77 Ways to Find Your Next Legal or Non-Legal Job

Unless you're one of those lucky folks who have a job find them, you're charged with leading the search party for a new position. And "party" may be a bit of a euphemism. The peaks and troughs of being in the job search are enough to make you question, well, just about everything. Did you choose the right major in college, was your decision to go to law school solid, should you have done a different internship after 1L, is it okay to do something completely unrelated to law? You may even find yourself wondering if you should have played kickball instead of climbing monkey bars during recess in first grade.

You're a smart and talented person, and probably funny and personable too, should it be this hard to find a new job? Even in a robust economy, finding the right socket to plug in your unique experience and education isn't always straightforward. But it is possible. As the job market finds its feet, law firms, companies, the government, and non-profit organizations will likely be launching broader candidate searches.

So, Where Do We Start?

Part of your search strategy involves being ready and knowing where to look. And that is where this list comes in. Check out the sometimes-serious, sometimes-humorous, always-possible ways to find your next legal or non-legal job. And with a 111 to choose from, there should be at least a few that apply to you. Whether actual, virtual, or otherwise, the possibilities will give you at least an idea of what might be printed on your next business card.

A special thank-you to colleagues and friends who contributed to the compilation.

This list is neither comprehensive nor is it exhaustive. Mention of items or links to websites are for informational purposes and are not endorsements of the listed items.

Where, How, When to Find Your Next Job...

1. With a former employer
2. At a local bar association mixer
3. Through an informational interview
4. At a fitness class
5. On a golf course
6. Law school career board
7. Participating in a charity half-marathon
8. Non-profit job fair
9. Joining a kickball team
10. In the kitchen (think new gadget invention, recipe compilation)
11. College career board
12. Biking a century
13. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
14. Volunteering at a non-profit legal services organization
15. Law school alumni event
16. In your garage (think Silicon Valley start-ups)
17. CLE seminar
18. Through a favorite hobby
19. At a college alumni event
20. From a recruiter
21. Through former colleagues
22. At your high school reunion
23. Starting a blog about your professional interests
24. At a start-up
25. Tennis lessons
26. On an airplane
27. Checking out a remote jobs board
28. On your state or local government website
29. Emailing a former professor
30. Contacting the publishing company of your favorite law school supplement
31. Taking a cross-country road trip
32. Attending a fundraiser for the arts
33. Joining a book club
34. Tutoring law students or undergrads
35. Starting an Etsy shop
36. Consulting with a law firm
37. Taking a language class
38. Researching career paths based on your personality type
39. Volunteering on a political campaign
40. Submitting a white paper to firms, companies, and non-profits about an important industry development
41. Twitter's #JobHuntChat
42. Helping with recruitment efforts for your law school or undergraduate alma mater
43. Tailgating for your favorite sports team
44. Opening your own practice
45. Consulting with a career/life coach
46. Volunteering at a law school clinic
47. Attending a non-law job fair
48. Trying out contract legal work in different areas
49. Weekly karaoke night
50. Submitting legal articles to online journals
51. Attending a conference
52. Contacting a friend or former colleague who had the type of position you seek
53. Playing pick-up basketball
54. Attending local Chamber of Commerce small business mixers
55. Volunteering with other attorneys at a bar association weekend charity event
56. Taking a trip to a place you've always wanted to visit
57. Doing pro bono research for a former professor in a field you are interested in joining
58. Attending a book signing event
59. Organizing a "think tank" of fellow job seekers to generate leads and job search strategies
60. Volunteering with a favorite cause
61. Chatting with people at the dog park
62. Mentioning your job hunt to your hairstylist (they know tons of people!)
63. Hosting a garage sale
64. Submitting a constructive critique of an existing product or service
65. Helping other friends, family, former colleagues in finding a job or editing a resume
66. Enrolling in an evening or weekend class on a subject you find interesting
67. Reading leading publications in the fields you are interested in joining
68. Talking with carpool buddies
69. Attending open houses of new businesses or restaurants
70. Going to a major networking conference in another city
71. Assisting in fundraising efforts with an alumni association
72. Following users posting on a subject you are interested in on social media
73. Learning marketable tech skills, such as simple HTML, advanced computing software, or SEO
74. Speaking at conferences or events
75. Volunteering as a small claims court mediator
76. Writing a book and interviewing interesting people for it
77. Obtaining additional certification

Related Resources:

• 99 Things to Do With Your JD, Besides Practice Law (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• 9 Tips to Landing a Legal Job or Internship (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• How To Start a Solo Law Practice For Under $3K (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• Why You Should Do Pro Bono Work (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)