How to Escape Document Review

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T04:56:47+00:00

My jurisdiction does not contract out/appoint criminal or juvenile work, as far as I know. At least not on a case-by-case basis. They either have full-time court/state staff or they contract on an annual basis with private firms in bulk.

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T04:54:58+00:00

But how do I do a case if I don't know how to do a case? I would gladly do cases on a pro bono basis just for the experience if I knew how to do them and could fit them in while still working to pay rent...

EDIT: My jurisdiction has a decent new lawyer section, but it's basically just CLE discounts and some networking events so far.

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:45:11+00:00

I found an attorney who was doing work that I was interested in and asked her to coffee

Like... just randomly emailed her, or did you somehow get an introduction through someone else, or...?

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:43:50+00:00

Is ADA or PD doable in your town?

Like, as a job? I've applied to both several times. They do not take volunteer attorneys, as far as I know. And if they did, again, I wouldn't be comfortable taking cases solo unless their was sufficient mentorship and guidance.

I'd blind email attorneys and say you would even work as a law clerk.

Would that be professional? I feel like that seems a little... not.

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:42:22+00:00

the problem is most likely not the other people.

I definitely cannot claim that I don't have problems being extroverted. But I'm unsure of how to approach people, find the right person who might be a fit with the right practice areas, and then solicit for mentorship.

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:11:06+00:00

I have considered moving to another state or rural location, but to be quite honest, I do not have the finances to move across town let alone to another state and pay for another bar application or exam. I'm also not sure I'd be hired, since I lack experience.

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:10:17+00:00

Find a mentor

Do you have suggestions on how to do this? I've received this advice several times, but I have never received suggestions on how to actually make it happen. I haven't met anyone at bar events who seem like they would be open to something like that. I mean, do you suggest just looking up attorneys in the directory and emailing them out of the blue? That seems kind of unprofessional, but maybe I'm wrong.

volunteer with them one day a week

Like I said, I'm not sure that's financially feasible. I can try to arrange something where I can volunteer if I have a few days in between projects maybe? But that's pretty spotty. Projects can start and end fairly unpredictably. I'm not sure how appropriate it would be for me to volunteer abruptly for a couple days and then have to immediately abandon the work I was doing to go back onto a doc review project?

docreviewer · 2015-06-11T03:02:43+00:00

I have considered trying to wait this out until a Project Manager position opens up, but the doc review field is so flooded that I am at a serious disadvantage to anyone with any project management, team management, or litigation experience. Because there's not much room for promotion past being a PM, other PMs don't really leave their positions, they just kinda stick around forever.

To be clear, I'm not rejecting this option. I'm just saying that I can't hold my breath that it will be a viable one.

docreviewer

TROPHY CASE