The Recession

The Recession seems to be abating. Yay!(?) Not so fast.

The bar exam was about two weeks ago. Are newly minted J.D. holders optimistic about their chances of landing a job by the time their bar results come in this winter? Perhaps they'll find a job, but as a paralegal?

Weil Gotshal in Boston has famously (or infamously) posted a job for a paralegal. More surprisingly, this "great opportunity" was actually listed on law school simplicity databases.

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/cant_find_work_paralegal_for_weil.php

Reactions were mixed:

- The posting isn't such a problem. The fact that it was labeled "a great opportunity" is the part that is ridiculous.

- One year from now, don't be surprised if you see job postings for "custodial engineer" positions requiring a JD and an excellent academic record, law review preferred.

- People who get upset at this are ridiculous. It's a job posting. It's not great, but at least it's a job posting.

- So, people complain that career services doesn't do anything, people complain that career services posts sub-par jobs...tough crowd.

- Its not just a job posting.
It's a paralegal job posting.
It is a job posting that SHOULD be irrelevant to law school grads.
Just like it would be a joke if the employment office sent out job postings "specially" for law grads that advertised a great job logging in Alaska or as a plastic surgeon in Maine.
Those jobs SHOULD be irrelevant to would-be JDs.
All of those postings are a joke because they send the same message: we don't expect you to get hired as a LAWYER.


Oh wait, there's more. Do paralegals regularly engage in manual labor? From the job post: Involves some light lifting / moving of documents and document boxes - approx. 20lbs.

20 pounds isn't the end of the world. I'm sure some attorneys lug boxfuls of documents from time to time. Though, I don't recall it ever being mentioned even in run of the mill paralegal job descriptions. Depending on Weil's salary, there's a possibility the paralegal gig isn't a complete slap in the face.




Another fun job opportunity:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/lgl/1306898898.html

Internship for recent law grad. $15/hr, 35 hours a week. Half-paralegal work

Newly minted JDs probably do not qualify for unemployment; but if they did, they would be better off financially on unemployment!! How ridiculous.



Of course, nobody is putting a gun to your head. As one commenter from the Weil Gotshal thread commented: "If you don't want the job, you don't have to apply for it, but there's no reason to get upset when a job posting is available."

An article from the New York Times that I found interesting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/us/25students.html?_r=1&ref=education
In Recession, Optimistic College Graduates Turn Down Jobs.

"Some praise that approach... most seniors were not compelled by mortgages or other expenses to grab just any position at whatever salary is offered. To do so could haunt them later when the economy improves..."



But... if you aren't as relaxed about the unemployment situation, you could always sue your alma mater, right?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/03/new.york.jobless.graduate/index.html




As for the Philly coding market, I haven't heard much big news. Stradley is still going strong. MLB has been erratic. Throughout the month of July, there have been people on and off. Perhaps August will be more stable. No news about Pepper or Dechert, though I would think Dechert in 2 Logan is done. Surprisingly, McCarter is still limping along??

Good luck to everyone!! Enjoy the rest of the summer. :)