Non compete gives me little choice in employment

I signed a non-compete upon employment with an evaluation company 3 years ago (appraisals, evaluations, ect..) and worked in the Quality Assurance/Control aspect of the business. I had never spoken with a client directly. I reviewed products completed by vendors (appraisals and BPOs by Agents and Appraisers) that were independent contractors to the company ordered by the client based on client requirements, so each one I reviewed was client specific. We were the middle man that helped protect the client from conflict of interest if they were to contact vendors themselves for the products. There is a new company that offers identical products to the prior company, very large as well, however also offers positions of other services not offered by the current company (such as Asset Managers), but in the same field (real estate valuation). I am would not ever try to get the new company to take any business from the previous company directly (meaning I wouldnt solicit but if because I was there and quality improved and the client chose to move themselves that would be different) and I don't have any trade secrets since evaluation principals are standard across the board and mostly governed by HUD and other goverenment agencies. I didn't learn anything that I didnt already have knowledge of other than how to navigate thier operating system which is thier own and no other company would have access to, but I would have no clue how to set something like that up. Either way, I would not mind taking one of these other positions if it meant the Non-compete would not be enforceable (and other previous employees have taken the exact same other positions with other companies without litigation) because the position I would take would not be something offered by the first company to begin with, but my expertise in Quality Control could get me a higher wage for sure. I left because this company did not offer very good benefits for being so large and did not receive a pay increase for 3 years, even after asking for one (and I was a TOP producer). They also said there would be plenty of room for advancement and I was specific in my questions upon employment but never received any type of opportunity for advancement whatsoever. Anyway, if you would like, I could post the whole non-compete agreement, but in short it is 12 months (it has been a couple since and I left on my own accord) and any state of the US that the current company has clients in (meaning ALL states), this is a very large corporation (fortune 100), and the company cannot directly or indirectly be in the same business (very broad) but it goes much deeper into detail of what those businesses are and how they would relate. I am sure this is overly broad geographically, but even with lowered geographic specifications, the new company is within 10 miles of the prior. Is there anything I can do without having to totally relocate myself and family or if that would even help? This is the only field I have been in for the last 8 years. My experience is what will give me a competitive advantage in positioning myself for a better job, but with this non-compete, I basically cannot do anything for a year unless I totally change fields. I am willing to consult an attorney if need be, but I am limited in what I can afford (as I am unemployed currently). I am so very against these types of contracts and will surely never accept to sign one again. It is pretty much like they want you as their employee and no one else can have you, even if they don't want you or want to compensate you fairly (as I see it). I would have happily stayed if I was treated with respect and compensated based on my performance. Is there any advice at all that you can give? I can repost more info about the agreement if need be.