Job Opportunities - Possible Move to Area from FL (San Francisco: insurance, lawyers)

[TriMT7]

So my long term SO received a job offer in the general San Francisco area... Stanford, to be exact.

Now comes the part of deciding whether or not to take the opportunity, which would be a significant raise and increase in responsibility. The idea of some new scenery for at least a couple of years (job committment is two years minimum) is exciting, as will be an obvious change in lifestyle from South Florida.

HOWEVER, the biggest issue is essentially me, and my employment prospects out there. I am a Florida trained attorney with experience in insurance law and litigation. I have large firm experience, but it's a statewide, not a national, firm (for potential laterals). Also, taking the California Bar is not appealing, and a costly option should CA not be to our liking in a couple of years. I'm probably facing a big pay cut in doing so, but would take the opportunity to explore other potential (and potentially completely unrelated) job prospects in the area.

That being said, any former or current attorneys on here that have an idea of what JD holders can expect to find in terms of non-CA bar requirement job opportunities? Anyone been successful finding a marginally good paying job doing something interesting or even creative? Or should I be scouring insurance companies for claims and litigation examiner jobs?

Guess I'm just thinking out loud here... decisions need to be made soon, and standing on the corner collecting signatures for NARAL or Greenpeace (per Craigslist Not-for-profit job section search!) seems to be a last resort option!

[mayorhaggar]

Hey, I've seen ya on the WPB board now and then.

I imagine it's pretty rare to see attorneys working as attorneys in CA who haven't done the state bar. You see a lot of California lawyers who have taken the bar in surrounding states like OR or NV but they always have the CA bar as well. I imagine you don't get many lawyers in FL who have taken the CA bar.

Frankly I'd just take the bar here, there are a ton of law firms out here especially in San Francisco. It's competitive to get a decent law job but hopefully your experience would help you land a position around here. And if you ended up moving back to FL in a couple years you'd at least have "passed the CA bar" on your resume. Without the CA bar you might end up having to work as a paralegal, and they make maybe $60,000 at a big firm for someone with a lot of experience.