Shari Davidson, President of On Balance Search Consultants, shares her secrets to landing your next legal opportunity:
First and foremost, are you looking for another job or a career? If you are looking for a job, find a staffing firm. If you want to pursue a long-term career, let’s talk.
Lawyers need to understand that legal recruiters are inundated with literally hundreds of email applications daily for job offerings. Only a select few detail the desired qualifications, experience, and intangibles that the law firm is looking for.
Do yourself a favor: let me properly vet you for the opportunities that best fit your skill set. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time.
Talk to me: Candidates often omit important experiences that are vital to getting the next opportunity. There is no substitute for having a one-on-one conversation to learn more about the candidate. Insights from these meetings that align with your career goals increase the likelihood of getting the job tenfold.
Breakdown of your achievements in detail: Writing down your achievements will help you during the interview process. For example, cite that you billed 2100 – 2200 hours with 100% realization over the past three years. Or reference a difficult case you won.
Where do you want to work? Write down a list of the law firms you would like to work for and the reasons why. This information is critical to targeting a firm that is a good fit. It’s a good start; there may be other firms that better align with your goals. We may find a firm that was overlooked but somewhere you will be happy with a long, prosperous tenure.
Social Advocacy: Candidates who actively share updates and relevant information about their field are likelier to land a job than their peers. Content shared on LinkedIn by individuals generates twice the engagement compared to other forms of content. This means that by posting insightful and relevant updates, candidates can significantly increase their visibility and attractiveness to potential employers in the legal field. (The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide to LinkedIn, 2022).
The job search process is often complicated and confusing: Don’t lie to me. I can hear it from the tone of your voice and the words you choose. Being dishonest can hurt you more than benefit you.
Things can get messy: Keep track of all emails, conversations, and the law firms you have contacted. When you work with me, we can do a confidential search. This way, your identity is protected until the firm is interested.
Keep the lines of communication open and follow up: One of my biggest frustrations is when a candidate doesn’t return phone calls. It’s often critical to getting that position. The market is very different now than it was in a pre-COVID world. The competition is fierce, so pick up the phone.
Work with a recruiter who has high ethical standards and who is respected in the industry: My candidates stay with me. They often keep in touch and seek my counsel from time to time.
The legal job search can be very stressful. I hope these secrets stay true to your career goals. Good luck!
Learn more about landing your next job in law: How to Keep a Job Search Discreet, as appeared in Harvard Business Review.
About On Balance Search Consultants
On Balance offers great insight and industry intelligence. Shari Davidson, president of On Balance Search Consultants, advises law firms on how to take a firm to the next level and helps rising talent make the transition to the right law firm.
Contact us today. Call 516.731.3400 or visit our website at On Balance Search.
Please note that the content of this blog does not constitute legal advice and is only intended for the educational purpose of the reader. Please consult your legal counsel for specifics regarding your specific circumstances and the laws in your states pertaining to social media and any legal restrictions regarding the law.
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