Legal Jobs

[S.]

Hey all -

Been diggin' around in various places online, and I've made note of the couple sites you've mentioned  when searching on the job front locally.  That said, I'm wondering if any of you know of a local legal recruiter/employment agency.  I've got some sense of the local firms from checking them out online.  But that's about as far as I've gotten. I'm a paralegal, and I'll be lookin' to head out that way this time next year, and thought I'd start stashin' away a few tidbits on the legal job front sooner rather than later.

Any thoughts, ramblings, specs, or info. are mucho appreciated.

S.

[Rowdy]

quote:Originally posted by S.

Hey all -

Been diggin' around in various places online, and I've made note of the couple sites you've mentioned  when searching on the job front locally.  That said, I'm wondering if any of you know of a local legal recruiter/employment agency.  I've got some sense of the local firms from checking them out online.  But that's about as far as I've gotten. I'm a paralegal, and I'll be lookin' to head out that way this time next year, and thought I'd start stashin' away a few tidbits on the legal job front sooner rather than later.

Any thoughts, ramblings, specs, or info. are mucho appreciated.

S.

I'm sure the Tulsa judicial system is looking for honest people...

[cannon_fodder]

Tulsa's legal community is highly dependent on word of mouth and networking.  At various times I have worked for five different firms/agencies in Tulsa and most of them have an interview process as opposed to turning to employment agencies.  

One place worth checking for sure is the Tulsa County Bar Association:
http://www.tulsabar.com/

You could also check with the University of Tulsa's College of Law Career center, I'm not sure but I imagine they would give you some tips.

If you are thinking about applying at any firms let me know and I'll see if I can get you the skinny on them.

[Hometown]

Key Legal Personnel
www.keyjobs.com

I just went through a job search and Key Legal was the best.  But brace yourself, it doesn't pay like elsewhere.

[S.]

Thanks for the tips, everyone.  I appreciate it.  You've answered the basic question, which is whether or not Tulsa uses the agencies as a general rule.  Seems some cities do, and some don't.  I'll make a note of the web sites, and would definitely love input on any firms when the time comes.  I am as prepared as possible, I think, for the decreased pay.  Along the same lines, I'm looking forward to the drop in cost of living and housing.  I've taken a brief look around, and it sounds like I should expect an approximate 10k drop in salary coming to Tulsa.  However, I'll actually experience about an 8.5k boost in disposable income due to the lower cost of living.  So I'm thinking it'll all even itself out, for the most part.  I think the trickiest part will be finding the job.  I've got a good background, in terms of varied legal experience, but I've recently moved into working in intellectual property law and doubt there's as much of a demand for it in Tulsa as there is here in Seattle.  But you never know.  Just might be, too.  I've seen at least one firm with an IP department in Tulsa while I was browsing firm web sites recently.

Well - thanks again!  You've again proven yourselves very helpful – and quite funny, too (which is definitely icing on the cake).  

S.

[cannon_fodder]

The IP work in Tulsa is highly specialized in the oil and gas industry.  Every time an oil and gas company comes up with a new mole, method for welding, or design for a skid they run out and get a patent on some aspect of it.  With the oil industry booming, there is work to be had in that area.

Run over the Bureau of Labor Statistics and you can see what the 'average' paralegal i Tulsa makes:
http://data.bls.gov/oes/search.jsp

The data shows that a paralegal/legal assistant makes an average of $40,000 in the Tulsa area.  With $53,000 marking the 90th percentile as of 2005.

best of luck.

[Conan71]

I think there are plenty of il-legal jobs available in Tulsa as well.  Not sure of the pay ranges...

[Hometown]

I took almost a $40,000 cut and I've been working on a budget and I'm telling you nothing is less in Tulsa, except for housing.  In fact I pay more for just about everything across the board.  But the local cheerleaders will tell you it's practically free to live here.  (That's how they justify their low wages.)  Why am I here?  How about a wonderful old house from the 20s that would have set me back several million in California.  The real estate market can fall apart and for what I paid, I'll survive.

[cannon_fodder]

From Seattle you can take a 22% hit in salary and maintain your standard of living according to the BLS.  Though, bankrate.com has a much prettier comparison:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/movecalc.asp?a=0&d1=40000&d2=115.270326025535&d3=90.1190707119429

It uses the BLS numbers so the outcome is the same but makes it a lot easier to understand.  Housing, as Hometown mentioned, is the big saver and also medical care.  The BLS seems to think most things are comparable or cheaper; compared to the Seattle area at least.

From Seattle, you will be amazed at the housing market here.  For $100,000 you can get a nice house in a nice part of town.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

I took almost a $40,000 cut and I've been working on a budget and I'm telling you nothing is less in Tulsa, except for housing.  In fact I pay more for just about everything across the board.  But the local cheerleaders will tell you it's practically free to live here.  (That's how they justify their low wages.)  Why am I here?  How about a wonderful old house from the 20s that would have set me back several million in California.  The real estate market can fall apart and for what I paid, I'll survive.

C'mon HT, add just a little more water to your half-empty glass.

How much is gasoline in 'Frisco these days?

I will agree that when I've been to Calif. in the past a lot of consumer items were about the same some less, housing was insane expensive, but college education was a real bargain for residents.  

My friend (yes, I only have one, surprised? [] ) and his wife moved there right after they got married for about ten years while they worked and both went to college.

They got caught in the housing slump in Riverside County when they moved back about 8 years ago and had to rent it out at less than their mortgage payment for a few years until they could afford to sell it when the market came back.

[Hometown]

You don't have to drive in SF.  Okay, I knew it was coming.  All the cheerleaders telling me about how cheap it is here.  That's it.  I'm going to post a line by line comparison of expenses.  It's not going to make you happy.  I'm in the sunset phase of my life.  You guys are right in the middle trying to make your pile and your going, maybe I've made a mistake.  Maybe I shouldn't have voted for "right to work."  Duh.

[Conan71]

Hey, even if the COL, other than housing and gas are higher here, I'm willing to pay it as long as I don't have to deal with crazy, liberal Californiacs. []

[cannon_fodder]

I was just running around honking my horn, I posted to governmental statistics to illustrate my point.

As far as San Francisco is concerned, even if everything in Tulsa was twice as expensive you'd still come out ahead because of cheap housing.  Not to mention all my friends that live in San Francisco have cars.  I'm not talking living in Oakland or Daley City, I'm talking Franklin and Green and areas like that.  Not everyone in San Fran needs a car like you do here, but many people still do need a car and even many of those that dont need one - have one.

Furthermore, if you dont have a car replace that cost with the cost of public transportation.  Depending on the car and the route it could be a wash.  I know I spend less on my car than my buddy does commuting to downtown Chicago by rail everyday.

So go up above and look at my post where I link to a website that provides a line by line comparison.  Sheesh.

[deinstein]

Car Payment, Car Insurance and Gas override any argument simply because Tulsa does not have great public transportation system.

[S.]

Once an oil town always an oil town. Thanks for the info.  Good to know.  The salary info. is very close to what I saw, as well.  

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

The IP work in Tulsa is highly specialized in the oil and gas industry.  Every time an oil and gas company comes up with a new mole, method for welding, or design for a skid they run out and get a patent on some aspect of it.  With the oil industry booming, there is work to be had in that area.

Run over the Bureau of Labor Statistics and you can see what the 'average' paralegal i Tulsa makes:
http://data.bls.gov/oes/search.jsp

The data shows that a paralegal/legal assistant makes an average of $40,000 in the Tulsa area.  With $53,000 marking the 90th percentile as of 2005.

best of luck.