The first post-law school job search will likely be your hardest one. You can make it easier by being flexible and keeping an eye on your long-term vision.
Over the years, CPD has seen grads talk themselves out of opportunities for a variety of reasons – imposter syndrome (“I’m not ready for that job!”), inflexible expectations (“It’s not my dream job!”), and fear of rejection (“What if I don’t get interviewed?”). We all get in our own way sometimes, but when searching for your first job as a lawyer, the best thing you can do is be flexible, while keeping your long-term goals in mind.
It’s unlikely that you’ll land your ideal job right out of law school, even in a job seeker's market. So when considering positions, ask yourself, not whether the job offers everything you’re looking for, but whether it will move you in the right direction. We counsel recent grads to contemplate whether a job could be a good fit for the next couple years. If a position would offer the chance to build new, transferrable skills, it’s probably one you should consider – even if it doesn’t seem exactly right on paper.
Geographical flexibility is important too. Not everyone can relocate (though please be sure to distinguish between can’t relocate and would prefer not to), but it’s important to consider opportunities within commuting distance. Looking at jobs outside of Seattle's city limits, for example, can shorten the amount of time it takes to get a job and allow you to advance your career more quickly. Smaller practice communities often offer more responsibility sooner.
If you search only for the perfect job, you’ll miss a lot of good ones, and you could make it harder to eventually land that ideal position! Work with your CPD advisor on a plan for looking for appropriate opportunities that will put you on the path to a fulfilling career.
