How's the job situation in Chicago?

[Brigid]

I'm thinking about moving there when I finish school.(paralegal). But I've been hearing that the job market there isn't too good.

[frazzled]

1. Get the job, then move

I always think that's wisest, if possible. Here's a web site listing paralegal jobs in Chicago. Start applying!

http://www.indeed.com/q-Paralegal-l-Chicago,-IL-jobs.html

[Loudly]

2. Where are you located now?

Does your school have placement relationships with local firms?

Here is a popular resource for Chicago legal jobs:

http://jobs.lawbulletin.com/lc.cfm?page=rc_tocs.cfm&position=Paralegals

[Brigid]

3. I'm in IN.

Indianapolis, to be exact. I like Indy, but it suffers from being in the Mississippi of the North.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. India no place? Sigh. Had lots of asbestos cases there.

Hated that drive on I-65. I do not recall a season when there was no construction.

The Daily Law Bulletin is like the holy bible of the legal profession. You may want to check with the law schools, too, because they have positions for non-lawyers, who have some training. We have a bunch here, Northwestern, U of C, John Marshall, DePaul, Loyola, Kent-IIT, I know of several paralegals that started with a law school, ended up enrolling while working, and shifting from paralegal to law.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Come by one friday, grab a Chicago Reader, (it comes out thursday night)

a free wonderful paper, with tons of news in and information, not including housing, movies, shows, music, theater, and food.
Also get a Tribune and a Suntimes, although the sunday vesions would suit you best with job info.

If you already have connections or contacts here, call them and put the thumb on their experiences and knowledge.

Despite all the crap we get from rabid GOP governators from Wisconsin or Indiana, the job situation in Chicago is actually not bad, and growing stronger.

While online sources are fair, remember that thousands (including some with jobs already, just looking for a change) will be doing the same thing, Most HR people cannot tell the diff between any of the applications or CVs that they get each day. A personal connection or "in" makes all the difference.

[mopinko]

6. picked up a reader lately?

not much left of it these days.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. Yeah, it is sagging a bit. Still

[mopinko]

7. pretty sure it is better than indy

your skills will be in demand here.
we have a solid, diversified economy here. the legal sector is huge.

come on up.