r/LawSchool • u/LiminyWrenn • 6d ago
Advice needed: re-entering law.
Forgive me if this is a weird one. I felt like this was probably the best community to post this in.
I technically finished law school back in 2017. Got my JD and everything. But at the time, I had just experienced a family tragedy, and my mental health was so bad I could barely function. I firmly believed, and still believe, that I could not have passed the bar as I was. I was struggling to stay afloat at all.
So I took my knowledge and I went and taught middle school history. It paid the bills.
But I'm in a much better place now, and I want to finish what I started. I'm studying for the MPRE. I'm taking the Bar next summer. But I don't know what to do about finding a job right now.
Back when I was a 3L I was a law clerk and student attorney at a criminal defense firm, but my mental health struggles led to me basically disappearing. So that isn't a great start. I technically have no paralegal experience because... I wasn't a paralegal.
I'm just struggling to find my way back in. Any advice would be welcome.
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u/Black_Canary 6d ago
Why not keep teaching? Seems like you just need to pay the bills until you pass the bar, there is absolutely no need to be a paralegal when what you want is to be an attorney. You’ll pass the bar and then apply for attorney jobs. Am I missing something?
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u/zsmoke7 6d ago
I'm guessing he's looking at paralegal as an entry point, but that's not typically a thing. If you're a good paralegal, your firm will probably want to keep you as a paralegal, and if you're a bad paralegal, they'll never offer you an attorney role.
I agree with the general thrust of your comment, though. OP will pass the bar and apply for whatever jobs he can find advertising for entry-level attorneys. I wouldn't necessarily lead with mental health as the reason you're applying late, but you can probably say "personal reasons" or "family reasons" and leave it at that without drawing follow-up questions (if there are follow-up questions, that's a red flag in general for the firm).
OP, unless you really hate teaching, I definitely would keep the day job while you look for an attorney position. Even if you graduated at a decent rank from a decent school, you're probably not competitive for most big-law or mid-law jobs. You're looking at small/solo law or state/local government. The bright side is there's a market there. Most first- or second-time bar failures get jobs eventually. You'll likely be competing for similar jobs, but will probably be hired before they are (assuming you pass the bar). Consider leveraging your post-law school experience, maybe by reaching out specifically to people who practice school law and litigate IEPs or state agencies working in education or child law.
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u/Black_Canary 6d ago
Gotcha, this all seems right to me then.
OP, idk if you were in a teacher’s union but unions love hiring members so keep that on your list for once you pass the bar. Unionjobs[dot]com, if you’re interested.
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u/LiminyWrenn 6d ago edited 6d ago
There are a few reasons. One is that clerks and litigation assistants make more money than teachers.
Another is I just moved into a new state that doesn't play nice with my previous state's teaching license.
A third is that I'm really looking to get back into law for the experience and emersion as I'm studying. It's been over seven years. Things have changed and frankly I don't remember everything. Getting back into a legal sector job will refresh everything.
Edit: clarity.
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u/Black_Canary 6d ago
Oh those are good reasons then! I just assumed you’d have more money and stability staying in teaching but I’m in a state that pays teachers relatively well. FWIW I’ll bet you remember more than you think you do.
I don’t think working as a paralegal would hurt necessarily but the thing to be worried about is telling law firms you apply to what your plans are. If you tell them you’ll be seeking an attorney position in a year, most firms won’t hire you. If you don’t tell them, you risk burning a bridge when they find out. Kind of a no-win situation. I’d err on the side of honesty but obviously bills gotta get paid.
(I can’t believe I’m saying this, but) have you reached out to any legal recruiters? They could probably place you in a law firm.
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