I’m a prosecutor. Well, was. I have been for almost 15 years. It’s not a very stable existence, because you’re always teetering on the brink because of elections. Will my boss win, will I get rehired? So I’ve had to change jobs a couple times, due to my bosses losing elections.
That’s not what’s happening at the current place, though. I’m not 100% sure why I’m being let go. The reason I was told is BS. My best guess is that my boss is friends with the new guy, who had to quit his job in a neighboring city on January 1 because (surprise) he doesn’t get along with the new DA. So, my boss, who apparently is more loyal to him than to me, gave him my job. So I’m on the street.
I’ve been applying for other jobs like mad, but so far nothing. The whole process is discouraging. I feel like a failure.
My wife told my 11-year-old daughter last night. She’s being super nice and cheerful to me. That’s my brightest spot right now, and what I’m clinging to. I hope she’s okay when she finds out that Dad has to take a job that’s so far away he’ll have to move there and just come visit on weekends.
One suggestion (you probably already thought of). Personal Injury plaintiff work is a natural for former prosecutors. (we have three in our firm).
You have trial experience and a history for fighting for victims’ rights. Also, presumably, good relationships with the local judiciary. I don’t know anything about Raidersville, but you might even consider starting a solo practice. Take a local lawyer to lunch and pick their brain about the economic realities of a contingency fee practice first.
This seems like such a flawed system. It must hard enough to find dedicated people to work in public service as prosecutors, but then to add this risk of skilled prosecutors losing their jobs on a political swing? I mean, you’re doing a job that has (or should have) nothing at all to do with politics, it just seems bizarre that you are treated as though you are an elected politician’s staffers.
I’m sorry to hear it. I lost my patent lawyer job last spring, and I have found it tough to find something new, especially for those of us who are no longer spring chickens. Good luck finding something that works for you.
This reminds me of a situation from a small town I lived in for a while. A deputy prosecutor decided to run on the Republican ticket against her boss, the Democratic incumbent. They apparently made a tacit agreement that the loser would stay on as a deputy, so no job loss necessary.
Good luck and also don’t forget universities - they sometimes hire people with real-life experience to teach
Take advantage of all the government support bodies available! And go for a frikken hike now you have the time. It will clear your head.
Yeah, being unemployed sucks. I lost my job back in October I just hate the whole process of trying to find a job.
I guess my advice is as follows:
-You’ve been in your last job for a long time. Depending on your financial situation, try and take some time to relax. Unless you are lucky, the process takes months and it’s not going to go any faster by getting worked up about it. Just try to do a bit of job hunting each day.
-Go to as many networking activities as you can - school, law school, industry events, social events, meeting friends and colleagues for lunch / drinks. You never know when you might meet someone who can help you out. That’s how I landed my last job.
-Have you considered working in a consulting firm? A lot of consulting and accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, BDO, AlixPartners, Navigant, etc, etc) provide various professional services supporting the legal profession. They often look for ex-attorneys.
Could you go to the other side of the street and hang out your shingle as a *defense *attorney? ISTM being able to say “I’m a former prosecutor and I know all their tricks” would be attractive to defendants.
It could be worse - I think I’d rather be unemployed from time to time in the kind of career you have than consistently employed at the job I currently have, and probably will have, for the next 22 years, 3months and 5 days . . . god help me.
What’s stopping you from looking for another job?
I don’t remember what you do for a living. But I fucking HATE being unemployed. Pretty much more than anything I can imagine.
