Looking For Work

Today I'm spending quality time with Martindale, which is a lawyer directory. I'm trying to find all the firms here which have practice areas in which I'm interested. After about an hour and a half, I have come up with eight - count 'em, eight firms where I plan to send resumes tomorrow.

Only eight? I know, I can't believe it either. This is a pretty decently-sized metro area. There's just under 400,000 people who call it home. It amazes me that the legal community is so small, and that there are so few actual law firms. It seems that just about everyone else is a solo practitioner. This does appeal to me, quite a bit. I'd love to go into business for myself. The problem is that there's a fairly significant amount of cash required upfront. I don't have any money to get started. Hell, to get business cards printed, I'm going to have to ask for money. And won't it look bad to have a business card without a business address? I certainly don't want to list my home address on a card that will be handed out around town.

So I feel so stuck. Of course I'll make the calls tomorrow, get the names of the hiring managers, fine-tune my cover letters, and pray for the best. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a few interviews. I certainly hope so.

But if I'm on my own, well, I suppose I just jump in as best I can. Sink or swim. Whatever trite phrase fits.

I'm still having trouble answering the question, "What kind of law do you want to practice?" Well, it's a pretty simple answer. I want to practice immigration and tax law, and I have a long-term goal of having a practice that's dedicated to women's issues. But right now, to be honest, the answer to the question is, "Whatever kind of law will pay me."

I never thought it'd be THIS hard. And with this economy...