Laid Off and Looking for New Job

Well, I (Peter) got laid off from my job, completely, as of the last day of September, so I have time to make blog posts now. I worked for the past year and a half as General Counsel at a company doing In-Flight Entertainment. After being laid off, I still have worked for the company as an independent contractor on an hourly basis. The company provided portable media players to airlines, which the airlines in turn provided to their passengers. I did all of the legal work for the company and created financial business models to analyze the company's finances, review sales opportunities, and new business development opportunities. I negotiated, drafted, and reviewed commercial contracts. I also set up the company's Simple IRA retirement plan and administered it. I managed all of the litigation for the company, including patent infringement defense and collections. I also managed intellectual property development, filing trademarks and working with outside counsel to file patents.

Now I'm looking for a new job. I've applied for many positions and have had four interviews. None of them have panned out yet though, even though I have done everything on the job descriptions for some of them. I have 1.5 years experience as in-house counsel, but if someone else has more than 1.5, they are the ones that get the job. I heard there were DOZENS of attorneys applying for the last job that I interviewed at, but at least I was able to get into an interview our of the dozens.

I've been looking for jobs at Indeed.com, Monster.com, BYU Intercollegiate Job Bank, UVU Faculty Jobs, BYU Faculty Jobs, LDS Employment Services, LDS Jobs, Utah.Jobs.Gov, Utah Government and Federal Government jobs. I've also applied for jobs I've heard about from others.

The timing has been nice actually, since we just had a baby last month, and I was able to spend a lot more time helping out Kira, Adlee, and the new baby, Mason. I'm actually not worried at all that something will work out, when it is supposed to. It always does if you just do what's right and pay your tithing. It would be nice if something worked out pretty soon though.

I started a title company called West Lake Title Insurance Agency, with two other attorneys. We have closed on a few houses in the last month, but we need to close on some more. We do the title insurance, document preparation, escrow, and closing on residential and commercial property transactions.

I've also done some legal work on the side since getting laid off, including criminal defense, and landlord tenant cases. It's pretty fun doing litigation work for clients. But finding clients is the problem. I don't know the best way to market a law firm.

I've applied for MBA jobs as well, but haven't even had an interview for any of them, even though I have about three and a half years experience in international trade, in marketing and strategy, regulatory, finance and taxes, and contract law.

I could probably find a job quicker if I applied outside of Utah, but we don't really want to move somewhere else, plus I own a title company here and I've passed the bar in Utah. I would have to pass the bar in another state to practice law there.

If anyone knows of any law or MBA jobs in Utah let me know. Thanks!