Q. Until three months ago, I was an associate in a mid-sized firm. Work in my department had been slow for several months, and my hours were down. But I didn’t think my position was in any danger because I continued to do good work on the projects I was given. At first when I was laid off, I thought I might enjoy some time off, and I wasn’t overly concerned about finding a new firm. Now I have no work, and I am scared. I have bills to pay and no paycheck. I feel isolated and lonely without an office to go to every day. Worst of all, I fear the stigma of not having worked for several months will make it difficult for me to land a good position, if I can even find one. What can I do?

A. Let’s take your fears-one at a time-and address them. First, the personal finances. This is an area that has caught many new associates off guard. Having recently entered the work force, you probably did not anticipate an inevitable economic downturn. Many attorneys entering the profession several years ago were welcomed into the legal community with open arms and unprecedented salaries. Unfortunately, many took this as an invitation to buy into a lifestyle they can no longer support. High rents or mortgages and car payments-on top of student loans-have created many stressful situations. Taking a careful look at how to reduce your current expenses is critical. Not only do you want to preserve your credit record, but you also want to calm your fears so you can present yourself with confidence to a future employer. If you are running scared and feel that you had to find a job yesterday, your anxiety will betray you in any interview situation.

What steps can you take? To relieve housing costs, you may want to consider finding a roommate. You may even find a colleague in a similar situation, and you could both benefit by sharing expenses. Many unemployed attorneys are requesting forbearances on their student loans. Although the interest continues to accrue, you get temporary relief from the monthly payments without marring your credit history. If you are like most young professionals, you have probably adopted expensive habits without even realizing it. If you carefully record all expenditures for two weeks, you will probably be surprised by how many of your expenditures are not necessities. Even the daily lattes add up to hundreds of dollars a year!

As for the isolation and loneliness, this is a common problem for unemployed attorneys. Even attorneys who choose to leave a position voluntarily to search for a new opportunity find the lack of routine disquieting. As attorneys, we identify strongly with our profession, and our self worth is often closely linked to our productivity. There is a way to turn this need for validation into a positive. Get out every day and meet with other attorneys. How? Through networking and volunteering. Because fewer than 15% of all available positions are ever advertised, it is imperative that any career search include networking. By networking, I mean enlarging your circle of acquaintances to gather information and advice. In the past networking was often done over lunch, and the person seeking advice paid for it by picking up the tab. That is no longer necessary-nor would it be advisable given your current financial situation. Instead you could meet someone for coffee, or offer to bring coffee with you to her office.

Another cure for isolation is volunteering. There are many opportunities-both in the legal community and the community at large. Several attorneys have even landed jobs through contacts made while volunteering. One attorney landed a coveted job with a large, international company by offering his services at a nominal hourly rate to avoid the boredom of unemployment. By volunteering, you may not only cure your boredom, you may find a wonderful employment opportunity.

Finally, unemployment is not an impediment to finding a new opportunity, unless you think it is. In working with many clients over the years, I have seen both extremes-those who are paralyzed by unemployment and those who are unfazed by it. In an interview situation, the clients who are unfazed have a huge advantage. Potential employers are impressed by candidates who are poised and confident. If you feel a sense of desperation, you will undoubtedly convey that in an interview.

To help you through this time of transition, you may wish to read Managing Transitions-Making the Most of Change, by William Bridges (Addison-Wesley) or Transitions-Making Sense of Life’s Changes (Strategies for coping with the difficult, painful, and confusing times in your life), by William Bridges (Perseus Books). Another good book for those dealing with involuntary unemployment is When Smart People Fail-Rebuilding Yourself for Success, by Carole Hyatt and Linda Gottlieb (Penguin Books).

The good news is that there are still wonderful opportunities out there for attorneys. But they are much harder to find than they were in the past.