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 Tulane Law School in the middle of my class with a 3.0 GPA. Like a previous reader, I had a terrible first year but mostly made As during 2L & 3L to get to the middle of the class. I took and passed the New York bar on my first try and I am now working in New York, albeit in a non-practicing setting (Lexis-Nexis). After my first year of law school, I took a year off thanks to Hurricane Katrina. I worked personal contacts in Los Angeles and managed to get a job at a boutique firm. I did a lot of paralegal-type work, but I also participated in five trials, wrote motions, briefs, memos, etc. As such, I have some semblance of actual legal experience.

I need your advice on how to transition from a non-legal to a law firm job. My ideal work setting is in the small to midsize firm environment. Do you think my credentials are competitive in the current market? Alternatively, do you think I will be an attractive candidate when the economy returns to normal? I am perfectly willing to weather the bad economy in my non-traditional legal job. However, I came to New York with the intention to practice law and I hope my luck changes when the economy improves.

Do you think my middle-of the road GPA from Tulane together with the non-legal experience I am gathering is going to hurt my chances with small firms? Also, do you think the legal experience that I got while working for the small boutique firm will help, even if it was prior to receiving my J.D.? My job search has left me with a bruised ego and I just want to hear an expert tell me whether I'm in denial or not.

Dear Bruised: Here's the thing -- the experience you had at a boutique law firm when you took a year off from law school after your 1L year ... . I'm sure it was fun and exciting and a great experience for you but it just doesn't count as legal experience, no matter how you slice it. Additionally, I don't know when you graduated from Tulane but that work you did in Los Angeles was at least 2 1/2 years ago now, if not more.

So, it's fine if you want to put it on your resume to show that you weren't just sitting on a beach when you took the year off and that you actually used the time to work in a law firm -- but I don't see how it shows that you have experience as an attorney. If that firm truly let you participate in a trial as an attorney then they have committed malpractice. I wouldn't want to brag about that on an interview.

I think you have to be very realistic about your credentials. Right now I believe you are not a competitive candidate with the legions of associates who have been laid off from the BigLaw firms due to economic downturns. Many of them have outstanding credentials and come from a major law firm training background. They too are willing to work at a small- and/or medium-sized law firm for now. How do you compete with these people? That doesn't mean you shouldn't continue to send out your resume and stop trying to get these jobs. You never know.

What I am trying to tell you is that you should hold on to the job you currently have and be the best you can possibly be there. This economy will eventually turn around and when it does, those small- and medium-sized firms will be desperate for associates. At that time you can represent yourself as what you truly are, a first-year associate looking for your first job.

But in the meantime you are fortunate enough to have a job, and even though you are not practicing in a traditional legal job, remember, it is in the legal community. And believe me, when things turn around, the firms are going to be short-handed on first-years since they won't have any hanging around. Those small firms you are interested in will be interested in you at that time.

Since you are willing to weather out the bad economy in your non-traditional legal job, hang in there. Bandage up that bruised ego because I am not so certain that it should be so damaged at this time. You are employed, you passed the New York bar on your first try and you are able to hang in there for a while at the same time when so many others are unemployed and desperate. Hey, things really aren't looking all that awful, are they? Well, as I always say, if at all possible, when given lemons, make lemonade -- and I think you have a nice full pitcher there. I hope this helps you out a bit during this rough time. Best wishes!

Sincerely,
Ann M. Israel
President, Ann Israel & Associates