Rebecca Vandiver
Atlanta, Georgia
Career Coaching and Consulting for Lawyers, LLC
Career/Life Coaching
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Rebecca Vandiver
Once we have a few people joined, I'd love to start a discussion on ways to find alternative legal careers.
Dan Canedo and Michelle Schmidt recommended this
Alli Gerkman
Denver Post offers just another opinion about the [lack of] value of a law degree, given jobs, debt. http://bit.ly/9DsTAX
Curious what you think.
I loved law school and I love what I'm doing now, but it still seems to have been a bad business decision--in a financial sense.
Rebecca Vandiver:
I think the ABA needs to cut down on new law school openings, reduce class sizes and counsel new students on what their debt payments will be when ...MoreI think the ABA needs to cut down on new law school openings, reduce class sizes and counsel new students on what their debt payments will be when they graduate. I loved law school and it was really good for me personally and career wise. I also graduated at the height of the market and my husband and I both worked in big law which allowed us to pay down loans and save money in our first few years out of school. If I still had 100K plus debt and no job prospects, I am sure I would regret going.
118 weeks ago
118 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver
In case you missed it, here are some helpful websites for alternative legal jobs: http://rebeccavandiver.com/blog/?p=409
Hi - I'm new here, and I'm wondering: Does anyone have any specific experience or thoughts to share on leaving the field of law? I worked as a columnist and assistant editor prior to attending law school, and I've stayed active in communications and government relations on the Hill. Now I want to move to a small public relations firm where I could specialize in media and government relations, crisis communications, and other public relations work.
Any help or advice would be wonderful! Thanks!
Joe Gusmano:
Fortunately the Washington DC region is rich with opportunities for all kinds of advocacy: legal, corporate, social, legislative, etc. I am not ...MoreFortunately the Washington DC region is rich with opportunities for all kinds of advocacy: legal, corporate, social, legislative, etc. I am not an expert, but consider: (1) while looking for that perfect small public relations firm, launch de Bagara Public Relations right now; (2) even without opening shop, you can write in your field for publication or self-publication; (3) find someone in your network with a complementary skill set, marketing or design, to make a broad approach to clients.
122 weeks ago
122 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver:
Hi Elizabeth,
There is a lot you can do while you are still working. I'd start networking (both in person with your contacts on the Hill and ...MoreHi Elizabeth,
There is a lot you can do while you are still working. I'd start networking (both in person with your contacts on the Hill and online) and find out what skills you might need to sharpen or what information you need to brush up on. I'd also start going to events that the public relations firms you are interested in are holding. I'd be happy to talk more about this with you off line if you would like. I regularly help people make the transition from law. www.rebeccavandiver.com
118 weeks ago
There is a lot you can do while you are still working. I'd start networking (both in person with your contacts on the Hill and ...MoreHi Elizabeth,
There is a lot you can do while you are still working. I'd start networking (both in person with your contacts on the Hill and online) and find out what skills you might need to sharpen or what information you need to brush up on. I'd also start going to events that the public relations firms you are interested in are holding. I'd be happy to talk more about this with you off line if you would like. I regularly help people make the transition from law. www.rebeccavandiver.com
118 weeks ago
Benita Talati
Rebecca - the dilemna I face right now is that I have an interview on Monday for a non-legal position...and I want to practice law. I don't mind taking a temporary break while the market sorts itself out but I'm afraid this might hurt me when it does. Advice/suggestions welcome.
Rebecca Vandiver:
Benita,
I must have missed this when you sent it - my apologies! At this point you may have already accepted the job so let me know where things ...MoreBenita,
I must have missed this when you sent it - my apologies! At this point you may have already accepted the job so let me know where things stand so I can give appropriate advice.
Thanks
119 weeks ago
I must have missed this when you sent it - my apologies! At this point you may have already accepted the job so let me know where things ...MoreBenita,
I must have missed this when you sent it - my apologies! At this point you may have already accepted the job so let me know where things stand so I can give appropriate advice.
Thanks
119 weeks ago
Benita Talati:
Rebecca,
no worries. I ended up not even going to the interview...did my homework and realized the position was a scam. However, I did get a job ...MoreRebecca,
no worries. I ended up not even going to the interview...did my homework and realized the position was a scam. However, I did get a job as an associate for a firm and I start next week!
119 weeks ago
no worries. I ended up not even going to the interview...did my homework and realized the position was a scam. However, I did get a job ...MoreRebecca,
no worries. I ended up not even going to the interview...did my homework and realized the position was a scam. However, I did get a job as an associate for a firm and I start next week!
119 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver
Benita, congratulations on passing the bar! That makes sense. If that is the case, I absolutely would focus on doing everything you can to stand out in the employment arena and network as much as possible. When networking offer to do something in return so it is a two way street. Perhaps you could offer to help a lawyer write an article for the bar magazine. Depending on where you are, the market could be saturated but if you know this is what you want to do stay involved in employment.
Rebecca Vandiver
Nathan, the most effective networking I did in law school was contacting various law school and undergrad alumni in areas I was interested in and setting up lunch meetings - not going to events. That said, events for alumni and events on campus were more effective than going to CLE's were lawyers aren't expecting to see law students.
Rebecca Vandiver
This week's profile of a lawyer in an alternative legal career: From Skadden to legal nonprofit to Vice President of Film Production, LLC http://www.rebeccavandiver.com/blog/
Rebecca Vandiver
Had an interesting conversation yesterday with a former corporate lawyer who now sells tax credit financing to independent films - interesting stuff - half her job is law (drafting documents, etc.) and half is on set of the films (all based in New Orleans, as this is a Louisiana law that gives tax credits for spending money in Louisiana to film there). Shows that you have to have your ears open to find out about opportunities like this.
Rebecca Vandiver
If anyone is interested, I just created a group to talk specifically about alternative legal careers. Or we can start a discussion here.
Nathan Johnson:
I would love to chat about it, my new blog is aimed at the topic specifically.
134 weeks ago
134 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver:
Nathan,
Excellent! I'm always looking for guest posts for my blog by the way: MoreNathan,
Excellent! I'm always looking for guest posts for my blog by the way: www.rebeccavandiver.com/blog if you are interested.
134 weeks ago
Excellent! I'm always looking for guest posts for my blog by the way: MoreNathan,
Excellent! I'm always looking for guest posts for my blog by the way: www.rebeccavandiver.com/blog if you are interested.
134 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver
Hi, I'm Rebecca, a lawyer and career coach who helps lawyers transition careers. www.rebeccavandiver.com
Rebecca Vandiver:
Benita, I think that if you want to practice law, I would encourage you to focus on practicing law and not transitioning to HR just yet. ...MoreBenita, I think that if you want to practice law, I would encourage you to focus on practicing law and not transitioning to HR just yet. Employment law firms (both on the plaintiff and defendent side) have not been as affected by the recession (partly because people are suing over wrongful termination more). It may be easier to get a job at a firm that handles plaintiffs employment work than a large employment boutique which operates more like a big law firm. Does this help? Rebecca
133 weeks ago
133 weeks ago
Rebecca Vandiver:
Benita, to follow up (since I ran out of space), I would probably need to know more about your situation and what your experience is. That being ...MoreBenita, to follow up (since I ran out of space), I would probably need to know more about your situation and what your experience is. That being said, more companies are concerned with the legal implications of the decisions HR makes today, so I think you could pitch yourself well in an interview for an HR position. I guess the question is: would you rather be practicing any type of law or working with employment related issues? If it is the employment arena you love, I'd pursue that. Rebecca
133 weeks ago
133 weeks ago
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