Ann Israel is the legal profession's Dear Abby. A New York legal recruiter since 1979, Ann is a past president of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants. Advice for the Lawlorn is updated every week.

Q: I graduated from a tier 1 law school (in the 35-40 range), albeit not in Massachusetts. I was in the top 10 percent of my class, graduating magna cum laude and receiving Order of the Coif honors. I was a managing editor on my law review and received a top oralist award in moot court. I interned at the U.S. Attorney's Office my 2L summer and currently clerk on the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Why can't I get an interview with any firms?

Dear Top: Why can't you get an interview with any firms? It really doesn't make much sense, does it?

Although you didn't tell us as much, I am assuming from what you wrote that you have been applying for jobs with firms in Massachusetts (probably in Boston). Perhaps they are not categorizing your law school as a true tier 1 since it is in the 35-40 range, although that still doesn't make much sense to me, considering the fact that you were Coif, top 10 percent of your class and managing editor of your law review. In fact, nothing makes much sense to me about this.

Firms do like to see 2L summer experience at a law firm, but still -- U.S. Attorney's Office? That's a pretty nice place to spend a summer for a litigator. What aren't you telling us?

You are currently clerking for an appellate court. Are we missing something here? Did you just graduate, or is there some time in between graduation and this clerkship? Or did you not sit for the bar? Or not pass it a number of times? Or ever? These are the only things I can think of that might be the problem.

So, here are my suggestions:

1. Call several of the regional headhunters and ask their advice. More than likely, they are not going to be able to help you find a job, but you might be able to find one or two with a sympathetic ear who are willing to try to figure out why in the world no one is interested in giving you a job. They might even be able to suggest several law firms that would be interested in meeting with you.

2. Get on the phone with your law school's career services office and wring their figurative neck until they give you some help in setting up some interviews. With your credentials they should be thrilled to have you working at a top firm, representing them as a happy alum.

3. Make sure you are networking at every bar event and legal-related happening you can possibly attend. Speak to everyone. Leave no stone unturned.

Lastly, I ask the readers of this column to help me with this mystery. Why do you think this individual might not be able to get an interview? I can't figure this out. I turn to all of you for your help and insight, and later I will print your answers.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,
Ann Israel
President, Ann Israel & Associates