Backup, Backup, Backup!

Graduates and recently terminated attorneys, here's the sad fact: law jobs are scarce. More new graduates and recently terminated associates, find a dismal spot in the job search arena. Unfortunately, and despite the ABA's glossy outlook, fewer law firms are hiring. Many recent law grads take jobs as administrative assistants, waitresses/restaurant servers, or worse, just to pay their bills. 

The truth is, you need to have a backup plan that you can implement if, and when, you can't find "stable" employment.

The trouble with a backup plan, much like its electronic/IT counterpart, is coming up with the right tools and methods for implementing a stable and reliable system.

Your backup plan should answer the following questions:

1. If I [insert tragic event here: lost my job, couldn't find work after graduation, etc.], then I would do the following: [insert ordered list of possible career choices].
2. In order to work as a [insert first career choice from ordered list] I would need the following skills: [insert an ordered list of skills/training/knowledge]. Continue answering question 2 for each career choice.
3. I have experience in the following job-related areas: [insert ordered list of possible experiences].
4. I need to obtain the following skills if I am going to work as a [insert career choice from question 2]: [list needed skills based on your analysis of the needed skills and current experience from questions 2 and 3].
5. If I [insert tragic event here], I would need [insert amount of money needed to maintain current lifestyle for 3 months] to pay my bills and keep my current standard of living.
6. I can talk to the following people about my unemployment status: [insert ordered list of potential contacts].
7. I can talk to the following people about my desire to work as a [insert first career choice from question 1].
8. I ____ have ____ have not thought about running my own business as a [insert first career choice from question 1]. Continue answering question 8 for each career choice.
9. I have the following fears about "hanging my shingle" (working for myself) as a [insert first "I have" career choice from question 8]: [insert ordered list of fears].
10. I could overcome my fear of [insert first fear] by [insert ordered list or action statement a what you need to do to overcome your first fear]. Continue answering question 10 for each fear.
11. I know the following people who have hung their shingle, which I can talk to about their experiences: [insert list of people you know who are working for themselves].
12. If I started running a business as a [insert first "I have" career choice from question 8], I believe I would need the following: [insert ordered list of necessary supplies, training/education, location, etc.] Note: you should answer this question with everything (cost is irrelevant at this moment) you believe would be necessary to operate the business you have identified. Continue answering question 12 for each career choice.
13. I could realistically operate my business as a [insert first "I have" career choice from question 12], if I had the following: [insert ordered list of essential supplies, training/education, location, equipment, etc.] Note: you should answer this question by narrowing down your list in question 12.
14. Right now I have, or have access to: [ordered list of supplies or materials identified in question 13.] Continue answering question 14 for each career choice.
15. I could realistically do without: [list items identified in question 13, but not identified in question 14, which you would not need at this time.] Continue answering question 15 for each career choice.
16. I believe I could negotiate the following benefits/services/perks, if I decided to open my business as a [[insert first "I have" career choice from question 12]: [insert ordered list of "to do" negotiations; for example, can you negotiate rent?, equipment leasing/purchases?, telephone services?]
17. I could realistically open my business as a [insert first "I have" career choice from question 12] for [insert dollar figure for expected opening operation expense]. Continue answering question 16 for each career choice.
18. After evaluating all of my options, I will [insert an action statement about your choice; are you going to open your own business?, speak to others?, continue to collect unemployment and feel sorry for yourself?, take a 2nd job at Burger King]. 

I don't know that this is a perfect list, but I believe this list has a lot of benefits that will help you gain momentum. I think a lot of people get discouraged because they send out tens, hundreds, or thousands of resumes, only to get rejection after rejection. This discouragement then leads to blind thinking, which thwarts any chance of success.

I think too many recently unemployed people rely too heavily on passive job search techniques. These techniques include mailing resumes and searching the career services job boards. Face it, these are useless. I believe if you're going to succeed, you're going to have to make your own success.

This action plan gives you a direction to help steer your outcome. You eliminate fear and floundering, and through these questions, you have identified areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses, and possible networking connections to help build your success. Hopefully too, you've proven to yourself that you can succeed if you chose to "hang a shingle," and that the cost, both financially and personally, isn't too extravagant.

I'd appreciate any comments that you have, and especially any questions or analysis you think others should add to this list.

"Suddenly Solo"

July's issue of Law Practice Today is phenomenal! If you're not a subscriber, you need to be. Each month's webzine features very useful articles about managing and maintaining a successful legal practice.

July's issues is geared toward those attorneys who are "suddenly solo" because of layoffs. I think law graduates fall into one of two categories: solo/small firm bound (and knew it from day 1), or BigLaw bound (or at least aspiring to such). In my case, I fell into the former category.

My story is probably quite similar to a lot of people. I didn't have a particularly good law school experience, and basically after my first year had decided I was not going to work in any sort of capacity.

During my first summer, I took a legal aid-type job (because everything else was taken and I couldn't get a "law" job) with a small firm specializing in Indian law. That experience changed my life, and I knew at the end of that summer I wanted to be an attorney, albeit, not one of those "stuffy" ones I saw at school or downtown.

I began quickly by assessing my options and formulating my practice plans. Based on my experience, I knew the real action was as a solo or small firm practitioner, thus I slurped up everything I could on the subjects. I joined list-serves, practice management associations/groups, and talked to other attorneys. After all my preparations,I felt I was ready, and I made the leap.

I think the key to my success thus far has been my preparations. I may not know everything (which I freely admit), but I know how and where to find the information. I know this partly because of experience (being thrown into the oven helps one to quickly learn), but because my "Practice Preparation Plan"demands it.

My PPP is a simple statement, one-page in length, that discusses the question, "what would I do if I suddenly lost my job." I created the page because I knew/know that I serve at the will of those around me. It's not secure enough to trust that because I have a law degree, I'll guarantee myself a job. Quite simply, the cliche about death and taxes is the one secure point.

The essence of the PPP is to answer the question and lay a simple ground work for landing a new job (increasingly more difficult in this economy) or venturing on your own (more of an option). There's no magical formula or design template, because it's based on your wants, desires, and goals. However, it should be pin-point focused, offering suggestions that will motivate your broken spirit, develop your drive to rebuild, and give you answers to fundamental questions. Mine happens to have a significant statement about my overall goals and dreams: "I want to spend more time with my family than the office, therefore I will leave the office no later than 5 p.m." Of course, this gets broken every few months, but it's a general statement about my philosphy, and a reminder that some things are more important than my work.

What I knew I needed when I finished my 1st year, is something I believe every attorney must have, regardless and in spite of your present security. The skills you've acquired during your studies and career are meaningless if you can't put them to use. This is the essence of the July webzine. If you're not practicing with your own PPP, I'd encourage you to create one now.