Many good lawyer job opportunities aren’t advertised, so you need to dig deeper than publicly posted openings. Obvious sources include online job boards and law firm, corporate, government, and nonprofit websites. However, you also can uncover leads by reading legal and business publications, utilizing undergraduate and law school career services offices, networking strategically, and working with reputable legal recruiters.
General Job Boards
General job boards such as Indeed (https://www.indeed.com), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/), CareerBuilder (https://www.careerbuilder.com), Monster (https://www.monster.com), The Ladders (https://www.theladders.com/), and Glassdoor (https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/index.htm) may yield opportunities. However, lawyer candidates often have better luck using websites focused on the legal profession.
Legal Industry Focused Job Boards
For lawyer positions, consider resources such as:
- Go Big Law (https://www.gobiglaw.com)
- LawJobs (https://www.lawjobs.com)
- Attorney Jobs in USA (https://www.ajiu.live)
- ABA Career Center (https://jobs.americanbar.org/)
State and local bar associations also maintain job boards and career centers. Examples include:
- California Lawyers Association Career Center (https://jobs.calawyers.org/)
- New York State Bar Association Career Center (https://jobs.nysba.org/)
- District of Columbia Bar Career Center (https://dcbar-jobs.careerwebsite.com/jobs/)
Many other state and local bar associations provide similar resources and can be excellent sources of local opportunities.
In-House Counsel Opportunities
If you’re interested in in-house counsel positions, in addition to the resources above, review career listings on the websites of companies that particularly interest you. Many organizations post openings only on their own recruiting pages.
Additional resources for in-house opportunities include:
- GoInhouse (https://www.goinhouse.com)
- Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Career Center (https://jobline.acc.com/)
Government, Public Interest, and Policy Positions
For public interest, nonprofit, policy, government affairs, or government legal positions, explore:
- USAJobs (https://www.usajobs.gov)
- PSJD (https://www.psjd.org)
- Equal Justice Works (https://www.equaljusticeworks.org)
- Idealist (https://www.idealist.org)
- Daybook (https://www.daybook.com)
- Government affairs resources (https://www.traversejobs.com/)
Some policy-oriented job boards require subscriptions but often provide access to opportunities not widely advertised elsewhere.
Research Target Employers
Remember that not every opportunity is publicly advertised. Almost every major law firm, corporation, government agency, nonprofit organization, and trade association includes a careers page on its website. If you’re interested in a particular employer, monitor its recruiting page regularly.
To identify potential targets, research:
- Martindale-Hubbell (https://www.martindale.com)
- NALP Directory of Legal Employers (https://www.nalpdirectory.com)
These directories provide valuable information about firms, practice areas, office locations, and firm size. Once you’ve clarified your geographic and practice preferences, develop a targeted list of employers and contact them directly. A firm that isn’t actively recruiting may nevertheless be interested in an outstanding candidate who fills a need.
Mass mailings generally are not recommended. It’s far more effective to target your résumé and cover letters to specific employers and attorneys, explaining why your background and experience would be valuable to their organization.
Bar Associations and Professional Organizations
Bar association and professional organization websites are excellent resources. Many post job openings, publish newsletters containing employment opportunities, and sponsor networking events. Attend continuing legal education (CLE) programs, bar association meetings, section events, and conferences in your preferred practice areas. These programs provide opportunities to meet practitioners, learn about developments in the field, and identify organizations that may be growing.
Even if you can’t attend, researching committee memberships, section leadership, and conference speaker lists can help identify attorneys and organizations to contact directly.
Follow Legal Industry Developments
The legal profession is constantly evolving. A savvy job seeker stays informed about law firm mergers, office openings, practice group expansions, attorney moves, corporate legal department growth, and emerging practice areas.
Publications worth following include:
- The American Lawyer (https://www.americanlawyer.com)
- National Law Journal (https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal)
- Corporate Counsel (https://www.law.com/corpcounsel)
- Above the Law (https://abovethelaw.com/)
- Law360 (https://communications.law360.com/law360-company)
Local legal newspapers and business journals can be equally valuable. Many of these publications offer email alerts and newsletters that keep readers informed about developments affecting the legal marketplace.
Leveraging Law School and Alumni Networks
Don’t forget to utilize the resources available through your law school and undergraduate institutions. Career services offices frequently provide:
- Alumni job postings
- Career counseling
- Networking events
- Mentorship programs
- Résumé reviews
- Interview preparation
Alumni relations offices may be able to connect you with graduates working in your target practice areas, industries, or geographic regions. Fellow alumni often are receptive to requests for advice and introductions.
Legal Recruiters
Of course, legal recruiters are an excellent source of job search information. They have their fingers on the pulse of the legal community and can help you identify and pursue a wide variety of opportunities—both advertised and unadvertised. They can guide you in your search and help you make the right match. To find a reputable recruiter in your geographic and/or practice area, consult the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) searchable online directory at https://nalsc.org/directory/.
Use Social Media Strategically
Social media also can be a powerful job-search tool. At minimum, maintain a professional presence on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com). Keep your profile current, expand your professional network, join legal and alumni groups, and follow organizations that interest you. Engage thoughtfully with relevant content to increase your visibility within the legal community. If confidentiality is not a concern, let your network know that you’re exploring new opportunities.
In today’s interconnected legal market, the next person you meet may point you to the opportunity you’re seeking. Combined with strategic networking and assistance from reputable legal recruiters, these efforts can significantly expand your access to unadvertised legal positions.
