ABA Section of Business Law
Meeting morsels
When you get the itch to change jobs
By Ray DeLong
So: Are you ready to continue working for your firm from now 'til you move south to one of those retirement communities?
No? You mean you think you might change law firms or work for a different company in-house?
If so, read on. The Business Law Section was thinking of you when it scheduled a couple sessions at its last Spring Meeting. The following comments are from two, related panels: "Changing teams: When is it time to make a lateral move?" and "Cool jobs for business lawyers and how to get them."
We'll do this in a Q&A format for the magazine, although that wasn't the way it was handled at the meeting.
Q: What method do most lawyers use when finding a new job?
A: "Only one in five job searches are made in the open market; the vast majority are made by networking." Kathy Morris, Chicago.
Q: Wait a minute. What about the Internet?
A: "Has anyone on the panel [at the "cool jobs" program] heard of anyone who got a job over the Internet?" Marsha Simms, New York City. No panelist had.
Q: If I'm ready to take that plunge, how would I know it for sure?
A: "You leave not because there's something wrong with your present employer. It's because you've changed your goals." Nellwyn Voorhies, San Diego.
Q: What happens to a pending matter when a lawyer changes firms?
A: "When in doubt, the client's interest rises to the top and the law firm's interest" is less important. Mary Cibella, Cleveland.
Q: I'm sure I want to go. How should I do that resume thing?
A: "Resumes that are just task lists are terrible. They should be more than informational; they should be persuasive — something that you made happen, that had an impact. . . . If you're applying at a law firm, you have to look at your business-development ability." Morris.
Q: So what's a cool job? How can I get one?
A: "When you see clients with cool jobs, ask them how they got where they are." Simms.
Q: If cool just means dot.coms, what are those folks looking for?
A: "When you look at that area, they want their lawyers to be young, but later they look for those with more experience — the gray hairs in their 30s." (chuckles from the audience) Simms.
Q: Hmm. How 'bout other cool fields? You know, like Hollywood lawyers?
A: "In-house jobs in the entertainment industry pay less than in other industries because the work is supposedly cool. You have to balance what you want." Nathan Siegel, Washington.
Q: Maybe I don't have stars in my eyes. Maybe I'm more of a homebody. That's it: I want to work out of my home. How about that?
A: "Most people want to know their lawyers, to see them. Not just talk to them on the phone." Simms. "Most people I know who telecommute do so after they've established a relationship with the client, company or firm." Siegel.
Q: OK. I'll stay in the firm — for now. But how do I make more money?
A: "The only way to get paid more in a law firm is to work more hours." Daniel Russo, Falls Church, Va.
Q: Uh, no comment.
DeLong is Editor of Business Law Today.
