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What To Do If Your Job Is Cancelled or Delayed

In March alone, the legal industry lost 1,700 jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic – the highest level in 10 years.

As a result, the job market may seem bleak now for the Class of 2020.

Yoonji Han, of Business Insider, recently spoke to experts on how law school grads can stay on top of their game if their new jobs have been delayed or canceled.

FIND PRO BONO WORK

If your job plans have been interrupted by COVID-19, you can still find work.

Experts recommend law grads to find pro bono work, either through the law firm you’ve secured a job at or through non-profits.

“There’s really no shortage of pro bono work out there,” Jacqueline Bokser LeFebvre, managing director at the legal recruiting company, Major, Lindsey & Africa, tells Business Insider. “It’s a mutually beneficial situation: It’ll allow recent graduates to develop and hone their skills, and it allows underserved portions of society to get legal representation.”

DISCOVER OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Experts also suggest that law grads to look for other opportunities including clerkships, short-term work, or an LLM degree – opportunities that can help advance your career.

“I think it might be a good time to pivot and think about an alternative trajectory as a kind of a stepping stone,” Bokser LeFebvre tells Business Insider. “This might be a really good time for individuals to maybe consider an LLM program, or, if they want to focus on a particular niche like tax or bankruptcy, for individuals to pursue a clerkship and get substantial government experience.”

START NETWORKING

With everyone working from home, now may be an ideal time to reach out and try to connect with other professionals.

“Connect with everyone you meet virtually, including other people in your class, alumni, etc.,” Nathan Peart, managing director at Major, Lindsey & Africa, tells Business Insider. “Start a group, share experiences, engage with content, and ask questions. Ask people to spend time on a virtual coffee/call to understand their experiences and get their tips. Be super proactive even if it feels awkward.”

Sources: Business Insider, ABA Journal

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