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: After a month between jobs I received two offers. I likely would not have accepted either one had I been employed, but I did accept one, first, because I had to, and, second, because I was promised various opportunities to practice in new areas. After a week, it's clear the promises will be broken, that I was hired to be a body to fill a seat. Also, to say things are disorganized in the office is an understatement. My question is, how long am I required to stay?

Dear Employed: Interesting, very interesting. Well, I guess the answer to your question really depends on whether or not you have a contract, and since you didn't mention one, I suspect a contract is not involved. Therefore, you are only required to stay as long as you want to stay. In other words, if you want to quit today, go ahead and do so. However ... before you do anything rash, I would think it over.

In this tight job market, it is really wonderful that after only one month, you received two job offers. Yet, you tell us that had you been employed at the time, you wouldn't have accepted either offer, so we have to assume that neither employer was really the greatest in the world. It is a sad state of affairs to say that you accepted a job because you "had to."

Really? You had two job offers after just one month of unemployment and you didn't like either one ... . Didn't you think you could hold out any longer to try to find something that perhaps you might like just a little bit?

Actually, I don't believe in passing up offers in these economic times, but I also don't believe in going to work somewhere that will make me unhappy.

So you took this job because they made you promises about practicing in new areas and you can tell after only one week that these are empty promises? Have you spoken to the person who hired you about this situation? Why would anyone hire someone just to fill a seat in this economy? What firm or company has that kind of disposable income?

You asked how long you were required to stay and I told you that you could leave straight away. Sure, you can quit right now. But since you took this job to begin with because you "had to," I assume your situation hasn't really changed and you still need to be employed. Therefore, I wouldn't jump ship so fast unless you have another job offer -- and for something guaranteed to be better -- waiting for you as you walk out the door. Otherwise you are liable to be on that proverbial -- and literal -- breadline for many months to come.

It's a tough job market out there right now and you need to face that reality. We have no idea whatsoever about your credentials or experience or situation but it really doesn't matter -- the candidate pool right now is big and your competition is tough. You better face up to the fact that you are fortunate to be gainfully employed and collecting a paycheck.

Before you do anything hasty, go to the person who hired you and find out exactly what your responsibilities are supposed to be. You should be proactive in your job -- sitting around doing nothing isn't fun and perhaps they are waiting for you to jump up and ask for work. Who knows what the office procedure is there? But whatever it is, sitting on your duff and thinking that you have made a mistake is not going to make it any better for you. You need to find out if they actually did misrepresent the position or if they are just disorganized in the first week -- and those new practice areas and a load of good work all are about to be thrown on your desk (wouldn't that be great!).

It is possible that there has been a great miscommunication here and you can rectify it after just the first week. Or maybe you did make a mistake by joining this firm. Whatever. But you need to find out before you just up and quit. And don't quit without having another job! Hang in there whatever you do end up finding out. Remember -- it's better just filling a seat and collecting a paycheck, if that is what they hired you to do, than sitting at home without that paycheck! Best wishes.

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