Years legal experience, but still no job!

[Kiz]

Hi Peeps,

I'm in a real bad situation. I finished the LPC in 2005 and joined a PI firm in 2006, worked there for a year and left. I left because the firm was unproffesional and favoritism was extreme, plus no real prospects of career progression. The hard workers wouldn't get noticed (if anything were given extra work) and the slackers got all the benefits!

Anyhow I have been unemployed for a couple of months now, been applying for TC's and para jobs. but no luck. I've registered with many legal agencies and have sent out speculative CV's.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong? My grades are average 2:1 and pass on the LPC. But there seems to be no jobs for me out there.

I've always enjoyed law and never thought I'd regret studying it but now i'm starting to have my doubts.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. I know u guys seem like very strong people and are very optomistic, really encourages me.

thanks

[Alexxx]

A recruitment consultant told me once that one is very easy to get "pigeon-holed" as a result of PI.

As for why you are not getting anywhere it may be down to a number of factors including:

- Where you live
- You Cover Letter / CV
- Your applications


Just keep sending applications to agencies and you should get noticed very soon.

[bones]

while you're not working, you could try volunteering in a law centre or something one day a week to make your CV look abit better.

perhaps when you're making speculative applications, you should also phone the firm's first and find out who to address your application to, that way its less likely to get binned.

i'm sure you already know all this - i'm beginning to think this law career malarkey has alot more to do with luck than anything else!

[Kiz]

Your right about being pigeon -holed in by PI!! It's like I am now limited for choice as to where I can and cannot apply.

As for the speculative CV's that I have been sending, the covering lettters have always been addressed to someone incharge of recruitment and I still think they have been binned!

I am now beginning to believe it is to a certain extent down to luck, as I know plenty of people who have no experience and have easily gained Paralegal or Trainee positions.

I have also been to a couple of interviews from which have obtained good feedback. The only thing they seem to be saying is that there were other candidates with more experience!!

To me a years experience seemed sufficient enough to obtain a para job if not a TC - I learned a lot in the year and think I really know my stuff in relation to PI. But i guess I was wrong, it's now seems to be a great struggle.

Anyway, no turning back now I just have to keep going and hope for the best.

Thanks for your responses

[TRFC]

I am a firm believer that getting a job is down to luck.

i am in the unique position were I have been the candidate and the recruiter. I tried for ages to try and get a TC. Once I got one I spent ages looking for a paralegals job as I had finished the LPC and my TC wasnt to start for another 12 months. recently I have had to recruit for my own position which I am leaving soon.

I received loads of applications from people. i really do have sympathy for recruiters cos all the applications were good enough to get the job and it was so difficult to decide. The person we offered the job just happened to be in the right palce at the right time

All I can say is not to continue with what you are doing- applying for as many position as you can possibly do...