Although the author’s blog is not dedicated to the legal industry, she is an unemployed attorney who appears to 
chronicle her current life situation. Anyway, I saw the blog’s most recent post:
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
What I want to be when I grow up.
Remember when you were little and you used to tell people what you wanted to be when you grew up? When I was really young I would tell people that I wanted to be a teacher (like most super young kids do). When I reached an age where I realized you could do things other than be a teacher…but since I knew nothing else, I was at a loss of what to really do.
Many things intrigued me about being a lawyer. One of the main things is that lawyers do just that – they practice law. It is certain, it is ascertainable, it is controlled. Naturally, my type-A self would be attracted to the profession. So off I went. I loved the law, I loved the environment and I loved that I knew what I was going to be when I grew up.
I was laid off nearly one year ago. On June 26, 2009, both of my bosses walked into my office (which is never a good sign) and told me they could no longer afford to keep me. I knew prior to this news that something had to happen, I just hoped I would not be the first to go. That hope was incredibly unrealistic considering I was the most junior associate. For the first time in my life I was unwillingly out of work. I was 32 weeks pregnant.
At first I thought I would get a job right after I had Nikolai. Then I thought by Christmas for sure. By January I started to panic. By February I started to give up. Now I realize that there are thousands of unemployed attorneys in the twin cities and I am just another drop in the bucket. Employers can chose whomever they would like – and for whatever reason I am not what they like.
With the end of my unemployment compensation looming and the prospects of my legal employment dimming, I am once again facing the question: what do I want to be when I grow up… I really have no idea what I am really looking for when I search for jobs. I don’t have a specific career path in mind. I wish things were different and I will never shake the feeling that I have simply given up on my dream, but life doesn’t always take you down the road you planned.
So, wherever this new path takes me, I hope I end up being what I want to be when I grow up.
Posted by Anne at 7:28 AM
A Law School Victim
Anne @ A JD + Three Said:
on June 20, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Yes, indeed, I am another JD Underdog. I am not surprised by the large number of unemployed attorneys, rather, I’d convinced myself that I was somehow different the that crows. Of course, I am not.
Also, I am from a family of highly educated people. All of whom experienced a great deal of success due in part to their education. At this point in life I would not totally discount the value of an education, but would highly encourage those seeking a masters or professional degree to watch the state of the economy nationally and locally before committing the time and money.
A Law School Victim Said:
on June 20, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I say no law degree, I have some relatives with degrees, Im the only JD and they’re all working!