | | website, and look attractive to potential employers. |
| lived as soon as you pass the six-month mark. By | | | | If you are on assignment with a company either in a |
| then, the bias will become reality to some employers | | | | part-time or temporary basis, obtain permission from |
| who will conclude that there was something wrong | | | | the company to use their name rather than the |
| with you; otherwise you would have found a new | | | | staffing firm's name on your legal resume. This will |
| job relatively quickly, even in a bad economy. | | | | work best if you are working for one company, or |
| While you may not be able to fight the good fight | | | | on long-term assignments, doing high-level work. |
| against these biases, there are certain things you can | | | | Finally, think about volunteering with a prominent and |
| do to your legal resume to save it from going stale. | | | | recognizable non-profit organization, or well-known |
| First, let's look at what not to do to keep your legal | | | | political organization. This will be especially effective if |
| resume current. One strategy that is often used by | | | | you can demonstrate legal related work with these |
| out-of-work attorneys is to include a reference to | | | | entities. Whatever path you chose, do not let your |
| the part-time or contractual work they are currently | | | | job search completely take over your life. It is best |
| doing under the umbrella of a staffing firm. While that | | | | to try and find a position that keeps you active, and |
| might not be bad for an attorney that recently | | | | most importantly keeps your legal resume fresh. |
| graduated from law school or has been out for a | | | | |