Law School Graduates

Life as a lawyer is tough. Sometimes it’s downright unfair. And finding that first job may come with some big-time, unexpected hard truths. Newly licensed attorney jobs in North Carolina are not guaranteed merely because you graduated from law school or passed the bar examination.

I am not saying that to discourage newly licensed lawyers. Quite the contrary. I have devoted much of my professional career to legal education and the advancement of the profession. I have taught and hosted continuing legal education programs, written practical materials, trained lawyers and legal staff, and worked to help younger attorneys develop into capable, ethical advocates. I very much want all lawyers to succeed, new or otherwise.

Sometimes that warrants saying plainly what law schools, career services offices, and social media may not disclose.

Finding a job as a new lawyer can be humbling, particularly after three years of law school, passing the bar, and hearing for years how much promise you have.

An August 17, 2026 article in US News and World Report discusses staying mentally strong during a long job search. Fair enough. Rejection is difficult. Silence is frustrating. Watching classmates announce new positions on social media while you are still sending résumés can make you question every decision that brought you to law school.

Mental resilience helps, but newly licensed lawyers might also benefit from a friendly, well-intentioned dose of reality from a lawyer who has been practicing for a while. You are entering a demanding profession. A law degree gives you an opportunity to begin proving yourself. It does not establish that you can manage a client, prepare a witness, try a case, bring business into a firm, or exercise sound judgment when the answer is not printed in a casebook.

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