The ABC’s of Law Career Consulting

For many lawyers, the information and guidance found in career books is a sufficient template for a self-guided career change. Others, however, may feel the need to consult with a professional career change agent for more hands-on assistance with the transition process. In this excerpt from What Can You Do With a Law Degree, law career consultant Carol Kanarek explains the roles of some of the third parties involved in the career planning and job-search process:

Career counselors have very little in common with legal search firms, yet many lawyers mistakenly believe that they are interchangeable.

The most fundamental difference between them is that legal search firms represent the interests of employers (because they are paid by them), while a career counselor works for you. When you work with a career counselor, you are the client and you pay the fee. Consequently, you should perform the due diligence necessary to satisfy yourself that the counselor’s approach is compatible with your particular needs and objectives.

Just as in therapy, a good counselor can help you explore options and find answers. But they are not a placement agency.

Indeed, be wary of companies that charge a hefty up-front fee (usually several thousand dollars), and imply that they will be able to find work for you “because they are so well-connected”. Usually these companies are little more than very expensive mass-mailing services, and they have no secrets not known by more reasonably-priced career counselors. Look for a counselor who charges by the hour; this allows you to retain the option to spend as much time with that person as is useful to you. They should be able to guide you through the self-assessment and market-assessment process, and provide guidance in resume and cover-letter writing, the drafting of a practice-development plan, networking strategies, interviewing techniques, and negotiation of the terms of employment.

It is important to select a career counselor who has significant experience working with attorneys. Otherwise he or she may not have information on relevant resources, options and challenges.

In the roster of career counselors and coaches that accompanies this introduction, most of the individuals once practiced law themselves, and all of them have considerable experience working with lawyers in transition. You can also find additional referrals from law school career services offices and local bar associations. Incidentally, if you have a spouse or partner, you may want to bring them to an early session with your career counselor so that they will gain a deeper understanding of the options that will be both satisfying and realistic for you. Some senior lawyers find couples counseling to be a useful addition to the job or career transition process, as many non-lawyers do not fully understand the stresses and realities of the legal profession.

– Carol Kanarek, JD/MA/MSW (www.kanarekandbrady.com) — Ms. Kanarek is a New York-based law career consultant with a national coaching practice.