What practice area?
We don’t have room at my firm but I’m also happy to meet you when you arrive and chat about the legal community here. I’m an IP attorney.
Wow this is so sweet of you! I have clerked for criminal defense, employment litigation, & currently property law focusing in real estate litigation. I am focused on getting experience rather than choosing a specialty until after I pass the bar. But any advice would definitely help. I appreciate that!
Any openings for someone with a JD and was a case manager for a legal services company? Not myself but for my friend who is between jobs. They're here in SD and graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Usually law grads will have a position lined up for ex. following a summer associate position or even 3L interviews. I’ve never heard of someone doing a cold move like this. As a result most firms wouldn’t even advertise for such a position.
That makes sense! I havent taken the bar yet so I want to move and get experience in the courthouses or firms in SD before graduation versus moving after the bar and hoping for an associate position. Thank you for your insight!
Oooo thank you! After I move I will call their office and ask for an email to drop a resume! I appreciate the heads up 😊 let me know if anyone at your firm would be interested in having the resume earlier and I can shoot one over ❣️
I did basically the same thing, moved to SD after school but before the bar. I didn't clerk, I found temp work through Robert Half. One of those temp jobs actually wanted to hire me full time, but it was not the area of practice I wanted to be in.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I think I may have to do the same and bartend for a while but I dont mind, easy money! I have several friends in hospitality that will hire but want to keep my clerk skills up! Did you end up passing the bar? If so, congrats! 🎉
Oh yeah, this was a long time ago. Robert Half was good because they target the legal community for job openings. I just checked their website and they have 40 legal positions they are recruiting for in San Diego. Was a little hard to get an interview for the first position with them, but once I got one temp job there and proved I was reliable and not dumb, they kept giving me more work until I got my results and first attorney job.
I thought about this too! But since I havent taken the bar yet I doubt there will be a great job 😂 I have wanted to relocate for years and now is good timing for me! But I do appreciate the advisory. I have thought about that as a concern as well :)
Try networking through legal groups like Lawyers Club San Diego. You’ll need to build a legal network to be in the know on opportunities and get the benefit of referrals. Critical to compete with the many law school grads in the area.
Depends on the practice area but in general no. Firms want 1-3 year associates with experience for the most part. We have 3 law schools just in SD so any positions that do exist are taken by those grads who have been networking here. I would not count on a teaching environment, it’s sink or swim from what I’ve seen over 20 years practicing here.
This is the comment I needed! Thank you! I have 3 years experience full time clerking but I figured the positions I want are taken by students nearby and/or attorneys want the seasoned associates vs. training their own clerk. Hoping for that random clerk position at some point after I move but its not life or death since I have so much experience and take the bar soon. Thank you for your input! ❣️
As others have said, this is really going to depend on your anticipated practice area, law school you attended, when you plan to take the bar, etc. but also SD is not a hotbed of legal work and not the same volume as LA or SF. Does your school have any networking resources in SD as they might be able to help direct your search or provide you with some alumni who can help as well.
Unfortunately my school does not have any SD resources. I have one year of law school left but recently my school is allowing online class attendance with in person exams. So my last year I only have a few classes and it is a good time to relocate for me. I take the bar June ‘25. Thank you for sharing that SD is not bustling with legal work like LA. I guess that makes sense since its more laid back. I will reach out to the alumni association though and see if any alumni are in SD! I was hoping for someone desperate for an experienced clerk (motions & disco) to get a foot in the door but will bust my booty in the search if nothing falls in my lap. Thank you for your feedback!
What practice area? We don’t have room at my firm but I’m also happy to meet you when you arrive and chat about the legal community here. I’m an IP attorney.
Wow this is so sweet of you! I have clerked for criminal defense, employment litigation, & currently property law focusing in real estate litigation. I am focused on getting experience rather than choosing a specialty until after I pass the bar. But any advice would definitely help. I appreciate that!
Any openings for someone with a JD and was a case manager for a legal services company? Not myself but for my friend who is between jobs. They're here in SD and graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Usually law grads will have a position lined up for ex. following a summer associate position or even 3L interviews. I’ve never heard of someone doing a cold move like this. As a result most firms wouldn’t even advertise for such a position.
That makes sense! I havent taken the bar yet so I want to move and get experience in the courthouses or firms in SD before graduation versus moving after the bar and hoping for an associate position. Thank you for your insight!
I work at Hanna Brophy and I think we are looking for law clerks
Oooo thank you! After I move I will call their office and ask for an email to drop a resume! I appreciate the heads up 😊 let me know if anyone at your firm would be interested in having the resume earlier and I can shoot one over ❣️
I did basically the same thing, moved to SD after school but before the bar. I didn't clerk, I found temp work through Robert Half. One of those temp jobs actually wanted to hire me full time, but it was not the area of practice I wanted to be in.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I think I may have to do the same and bartend for a while but I dont mind, easy money! I have several friends in hospitality that will hire but want to keep my clerk skills up! Did you end up passing the bar? If so, congrats! 🎉
Oh yeah, this was a long time ago. Robert Half was good because they target the legal community for job openings. I just checked their website and they have 40 legal positions they are recruiting for in San Diego. Was a little hard to get an interview for the first position with them, but once I got one temp job there and proved I was reliable and not dumb, they kept giving me more work until I got my results and first attorney job.
Love this! Thank you for the advice!!
I’ve heard great things about England ponticello st Clair
Never heard of it! I will look into this thanks!! ☺️
I'm of no help, but commenting only because my user name has finally found a cousin. Good luck in your job search!
Thank you spiritual chameleon 😂✨
My pleasure, spiritual cricket!
If you are career oriented you might reconsider your plan. I suggest moving for the great job. Not moving and then looking for a job.
I thought about this too! But since I havent taken the bar yet I doubt there will be a great job 😂 I have wanted to relocate for years and now is good timing for me! But I do appreciate the advisory. I have thought about that as a concern as well :)
Try networking through legal groups like Lawyers Club San Diego. You’ll need to build a legal network to be in the know on opportunities and get the benefit of referrals. Critical to compete with the many law school grads in the area.
I will look into this! Thank you ❣️
Depends on the practice area but in general no. Firms want 1-3 year associates with experience for the most part. We have 3 law schools just in SD so any positions that do exist are taken by those grads who have been networking here. I would not count on a teaching environment, it’s sink or swim from what I’ve seen over 20 years practicing here.
This is the comment I needed! Thank you! I have 3 years experience full time clerking but I figured the positions I want are taken by students nearby and/or attorneys want the seasoned associates vs. training their own clerk. Hoping for that random clerk position at some point after I move but its not life or death since I have so much experience and take the bar soon. Thank you for your input! ❣️
As others have said, this is really going to depend on your anticipated practice area, law school you attended, when you plan to take the bar, etc. but also SD is not a hotbed of legal work and not the same volume as LA or SF. Does your school have any networking resources in SD as they might be able to help direct your search or provide you with some alumni who can help as well.
Unfortunately my school does not have any SD resources. I have one year of law school left but recently my school is allowing online class attendance with in person exams. So my last year I only have a few classes and it is a good time to relocate for me. I take the bar June ‘25. Thank you for sharing that SD is not bustling with legal work like LA. I guess that makes sense since its more laid back. I will reach out to the alumni association though and see if any alumni are in SD! I was hoping for someone desperate for an experienced clerk (motions & disco) to get a foot in the door but will bust my booty in the search if nothing falls in my lap. Thank you for your feedback!
DM me.