Congratulations on passing the Bar! As we learned in law school, if you are not admitted to the Bar you cannot practice law. Until you are admitted there is nothing you can do to change that fact. In the meantime, there is plenty that you can do to gain experience, sharpen your skills, and develop a network that could potentially lead to a position later.

Generally, positions require experience because the employer does not have the time or resources to train new employees. Now, however, positions also require experience because there are enough lawyers out of work that employers can require experience for jobs they previously would have filled with a recent graduate.

That said, there are things you can do to find an entry-level legal position and many of them are free. Each one will take effort but can pay off and help you to land the job you want.

First, network; tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Let the people whom you know be your resource. You never know whom they know and whom they might meet. Also, communicating widely often results in getting the information you need. Many job openings are not advertised, so using alternative resources is crucial.

Second, take CLE classes in your desired practice area or join a bar association committee that relates to that field. Meet people through these activities and go on informational interviews, which are another form of networking, but more focused. Treat each meeting as a chance to learn about that person’s industry, his or her specific position and what you can do at this stage of your career to get to where they are.

Third, volunteer or do pro bono work in your target field and learn everything you can from that experience. Ideally, you could segue into a paid position, but at the very least, you may be referred to someone at a related employer who does have a job opening. As soon as you are admitted to the Bar you can apply to positions that require experience because you will have recently gained some.

Fourth, go online and take advantage of the limitless opportunities to network and research your career plans. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are among the fastest growing professional resources for networking. With these tools, you can add people to your network, reconnect with old employers, research companies and firms where you would like to work and see who has recently joined and left those organizations, as well as join groups. LinkedIn groups exist for every practice area and if you have a very specific interest, you can even start a group and invite people to join it, proving your interest in the field and making you an expert when you are able to provide information others seek.

Finally, utilize your law school and undergraduate career centers and alumni offices. Both have free resources and are available to you forever. If you did not go to law school in the New York metro area ask your law school’s career development office about its reciprocity policy. It is likely that schools in New York will make their resources available to you.

Another excellent resource is the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s (“ABCNY”) “Resources for Your Career Development” page (http://www.nycbar.org/LegalCareerCenter/Resources.htm ), which includes a “Directory of Resources” where you can find information about your intended practice area. Come to a program sponsored by ABCNY’s Career Advancement and Management Committee on February 26, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. called “How to Run An Effective Job Search”. This program will provide invaluable information on how to conduct a thorough and effective employment search.

Good luck!