Im a bit lost with career direction. Anyone have any good career direction suggestions for a new attorney that has 23 years of law enforcement experience? Not as ASA please, tried that and was not a good fit. Dont think lit is for me.
I’m hoping to get some honest advice from people who have been in a similar position because I’m honestly feeling stuck.
I graduated with my JD in May 2025 and took the bar for my third time July 2026. Since graduating, I haven’t had stable employment or a decent source of income, and I’m at the point where I really need to get back into the workforce while I continue working toward passing the bar.
I’ve primarily been applying to JD-advantage/JD-preferred positions, but I’ve also been applying to paralegal, legal assistant, and other entry-level legal roles. I’ve submitted a lot of applications and I’m barely getting callbacks — sometimes I don’t hear anything at all.
What’s frustrating is that I feel like I’m caught in an awkward middle ground: I have a JD, but I’m not yet licensed, and I’m wondering if employers see me as overqualified for some positions but underqualified for others.
I’m also wondering if my application materials are part of the problem.
For those of you who have successfully navigated this:
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who didn’t have a traditional JD-advantage background and still managed to break into one.
I’m not looking for pity — I’m really looking for practical advice because clearly what I’m doing right now isn’t working, and I’m willing to change my approach.
Thank you!
Im looking into compliance and contract roles - and I know a big part of any job search and landing something is networking - how do I go about that in the JD advantage space? Where do I look, and more specifically who do I reach out to and what do I ask?
I took the July bar exam and I am all but certain that I won't pass. I don't have the energy to sit for the exam again, and I want to get working before my student loan deferment period ends. Given the fact that I have a JD, what would be good positions for me to apply for that would utilize my education and qualifications?
I feel that since I have a JD, I ought to be able to do something that is decently paying with it other than become a lawyer. Is this a realistic expectation for me to have?
I've seen a lot of posts regarding people who got a JD but pursued an enjoyable and (at least down the line) well paying career path, but for the life of me I cannot find out where I should be looking for these positions or applying to them on.
I am obviously rather new to exploring JD preferred positions, and I could certainly benefit from and appreciate any pointers or direction yall could provide me. Thank you.
Laid off while expecting our first baby. I was depending on leave until my employer dropped me like a turd. Inexplicably unable to post on r/lawyertalk, but whatever.
I just want to get back to the grind. Since those fuckers let me go into a really shit market, I'm looking at both FT and contractor roles. I want something a little brainless after years of throwing my time and good work product at my former role.
Big question is this, assuming work hours don't overlap (like I work on weekends) is there any ethical/financial/professional issue (anecdotal fine) to being overemployed? Like, taking a contractor CM or privacy/compliance role M-F during work hours and one of those flexible hours morally dubious LLM training websites on weekends and nights? Ofc I know that it's an absolute no to double bill and work two jobs on the same hours but am curious if anyone has ever done this before. I just don't trust my ability to get anything headcount in the market rn
I don't want to work 80h a week but I honestly don't care anymore and I'm willing to do it to grind so that we can get back on our feet.
Hi everyone! I recently graduated from law school and just took the bar exam, so I’m currently awaiting results and exploring employment opportunities. I’m especially interested in JD-preferred roles and am open to contract, part-time, remote, research, etc, or other non-traditional legal opportunities. I’m not looking for tutoring positions, but otherwise I’m pretty open and would love to hear about any recommendations. Thanks in advance!
Anyone else in HR? It’s great.
I’ve been a lawyer for 4, primarily doing criminal defense and plaintiff’s work. I’m interested in legal tech sales/customer success roles. I fear I don’t have the background to break into this industry. Any advice on how I can do so?
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