Life As An Associate

[Burning Sands, Esq.]

LOL

Well they definitely have their pick of the litter if they want us.  Although I don't know too many people who are taking the public interest route even after being laid off.  Especially with Manhattan rent.

[LittleRussianPrincess, Esq.]

I read somewhere that all these laid off associates are applying for "public interest" work now. Which had me thinking, if I was some non profit organization would I take one of these laid off associates over the other law students who wanted to do public interest law since the day they left law school?

I am not saying these laid of associates are bad people or anything like that. Just in general, how do you guys feel about situations like that?

Me, personally, if I was some hiring person in public interest field I will probably tell these associates kind of like that Mike Jones song "Back then they didnt want me now Im hot they all on me!!" kind of deal!!

These associates, despite all their accolades are hardly shoo-ins at public interest orgs for the very reasons you outlined. Public interest orgs want people who are dedicated to the cause, and not those who are looking to ride out the recession for a year or so. There was an article on ATL about it recently, in fact.

[LittleRussianPrincess, Esq.]

LOL

Well they definitely have their pick of the litter if they want us.  Although I don't know too many people who are taking the public interest route even after being laid off.  Especially with Manhattan rent.

It's more common for grads of schools that have LRAP. Berkeley folks can get right back onto LRAP if they go into PI within 2 (maybe 3) years of graduation. Usually PIO's pay a living wage, so if you don't have loans to worry about, it might be a lifestyle downgrade, but better than nothing at all. There are so many of these laid-off associates, the market is flooded; I don't think most of them can afford to be picky.

[Burning Sands, Esq.]

LOL

Well they definitely have their pick of the litter if they want us.  Although I don't know too many people who are taking the public interest route even after being laid off.  Especially with Manhattan rent.

It's more common for grads of schools that have LRAP. Berkeley folks can get right back onto LRAP if they go into PI within 2 (maybe 3) years of graduation. Usually PIO's pay a living wage, so if you don't have loans to worry about, it might be a lifestyle downgrade, but better than nothing at all. There are so many of these laid-off associates, the market is flooded; I don't think most of them can afford to be picky.

The market is CRAZY flooded right now.

[Obama2]

I read somewhere that all these laid off associates are applying for "public interest" work now. Which had me thinking, if I was some non profit organization would I take one of these laid off associates over the other law students who wanted to do public interest law since the day they left law school?

I am not saying these laid of associates are bad people or anything like that. Just in general, how do you guys feel about situations like that?

Me, personally, if I was some hiring person in public interest field I will probably tell these associates kind of like that Mike Jones song "Back then they didnt want me now Im hot they all on me!!" kind of deal!!

These associates, despite all their accolades are hardly shoo-ins at public interest orgs for the very reasons you outlined. Public interest orgs want people who are dedicated to the cause, and not those who are looking to ride out the recession for a year or so. There was an article on ATL about it recently, in fact.

Well hope they saved up those big checks from the slave firm lol..I feel weird about starting law school this fall when the career is at its lowest point in a while..I read somewhere a partner stating that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. When do yall think things will even out again, at the latest?

[LittleRussianPrincess, Esq.]

I read somewhere that all these laid off associates are applying for "public interest" work now. Which had me thinking, if I was some non profit organization would I take one of these laid off associates over the other law students who wanted to do public interest law since the day they left law school?

I am not saying these laid of associates are bad people or anything like that. Just in general, how do you guys feel about situations like that?

Me, personally, if I was some hiring person in public interest field I will probably tell these associates kind of like that Mike Jones song "Back then they didnt want me now Im hot they all on me!!" kind of deal!!

These associates, despite all their accolades are hardly shoo-ins at public interest orgs for the very reasons you outlined. Public interest orgs want people who are dedicated to the cause, and not those who are looking to ride out the recession for a year or so. There was an article on ATL about it recently, in fact.

Well hope they saved up those big checks from the slave firm lol..I feel weird about starting law school this fall when the career is at its lowest point in a while..I read somewhere a partner stating that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. When do yall think things will even out again, at the latest?

I think things will start picking up late this year and coming back in a major way fall of 2010. My guess is that by the time you graduate, the market will more or less recover.

[cui bono?]

Imagine how those in business school are faring. :-/

I have friends that have had internships in places that no longer exist!

[LittleRussianPrincess, Esq.]

Imagine how those in business school are faring. :-/

I have friends that have had internships in places that no longer exist!

I actually think an MBA is more flexible. It's not like they HAVE to become investment bankers. Moreover, you have to accomplish something noteworthy professionally to get in in the first place. These are already people who have a skill set to make money before they go into the program. The same isn't true of most law students, who tend liberal arts degree holders who couldn't find a job that pays a living wage.

[Eugene Young]

Imagine how those in business school are faring. :-/

I have friends that have had internships in places that no longer exist!

I have friends that had jobs in places that no longer exist!

[cui bono?]

@ Eugene Young: sure that too.

@LittleRussianPrincess: yeah I think that speaks to the resilence of the people but technically a similar argument could be made for law students. Not everyone has to be a Big Law corporate attny. And anyone that made it through law school could do a number of other things with their JD.