You could also put in some volunteer work with any kind of charity; that'd look very good on a resume, & you might wind up making some more contacts from it too. Given your comments/situation, if there's anywhere you could work to help provide pro bono or significantly discounted legal services, maybe that'd be worth exploring. Sorry if I'm just saying things here you already know http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gifI've contacted a few volunteer legal aid places in Milwaukee. Most of them even want you to actually have experience in the legal industry because you'd be working cases on your own. There is one that said they would provide training/advice but they don't have any "openings" now and they would keep me in mind. As far as volunteering with a law firm, that technically isn't legal so I haven't really gotten anywhere with that. I might look into asking if I can "job shadow" for a bit or something and see if I find any openings with that. The lack of experience is the main thing holding me back, even with applying for jobs that "only" require a Bachelors degree. I can't really get a job without experience but I can't really get experience without the job. It's kind of a chicken and egg thing. I know that most of the larger law firms in the area have specific programs for new grads. Even though you aren't technically a new grad anymore, it might be worth your time to try and get in touch with their recruiting departments and at least find out about their hiring process. You might at least be able to get in touch with someone who is in tune with the local hiring environment. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably write a generic letter to send to employers. One or two paragraphs would probably be sufficient. Start by explaining your situation and maybe some of the things that you've learned about your job search (just don't be negative) and about what you would bring to the table (hard work, positive attitude, etc.). Then do some research to customize your letter to the firm. Make sure you show that you are interested in cases/issues they were involved in and make sure to ask questions. You might not land a job there but you might get in touch with someone that knows someone that knows someone that is looking for cheap help. You can also probably take that strategy and try to get in touch with legal/financial departments of local businesses. I personally work as a financial analyst but I deal with legal contracts/questions on a nearly daily basis. I'm sure there would be businesses that would be willing to bring someone in for a few months to read a ton of contracts and turn the legalese into English. It certainly isn't glamorous but it would be something to put on your resume. If I could give one piece of advice for just about any job seeker would be DON'T rely on job boards. You really have to do most of your own work (or find a good recruiter, which is difficult when looking for an entry level job) and not be afraid to put yourself out there. It's a difficult process, but contacts that you think of as "dead-ends" now might turn out to be money down the road.
