So What Do I Do Now? Legal Opportunities in NY & Boston
We cannot pretend the next few months will be business as usual. Hiring at many law firms is now on hold. But there are definite exceptions. A number of New York firms, not surprisingly, are looking to bolster their bankruptcy and financial restructuring practices. I’m also working on mid-level associate searches in health law, trademark & copyright, fund finance, leveraged finance, hedge funds, fund formation, tech trans, labor & employment and T&E searches in New York.
In Boston, a city that has been experiencing a significant boom in the legal markets in recent year, for several firms it’s full steam ahead on the hiring front. I am working on urgent searches for clients who are proceeding with Zoom interviews and even with remote offers and onboarding. Boston firms are currently looking for associates in:
Fund finance (mid-level)
Borrower-side debt finance (mid-level to senior)
Lender-side finance (mid-level)
Leveraged finance (mid-level)
Bankruptcy (junior or mid-level)
Finance & restructuring (all levels)
Healthcare law (mid-level to senior)
Capital markets (mid-level)
Healthcare law (mid-level to senior)
Tech transactions (mid-level)
Patent prosecution, EE/CS or life sciences (junior)
Private equity, M&A and general transactional (mid-level to senior)
Real estate (senior)
Candidates must have U.S. JDs, top credentials and BigLaw experience. Boston firms are generally very open to relocators from other major markets. Please reach out to me at to discuss any of the opportunities above.
But what if it’s not the right time for you to make a move? What if firms are not hiring in your practice area? There are still steps you can take during these uncertain times to stay productive from a career advancement perspective.
Update your resume and deal sheet. If you find yourself with a bit of extra time these days, get your materials in order. See my articles for Above the Law on resumes and deal sheets and feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I’d be happy to share sample resumes and deal sheets and give you specific suggestions for best presenting yourself to prospective employers.
Write a business plan. Too junior? No such thing. Start now, even if it’s for your eyes only. See my post for Above the Law on business plans.
Work on your soft skills. Do you wish you were a better communicator? A better public speaker? A better team leader? A better writer? Now is a great time to take that webinar. Yesterday, I attended a webinar on Communicating Clearly & with Confidence. I’ve signed up for several webinars next week through Georgetown’s Alumni Career Services office. Recording yourself in a Zoom meeting and watching yourself present can also offer some of the best feedback. (I learned by watching myself give a Zoom presentation on Monday that I am an “um”-er. Time to work on that!)
Start that personal project or hobby. Make this a productive time from a personal fulfillment perspective. If you’re struggling to just hold it all together, that is 100% OK. But if you’re cramming your day full of CNN and social media, consider scheduling in time to add some creativity to your life. Take an online cooking, photography or creative writing class. Try out a new school of yoga or meditation. Train your dog. Plan a strategy for how to keep this diversion as part of your life even when normalcy returns.
I’d love to hear your tips for advancing your career from the land of house arrest. Please reach out to me at to discuss specific lateral opportunities, for resume or business plan advice, or to discuss the lateral hiring market in general, whether it is the right time for you to make a move, or how to best position yourself for a move down the road.
