As graduation approaches each spring, soon-to-be graduates crowd into law school career services offices, eager to enter the workforce. "The number one concern I hear from graduating law students," said Lori McMaster, director of career services at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, "is that they do not have a job lined up upon graduation. But the truth is, many law students do not graduate with jobs already in place."
Once the bar exam has come and gone, many new graduates who are still seeking employment turn to contract work doing electronic document review, referred to simply as "doc review." New graduates frequently perceive doc review as a last resort to pay the bills. However, they are increasingly learning that doc review provides an opportunity for developing attractive, transferable legal skills, flexibility to pursue community- and leadership-focused activities, and decent pay. Doc review can provide a valuable starting point for a transition to a permanent position, whether in traditional law practice, a clerkship or other government position, or a nontraditional legal position.
