How To Handle Being Laid Off from a Law Firm

The recession has affected all industries now, causing layoffs even in the legal sector. Lawyers suddenly find themselves jobless. If you are one of these lawyers, along with other employees who have been laid off, there are a lot of things you should do before and after being laid off from a law firm.

Layoffs are announced a few weeks or months in advance, so you have to prepare yourself at once. First, check with your company’s human resources and finance department as to whether you will be getting the benefits that you are entitled to. These are the unpaid salaries, severance pay, monetary conversion of vacation and sick leave, and other benefits for laid off employees. This will depend on the number of years you have been working in the law office.

If you think your law office is not giving you what is due, check the labor law again and verify whether your employer is doing things the right, legal way. Once you have settled everything with your law firm, then it is time to plan and act for the future. It is understandable that you will feel depressed, ashamed of your situation, and bitter about the people who decided to let you go. It is best to get over it in a few days and start planning for a new course. Update your resume and start looking for job openings. Get in touch with your former colleagues if you have worked with several companies already. Get in touch with your relatives, friends and former schoolmates. Let everyone know you are looking for work. You may feel a bit choosy in the beginning, but company rankings are no longer relevant at this time.

While you are busy hunting for jobs, you may also practice your expertise as a lawyer and provide legal advice pro bono, or for a small fee if you really need the money. You can also serve as a freelance accident lawyer, provide services to those who need to prepare power of attorney and other legal documents. Some people prefer to approach freelance lawyers because of the relatively lower fees compared with lawyers who work for large law firms. Also use your free time reading new journals and books that will help you in landing a good job.

Aside from using your free time to make you more marketable, now is the best time to do the things you have been putting off because of your hectic work schedule. Become involved with some hobbies, meet family and friends, and help other people. If you have enough savings to get by without a job for a few weeks or months, then you can take on volunteer work and while you are at it, start establishing networks with people you meet. You might just land a better and more fulfilling job simply by exposing yourself to new organizations and volunteer groups. It is a simple marketing style – market yourself by letting others see what you love to do for free, at least for a short while.