Dear Ann Landers, read with interest the letter from "Unem-ployed MBA/JD." I work in a law firm and her story is one I've heard before. Many times. The market is so glutted with lawyers that our small firm is able to hire Ivy League graduates for associate positions. In fact, they are beating our doors down. It definitely is an employer's market. We have received a large num-ber of resumes from attorneys who are applying for paralegal posi-tions. Their cover letters state that they have been trying to find positions without success and are willing to work as paralegals to get a foot in the door. The attorneys we do hire are expected to work diligently and be ex-tremely competent. If they don't measure up, they don't last long. Re-placements are a dime a dozen. One thing is for sure-I am not going to encourage my children to be lawyers. Jobs are hard to find, the hours are long and the pay is lousy. Good luck to "Unemployed MBA/JD." She will need it.
Hi! It's Margo here. I'd love to know what you think of the letters -- and the answers!
Also, any additional thoughts you might have. Thanks!
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Our Reader to Reader Question of the Week:
Dear Readers, , the whole building shakes. He pops his chewing gum and cracks his knuckles. Last week he took off his shoes and cracked his toes. When he talks to me on the intercom, he breathes so hard between sentences I want to scream. Sometimes he coughs and wheezes-all this with a cigar clenched between his teeth so his words are barely in-telligible. Some days when he is extremely busy, he will tell me not to put through any calls. Later in the day, when I give him a list of the callers, he gets mad and yells, “Why didn’t you put Mr. X. and Mrs. R. through? You should have known those calls were important!” So in addition to having the patience of a saint, I am expected to be a mind reader. Any suggestions? -Only Human and That’s Not Enough
