How can a Gringo with law degree que puede hablar espanol find a job?

[ny2drASAP]

Does any one have any suggestions on how and where to search for work? I have a new york law degree and am wondering what kind of work i could possibly do in the DR. My family and I are intending to move there in about a month. Any suggestions / connections would be greatly appreciated.

here is my resume...

Thanks
Josh

Joshua Baron
55 Knolls Crescent # 5K Bronx, NY 10463
joshuabaron@excite.com


EDUCATION_________________________________________ ________________________
City University of New York City University of New York
School of Law Lehman College
JD 2003 BA 1998

EXPERIENCE________________________________________ ________________________
Law Office of Regina L. Darby 1/05 – 1/06
Paralegal New York, New York
EBT Clerk, Calendar Clerk, Process Server, Legal Researcher, Document Reviewer
Fireside Realty 2/04 – 11/04
Commercial Real Estate Sales Agent Bronx, New York
Researched chain of title, lien & deed transfer searches) via microfilm, online, and telephone.

Discount Funding Associates 8/03 - 1/04
Mortgage Sales Consultant Bohemia, New York
Generated leads via cold calling lists from Lis Pendens notices of people in foreclosure.

Queens County Civil Court 9/03 – 12/03
Mediator Jamaica, New York
Helped to ease backlog in Civil, Housing, and Small Claims Courts caused by Pro Se litigants. Drafted stipulated agreements and presented them before the judge for approval.

ACTIVITIES________________________________________ __________________________
The Council On Foreign Relations Spring 1997
Contributed as part of a 6 month study group whose findings were published in the book, THE CITY AND THE WORLD.

C.U.N.Y-TV, Seminar Series Spring 1996
Researched and discussed in monthly televised roundtable meetings with United Nations and NGO officials.

50th Anniversary of the United Nations with Boutros Ghali Fall 1995
Questioned the U.N. Secretary General in a made for PBS televised question and answer event.

SKILLS____________________________________________ __________________________
Software SAGA, Microsoft Office Suite, Lexis and Westlaw.

Languages Spanish: proficient in reading, writing and speech.
Russian: able to read, write, and speak.

[ricktoronto]

Would not that be se puede hablar when talking about an indefinite subject, even though you were technically referring to yourself, it was about gringos in general, e.g. how does "one" accomplish that...?

Why are you moving without a job lined up?

[ny2drASAP]

I was talking about myself in the third person ( also I didnt claim to be perfect in spanish, but reasonably proficient). I am applying to a whole slew of schools to teach english right now. Also when my wife and kids and I go down, we will be busy for a while looking at property and investments.
Josh

[HOWMAR]

From your resume, as a well trained US lawyer, you are probably qualified to get a job as a telemarketer or time-share salesman in the DR.

[macocael]

ny2drASAP, you will have trouble, as you no doubt can already tell by the ironic messages you are receiving! Life is tough here, it makes us sarcastic!.

I dont think NY training as a lawyer will be of much use here at all, unless you try to hook up with firms that do international corporate law or some such thing. Try Pellerano, and a bunch of others that are easily found by searching the net. DR1's resident lawyer, Fabio Guzman, has a reputable and extensive practice here, and if he has time he might be able to advise you.

Law here in general is not like Law practice there. Anyway, to practice here I am sure you have to get certified and all that, and then you have to decide just what the heck you can do. Alot of lawyers here are just paper pushers and rent collectors.

Btw, teaching English here wont earn you much unless you teach at an elite school like Carol Morgan. They are one of the few that give a real salary. One person I know here teaching English, does so around the clock in order to earn enough money.

[andrea9k]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

Would not that be se puede hablar when talking about an indefinite subject, even though you were technically referring to yourself, it was about gringos in general, e.g. how does "one" accomplish that...?

Why are you moving without a job lined up?

... Sorry but, to describe himself as "un gringo -...- que puede hablar español" is not incorrect. It would sound more natural "un gringo -...- que sabe hablar español" or "un gringo -...- que habla español" tho.

Jess

[ricktoronto]

But using the indefinite, whoops, I mean impersonal which was his point - how does "one" (any) person in his situation do X or Y? So whether poder or saber, it would be still be se sabe or se puede no?

To wit:

The impersonal se: In some sentences, se is used in an impersonal sense with singular verbs to indicate that people in general, or no person in particular, performs the action. When se is used in this way, the sentence follows the same pattern as those in which the main verb is used reflexively, except that there is no subject to the sentence that is explicitly stated. As the examples below show, there are variety of ways such sentences can be translated to English.

Examples: Se maneja rápidamente en Lima. (People drive fast in Lima.) Se puede encontrar cocos en el mercado. (You can find coconuts in the market.) Muchas veces se tiene que estudiar para aprender. (Often you have to study to learn.) No se debe comer con prisa. (One ought not to eat quickly.)

Anyhoo....back to the matter at hand.

To the OP it seems like such a loss to go to the stage of a JD and then go to the DR with no reason and not a lot of chances to practice law. Unless you didn't pass the bar or are being deported and have no choice to work or stay in the US. I note despite the JD in '03 you haven't actually practiced law at all. Mysteries inside of conundrums. (*)

(*) Always use a conundrum in the DR. You don't know where he or she has been.

[andrea9k]

Wow. It amazes me how you masterize the science behind the language. I am an engineer you know, the science behind the language is for me like voodoo for a muslim. Shame on me.

Being that I only know how to properly speak my native language I would have to undust tons of books left behind in Peru. Anyway, we better leave other scientists like Lesley to explain why the case you are talking about, does not apply here.

I can see the tip of the iceberg though. You are failing to recognise the subject in this sentence. Remember about asking what/who to the verb? ¿Quién puede hablar español? Un gringo. I see no impersonal nor implied subjects around.

[macocael]

grammatically my vote goes with Andrea. Despite the quoted explanation, that rule doesnt apply here: "un gringo que puede hablar español" is correct if not exactly felicitous phrasing. The switch from English to Spanish doesnt help either. The subject in this case is clear, "a gringo" and so the verb is non reflexive, simply "puede hablar." If an indefinite subject were implied here, there would be no need to state the subject at all, but that would be awkward here. he is talking about himself, a gringo, one of many, but this one can speak spanish. Anyway the impersonal construction wouldnt make sense at all here: we are not talking about gringos in general who can talk spanish.

Sorry, years of grammar teaching sometimes gets the best of me. Anyway, let Lesley weigh in on this one, just to be sure.

[ny2drASAP]

Lets forget about my grammar for now alright? I was just looking for advice on job hunting in the DR. My grammar isnt perfect but given a little time down there I'm sure it would be fine.
I was just hoping that since this is an employment forum I could get a little advice on employment.
thanks