Monday, July 6, 2009
I called a few legal agencies, ( a few as in more than 5) the market is seemingly tougher than I thought. I heard the same thing, their clients (law firms) only want those with at least 5 years experience in a specialty area. Please don't start about the networking biz with me, you talking to a person grew up in virtual solitude and made to fear opening my mouth that kind of talking is not me... Some things are much easier said than done. Just venting, fit to be tied and spooked beyond belief... One person was nice enough to tell me to try smaller firms but that means less money than what I am making now...
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go volunteer somewhere...
ReplyDeletekeep your day job.
respect
thanks, you sparked a different idea, maybe I will do all closings at work and find somewhere to work in the daytime...
ReplyDeletei am just thinking about the money I have to come up with for my daughter's tuition which includes arrears and new fees and I am about to lose my mind. Sending her to public school in the neighborhood isn't an option, they will eat her alive. I feel like all the chickens that I have kept at bay for the last two years are about to come home and roost.
ReplyDeletethats IS a good idea!
ReplyDeletehmm thats makes you two for two!
All I can say is keep trying!!! Does the school you attended have placement? Just hang in there something will turn up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with TNP. hang in there things will eventually open up again.
ReplyDeletealso have you tried any non profits or community centers that may have opportunities within the legal field as well. they may be more open than the traditional corporate or private sector jobs.
ReplyDeletePlus I know you don't want to make less money then you making but at this point experience counts and you want to get some under your belt. If anything I say see what the starting salary range is, and then find a way to at least secure a job making what you are making currently. While you might make less, working in legal you might get OT that could make up the shorfall. Something to consider.
ReplyDeletesome of the posting that I have seen that is entry level are paying 9-10 bucks an hour which would be literally a third less than my current pay. 2 years of schooling and 50k in loans, that is NOT gonna cut it!!! with my current rate of pay, i make just enough to cover rent and MiniMe's tuition and that doesn't include bus pass, utilities or food. Cannot do it.
ReplyDeleteif i go the non-profit route, which has been against the advice of too many to name, again i would have to take a lower pay. which would severely undermine me being able to get the pay i want because future employers will look at your current pay and offer very little above that.
ReplyDeletethat sucks! jeez.
ReplyDeleteok understand that
ReplyDeleteIf you did volunteer for a few years, you'd have the experience needed to get those high paying jobs further down the track.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hard stretch for a few years, but then once you've got the experience, you can write your own ticket.
join the paralegal association, and continue your search... approach this with the same determination that you approached school... something will happen... if worse comes to worse, go to law school.
ReplyDeleteand also like i said the other day, start looking at other positions such as a receptionist position at law firms, at this point you need to get your foot in the door...
I agree with what Teal said about the receptionist thing.
ReplyDeleteAlso volunteering/interning is a good suggestion also. Good luck!
I also agree with what MzTeal said. And also, something I learned from Joyce Meyers, DO IT AFRAID. You must put your fear to the side and move forward toward achieving what you want. I have faith that everything will work our for you. DON'T GIVE UP!
ReplyDeletetake a low paying job if you have to and PRAY the experience will help you move forward
ReplyDeleteOR, use the time you were in school to work on volunteer stuff etc
if a nonprofit pays enough now to live, worry about now and not what a lower salary will do when ur looking for a job. it is perfectly acceptable to have a resume with a low salary for your FIRST job in a field, its expected that you make more as time goes on and that ur lookin for a new job to increase your pay. so if you can go nonprofit, get experience and pay the bills, go for it.
plus, the economy sucks. ppl wont hold taking a job that keeps u alive, against u
and good luck and be strong
i feel you on the lesser pay thing as it relates to your expenses but in the end it can pay off and is worth it for a little longer to bear the brunt of what you need to get that in. i heard from a friend of mine and i read something a week ago about tuition asisstance for kids going to private schools. i have to find that information because you might be able to use that to help with your expenses toward your daughter's private school education.
ReplyDeleteclosed mouths don't get fed and that's all imma say about the networking thing which you'll eventually find your way with that but in the mean time, please take Teal's advice and I do believe Lala (Lisa) said the same thing last week about volunteering......yeah it is going to hurt your pocket book but it won't hurt your ultimate earning potential and will only open the door to more opportunities.
would you like for me to PM you the name of a good friend of mine who has been in your field for years and is a supervisor now? though she is not in chicago, she has lived on the east coast and has been on the west coast for many years BUT she knows a lot of people who know a lot of people and i'm sure she can give you even better insight into what you could really be doing tha would help you out. she is a GREAT person to connect with all around and she would help you out and look out for you if you were really interested in building that connection in her direction. she's real good people, one of the smartest women i know and really worth communicating with since she knows paralegal profession backwards and forwards.
ReplyDeleteKudos to msthang for offering her resources! This sounds like an EXCELLENT opportunity.
ReplyDeletei've told Lisa about that... It's the Black Student Fund, and although that's a local program, I suggested that she give them a call and ask them if they were aware of any national programs or programs in the CHI that offered similar funding....
ReplyDeleteLisa, did you ever check into that? please say that you did! if you didn't... *smh* never mind... but i know you looked into that!
Lisa, I've been biting the hell outta my tongue regarding this whole thing... but Msthang is on point with this comment...
ReplyDeleteit's a mindset Lisa... it really is... and that's all i gotta say about that!
good looking out.... I'm thinking she'll be more comfortable networking via email than in person... i'm sure she will not turn this down...
ReplyDeleteCan we kick her ass if she does?
ReplyDeletein spanish they say "el que no llora no gana", he who doesn't cry doesn't win
ReplyDeleteLOL
i am so there....
ReplyDeleteyeah she is in California but that would most likely be the mode of communication though she will likely offer her the opportunity to call her if she wanted to.
ReplyDeleteditto...lol....you have been SO on point and helpful Teal...hell you know what time it is and very generous and straight forward....a real friend.
ReplyDeleteGROUP HUG!!!
ReplyDeleteYes I did,we have a program here called the Big Brother Fund which is what they give to inner city school students for financial assistance. I got 1,000 for last year which knocked the bill down and they don't give out money until December. As far as I know, there is nothing that is going to pay out a full 2,000 for last year or help me with getting her into school for the fall. Right now I am working on cashing out the rest of my 401K which will be just enough to cover what I owe and to get her in.
ReplyDeleteI know it is Teal, I am working on it....
ReplyDeleteI sure would. Please and thank you! LOL
ReplyDeleteplease dont! LOL
ReplyDeleteyes she is, and I am not mad about that! LOL
ReplyDeletei just emailed her....i'll pass on her best contact information as these days we primarily keep in touch through email and i know she's moved and even switched employers.....i gotchu!
ReplyDeletethanks hun.
ReplyDeletei'll PM you what she sends me as soon as i hear from her.
ReplyDelete