Thoughts on Job Hunting in Laramie/Cheyenne Area (2010, apartment)

[lilnickles85]

Hi All:

I will be graduating law school back east in May 2010, taking the bar exam in July 2010. I am currently looking for new associate positions/or something else somewhat law-related (I am not absolutely tied to being a lawyer). My background is mostly civil rights/disability (inc. special education) law, but I am open to other areas (just not anything dealing with securities and the like). I have put in a request to view the University of Wyoming job postings and have done a little more snooping around, but I wasn't sure if anyone had any other suggestions.

Also, my boyfriend is looking at WyoTech in Laramie (mostly the reason for looking at the area, along with his mom living in Idaho), and would like to work at least part-time. He has a background in construction and HVAC, but would also be open to auto mechanic jobs.

Any ideas or other hints? I know Summer 2010 is a long ways away, but jobs for new attorneys are scarce, even in the capital of NY. Thanks so much!

[rya700]

Since there is a law school at UW, it could be competitive in that area....

[lilnickles85]

Hi All! I thought that I would try to renew this thread in hopes of some advice. I AM MOVING TO LARAMIE! Hopefully in August of 2010. My boyfriend will be starting classes at Wyotech in September. Wyotech is going to help us find an apartment and him a part time job, so that is covered. All that is needed is a job for me- a new attorney (after taking the July 2010 bar). I would like to stay in Laramie, but am willing to commute to Cheyenne if need be (or even Fort Collins). I understand the difficulty of commuting in the Winter (I just read about this week's snow storms- yikes!), but I also understand it may be a necessity in these economic times. Any suggestions on the legal job climate out there and where I should be looking?? Thanks so much- I am excited to be going out west!

[sunsprit]

In view of my recent conversations with several lawyers in Cheyenne, I'd say that their overall business picture for many is rather slow these days. Many of them have downsized and no longer use the legal staff they did in recent years. A few attorneys are busy, but they're specialists, well known, well established, and have a niche marketplace. Many others have been subject to serious cut-backs.

Absent finding a position with one of the major law firms or governemnt agency in town at a very low starting pay rate, I wouldn't get my hopes up that there's a real income for you in Cheyenne in your specialty area of law. Keep in mind that the billing rates/pay rates in Cheyenne are a lot less than major metropolitan areas throughout the USA ... $175/hr is about the top rate you'll see here for experienced attorneys. A lesser known attorney would be hard pressed to find clients at that rate, and I've used some of the best for various matters at $125/hr, and they were very accomodating as to their billable hours for work that typically would have been done by a much lower billing rate legal aide or assistant.

As I've mentioned many times in the past, it's very unrealistic to plan on commuting between Laramie and Cheyenne. You're looking at one of the worst weather/road conditions situations in the state on I-80 over the hill, and if you "must" be at work in a timely manner, you simply cannot count on it for a lot of days each year. Even if the road isn't closed, it's a rather nasty drive and can be a white-knuckler on many transits. I've known a fair number of people who tried to do this routine, and it simply wasn't worth the risk/exposure over time (usually in the first year) and they ultimately moved to the town where they had employment. You can have the best snow/ice car in the world at your disposal, and it still cannot overcome the blowing/drifting snow & ice conditions on this road, especially in a white-out where you can't see the front of the hood of the car ... or where the WHP has closed the road due to accidents or conditions.

Good luck on your move to Laramie. It's a great area, a wonderful town, and a good place for the auto tech training.

[lilnickles85]

Thanks for the advice! I am not tied to being an attorney per se, so I will look out for more creative options- I am definitely interested in more governmental or educational jobs. Luckily the feds passed a new loan repayment plan this year, so hopefully I can utilize that to my advantage in the move. I would love to work in Laramie, because I really am over the commuter thing (I do it every day here in NY). I really appreciate the candidness of how awful the commute is.

Thanks again!