Post Bar

So the bar exam has come and gone and the wait is on. The agony of waiting for results has set in by now. The best advice for remedying this type of hangover is to not think about it. I know it seems impossible, but it really is the only thing you CAN do. So try.

To keep your mind busy, start pounding the pavement for a job if you don't already have one. With the present legal job market as it is (at least in southern CA), don't be too picky. Take that law clerk position. You'll have your foot in the door and a paycheck in the bank. Remember the old adage: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? Well in our case there are no birds in the bush, so if that little tweety bird hops into your open hand, clamp down hard.

You may also want to spend a little bit of time looking into starting your own law practice. Hey, you never know. Although I only graduated 3 years ago, I already know of at least 3 classmates who have opened their own practice. I'm sure there are a number of others I don't know about. I used to think this was asking for a malpractice suit on a silver platter, but maybe not. If you can get into a smaller firm and get to learn the ins and outs of practice well enough, and you have a modicum of business sense, you can probably launch out pretty quickly.

So even if you can only find work as a law clerk even after you get licensed, take it and suck that opportunity dry. If they turn you into their workhorse, even better. That is more opportunity to become self-sufficient and learn everything you can. And don't forget to learn everything you can about the day to day business aspect of a law practice. Remember, it's not worth anything if you don't make a profit!