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 Tuesday.

Q:I am a sixth-year litigation associate who very badly wants to make a switch from my current large firm. Unfortunately, due to the current market for litigators, my seniority or both, I am getting nowhere via the usual recruiter/Biglaw methods -- and by nowhere, I mean three months of looking without so much as an interview.

Realizing that Biglaw may not be in my future and realizing that I may not strictly be putting this to the right person, my question is: How best to explore job opportunities at firms that would not or could not normally afford to go through a recruiter? Even online classified ads seem to be dominated by recruiting firms or temp agencies.

LittleLaw

Dear LittleLaw: I hope by the end of this week's column you will feel more confident in my ability to be objective in answering your question.

I think the problem with your job search at this time is due to a few concerns.

First and foremost, you are senior, and that is probably an issue whether or not you are working with a recruiter. I would suspect that the online classified ads are not satisfying your need for leads to senior-level positions either, even if the ads do seem to be predominately placed by recruiting firms or temp agencies.

Litigation has been lagging behind the corporate job market lately, and that is also another matter that you have to face. However, it does seem that the litigation market is just now starting to percolate, and I suspect that after the first of the year we will start to see more openings as people give notice and move on to new opportunities (after receiving their year-end bonuses). Even so, that doesn't mean that there will be an entire new market of senior-level positions. I do think that is your biggest stumbling block.

The small litigation firms and boutiques definitely advertise (as well as use recruiters). But from my experience, they are the first places to be wary of hiring senior-level associates. I do think Biglaw may still be in your future, but you may have to be a bit more patient than three months' worth.

The key to your search is to not rely on recruiters and advertising. You have to expand your search to other areas.

First of all, you need to return to your law school career services office and ask around there if they might know of any appropriate opportunities for you. They also can help you find alum at other Biglaw firms whom you might want to correspond with to see if there are any opportunities within their firms.

Last, but the most important step of all, is going to involve how hard you are willing to network. You need to attend as many bar-related events as possible and get your name and intentions known. Any and all resources need to be followed: headhunters, classified ads, online job boards, bar association events, law school career services office, everyone you know, etc.

However, don't give up on your recruiters; stay on their radar screen, checking in frequently by phone or e-mail.

Hopefully, by staying on top of your job search through all of these avenues, something great will come your way right after the first of the year. Please let us know.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,
Ann Israel
President, Ann Israel & Associates