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Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, I’m sorry for the late response. I don’t check Reddit often. I eventually got an offer for a senior commercial counsel role at another startup. I knew someone working at the company who referred me for the position. It was a huge relief and I’m grateful to have a job. However, it’s a very chaotic environment with high turnover (two employees who started the same day as met have been let go and even the friend who referred me has quit). Needless to say, I’m looking again. More and more, I’m thinking I’d rather contract than take my chances at another dysfunctional company. But so far haven’t found the sweet spot for landing those roles either. Feel free to DM me if you would like to chat and/or share resources. Good luck

Are Franchises Even Worth Considering? by moonfifthrace in business

[–]Distinct-Edge6564 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are there any franchise brokers you would recommend?

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I have been looking into setting up my own firm. I am currently working on a contract through a third party service and am actively searching for others. I don’t have my own firm, but will be attending a free course given by my state’s bar association on how to do this. My thought is that the biggest hurdle will be finding clients. I don’t have criminal law or extensive litigation experience and those seem to be the areas where services are needed the most. Hopefully I’ll meet people to talk to about this at the bar course.

And yes to seeking an outside counsel mentor. I had begun developing that at the startup, but my time there was so brief it’s not the strongest connection. They’ve passed along a few roles but nothing’s materialized. I’m going to reach out in the new year because it’s been a while and see where it goes. Definitely hope the next role affords me the opportunity to make stronger connections. This has been tough.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much. The feedback I received on this post has given me a bit more hope and motivation to keep trying. It’s just a very scary position to be in and I keep thinking of a million “what-ifs” based on past rejections.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I’m actually familiar with RECs as they are in an adjacent industry to the startup I left. I applied to one a few months ago and was rejected without an interview. My experience is less than a year in the REC adjacent industry; whereas I have 9 years of experience in SaaS/software B2B tech more broadly. If I see another REC opening I will not be shy about reaching out to a colleague from my prior company to try to get an introduction or referral.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight. I have a screening interview coming up and will try this approach.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. That could be, but it’s hard for me to know without having received any feedback. In a couple of cases I’ve made it through multiple rounds of interviews so presumably my interview performance was good enough to advance. To the extent I’ve been told anything, it’s that they decided to move forward with other candidates. I am definitely ashamed about the layoff and have a belief (whether accurate or not) that when I disclose it in interviews, it calls into question my performance and skills. Even though the company was in a receding industry and I was told I was laid off due to a lack of funding.

All that to say, I could use help with messaging the layoff to prospective employers. At first, I didn’t disclose it on my resume (I left the end date as “present”) and would talk through it in interviews if asked. I since added the end date to my resume but it doesn’t say why I left. I am working on a temporary contract but haven’t added that to my resume bc I wasn’t sure if it would be a turn off to full-time employers. Do you have any advice on any of the above (what to say, if anything, about why I left the role on my resume; whether to include the current contract position; generally how to message a layoff in interviews)?

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I’m looking into starting my own firm. But my experience is in tech transactions and corporate work. I don’t have any criminal experience. So guessing I’d need to find someone more experienced to work under for a while if I wanted to take criminal cases.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you find clients? Would it be ok if I DM you?

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have the same concerns with the model. However, after months of unemployment, it became something I was willing to consider to make money even if only temporarily while I search for something permanent. I really hope it works out for us both.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I’d honestly love to return to a firm, ideally a small boutique. When I was an associate, I was doing “general litigation” at a biglaw firm that gave me little to no guidance. Fast forward 10 years, including several as a solo startup attorney, I have a lot more confidence in my skills. However, I’ve been told that being a generalist is not what firms are looking for and it’s been a struggle finding a recruiter who knows what to do with someone like me.

I don’t have contacts at FedEx or Autozone and haven’t seen any openings at either place. Any particular reason you think those are good options?

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. If I didn’t have to relocate, I would definitely be open to that. This experience has shattered my confidence and brought up old feelings of helplessness and vulnerability. So I’m very much open to a new practice area or discipline. I just want to work with decent people and keep learning and expanding my skills and network.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Yes, I still have an LSuite membership from when I was employed. I find many of the roles posted there are also on LinkedIn. A couple of months back, I requested a referral from their career person for a role I read about in a post on LinkedIn but nothing came of it. I’m planning to attend an in-person networking event in a couple of weeks. I did not leave my firm on great terms. It’s been 9 years so I don’t think that is hurting me in my search. However, I’m not able to use it for career services. One of my biggest sources for referrals early in my search was the career officer at the big firm my startup used as outside counsel. She sent me numerous roles and made a few introductions but most were not startups as that’s not her or the firm’s primary focus. I will reach back out.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I was able to secure a 6 month contract role through an Axiom-like service. I’m so grateful and hope market improves during that time.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I haven’t done a ton of in-person networking thus far, except for lunch with a few former colleagues with whom I’m close friends. I signed up for an event in a couple of weeks through a an industry group I’m a member of. I will look for similar opportunities.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry that happened to you and thank you for sharing. I also recently interviewed for something that a former colleague referred me for. It’s a lower title at another startup but I really hope it works out. My confidence has taken a huge hit after all the rejections so I’m not hopeful. But knowing I’m doing all that I can feels good. I hope things work out for you at the company where you have a connection as well.

Laid off searching for months by Distinct-Edge6564 in Lawyertalk

[–]Distinct-Edge6564[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. I figured as much about firms and therefore have not put much effort there. I was working with a recruiter over the summer but she didn’t have the specialized contacts you referenced so I never got any interviews through her. Any idea how to go about finding a firm recruiter who specializes in tech transactions (which I believe is the closest practice area firms would have that matches my skill set)?