Please help – seeking career advice – underemployed attorney?
Let’s start with the facts
(1) I have about 120k in student loan debt from law school and undergrad. I am only paying what I can on this right now, which is about per month, which is only paying off the interest on one of the loans. Please no lectures on the magic/horror of compounding interest.
(2) I graduated from a respectable law school in May of 2008 and passed two state bar exams on the first try.
(3) I applied to hundreds of attorney jobs every year through out law school and after graduation. There really aren’t any jobs out there.
(4) I did get a job though, but it’s probably the lowest paying attorney job in the world at k per year at the least respected firm in the county. It’s sort of out in the sticks, but still close enough for me to drive to everyday. The guy is a terrible lawyer and a werido, but whatever, I need a job. There was supposed to be a bonus every 10 weeks involved, but I figured out on the first day that there will never be a bonus because the bonus is based on collecting payments from the clients, who never pay their bill. The work is family and criminal law, which is not what I set out to do, but it’s ok I Buy Generic Drugs guess. I took this job only about 2 months ago and the firm is apparently financially insolvent and can’t always pay all the employees on time, but so far I’ve always been paid.
(5) I’m taking an accounting course at the local community college with an eye toward applying to a business program, maybe an mba.
My question is, should I apply to an mba program? I have little or no business experience because I applied to law school right out of college and I’m worried that even after graduating with an MBA I still won’t be able to find a job and will just be in more student loan debt.
Should I quit working at this firm because it has such a terrible reputation? My current plan is to quit as soon as he can’t pay me, but my alternative to working there would probably be document review, which is a career-killer from what I’ve heard but pays more (/hr or something). Should I keep working at this firm even if he can’t pay me? Jobs are so very scare these days, especially for attorneys in my region.
Should I register, study for, and take another state’s bar exam in the hope that passing that will finally make me attractive enough to another law firm and they will pay me a real salary?
I also have my real estate license. If this joker can’t pay me, should I quit and start selling condos and homes and leasing commercial spaces?
Keep in mind that I’m actively applying for jobs elsewhere. Feel free to ask additional questions.
I would prefer it if someone with a few years of business or legal experience would answer this question.
I can tell by your post that you are an intelligent person that is looking out for you future and I would like to give you a little advice. First off, I am 43 years old and am a Licensed Land Surveyor that has owned my own business for 10 years. I know first hand what you are going through when you talk of working for jokers, jerks and morons… It all comes down to the fact that most business owners are out for one thing and that is themselves. It is rare to find an employer that treats its employees with respect and pays them what they are worth. On a lighter note they do exist, but in this economic atmosphere they are harder to come by. Here are a few pointers that might give you an insight on what to think about before you make any decision.
1) Never leave a job until you have another.
2) Never leave an employer on bad terms (DON’T BURN BRIDGES)
3) Try to find work that you not only can live on, but live with.
4) The happiest workers always work for themselves.
5) If you go into business for yourself try to obtain a decent client base before you leave your current employment.
6) Make sure that you have around 3 months of salary saved up before you leave you current employment as well as supplies, equipment…
7) I know several realtors and they all do very well. I know this one realtor who has really made a name for herself because she is very confident, intelligent, nice and has an awesome work ethic.
Good Luck on all your endeavors.
Why don’t you just start your own firm? If you already are working for not getting paid, you may as well work for yourself and not get paid. Look to get on as a conflict attorney with your local Public Defender’s office. It should be enough to cover the bills, and then you can devote the rest of your time to whatever your passion in law is.
As for the MBA, you will learn more about business doing it yourself than whatever they can teach you in school. I’ve had many a discussion with people with MBA’s and they all sound great in theory, but in the real world, I do not think the info is all that useful. It appears you have plenty of education, but you need to learn how to apply it.
Another suggestion is to move where are more opportunities, like I am guessing where it is cold.
As for another states bar, I’m in CA, so not needed as much here, but if you are in New England or on the East Coast, maybe that is a more typical requirement.
I would look to do both the law and real estate. The days of just collecting education and getting a big check without actually being able to prove you can produce are over, at least for awhile.