1. Alternatives to OCI Finding a Job with the Main Street Lawyer

2. How Do Most People Find Jobs? OCI is not the way most people find employment!  Only 22% of all job seekers nationwide find their job through fall OCI Most jobs are most frequently obtained through:  Self-initiated contact  Job posting  Result of a referral

3. Where Do Most Lawyers Work? Number of AttorneysNumber of Firms Solo273 or 32% 2-9335 or 39% 10-2490 or 11% 25-4936 or 4% 50-9932 or 4% 100-14912 or 1% 150-24913 or 2% 250-99945 or 5% 1000+13 or 2% Statistics based on Martindale -Hubbell Lawyer Locator for San Francisco, CA

4. Where Are The Other Employers? “Unlike large firms, small and mid-size employers are unlikely to have set recruiting patterns. In the world of small firm hiring, needs drive the employment cycles and practices. The trick is to be available when the opportunity presents itself.” --NALP, Jobs & J.D.’s

5. How Do I Find a Job? The same way you would in any other field!  Responding to advertised job postings  Drafting unsolicited letters  Networking

6. So Now What? Step one—Identify an area in which you are interested. LCS has a self-assessment guide to help you through this process. Step two—Identify what skills a typical employer in this business/industry/type of law firm, etc. is seeking in a candidate. Step three—Identify how your past experiences and skills coincide with the skill set the employer is seeking. Step four—Devise and implement a job search strategy.

7. Developing Your Strategy Targeted Mailings  Focus on your interests  Research the market  Be open to different geographic areas  Draft a targeted letter  Have an organized method to track your efforts  Continue to send applications until you find a job  Be confident in your approach  Be aware that a 1% positive response rate is considered to be a huge success. That’s one positive response for every 100 inquiries.

8. Networking First, develop a focus Second, realize networking is the development of professional relationships  Externships  Clinics  Faculty  Student organizations  Former employers  Churches, community organizations, social groups, gyms  Bar associations Don’t be afraid to state your interests Continue your relationship Approximately 85% of all jobs are filled through “under the radar” activity. This is one of the most effective job search strategies.

9. The Perils and Pitfalls of Each Application Strategy “Cold” Letters—  Feel very productive  Can get a lot of letters off in one sitting  Make sure to get contact name  Not a very high response rate Advertised Job Postings  There is an actual position that exists  Everyone else knows that position exists Networking or Informational Interviews  Highly effective job search method  Can be awkward and counter-intuitive

10. Bottom Line Advice You need to be doing a little of everything at all times until you find your job, but not all activities equally. Devise quantifiable goals such as this week I commit to:  Having coffee—or meeting—two SCU alumni  Identifying and applying to 5 employers through unsolicited letters  Reviewing the job postings every other day and responding to any vacancies in which I am interested within 48 hours.