how to recruit an in house attorney

Probably the least common way for attorneys to get an in-house position is through a legal recruiting firm. The legal recruiting firm typically operates in the following manner in conducting an in-house search: First, the recruiter cold calls numerous General Counsels or other corporate staff in an attempt to induce them to give them an opening.

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When do recruiters get paid when hiring a lawyer?

Attorney Recruiting Manager Large International Law Firm. McCormack Schreiber Legal Solutions assisted us to find a truly on-point and top-credentialed attorney for a complex and substantive litigation project. I highly recommend McCormack Schreiber for contract attorney staffing needs. Director of Human Resources Litigation Boutique Law Firm.

What is legal recruiting and how does it work?

complex for lawyers. It is fair to say that, like virtually all business recruitment, in-house legal recruitment froze in the quarter following the Lehman rothers’ collapse in September 2008. Nevertheless, by the end of the first quarter of 2009 in-house legal recruitment had recovered to levels approaching pre-recession.

Do law firms use search firms to recruit entry-level talent?

Get the best people for your legal team. We recruit top legal executives, from General Counsel to your next Chief Compliance Officer.

Do most search firms do in-house placement?

Taylor Root are proud to present our guide for recruiting your first in-house lawyer. Bringing a lawyer in house is a major decision for an organisation – and it can come at a considerable cost. The benefits of having an in house counsel are numerous and as such salaries for these individuals have risen steadily over the last decade. Whilst savings on external legal spend can …

What is coaching and mentoring?

Many organisations now have coaching and mentoring programmes focused on career development. These offer excellent ways to broaden personal and business awareness and develop management skills. While access may be limited to high performers, any GC will want these options in their people development toolkit.

Why is it important to have a good manager?

They help build loyalty and commitment and develop smarter, happier and more efficient teams. Not everyone wants to manage, however they can develop good management skills through appropriate training. Picking the right people for these roles is critical to the success of the legal team. By the same token, bad managers can have a catastrophic impact, so they’ll need to be challenged and dealt with.

What do lawyers need to know?

Lawyers not only need to be qualified for the job in hand, they also want to know that they’ll have the opportunity to build on their skills and expertise. So, aside from any organisation-wide options, look for learning opportunities tailored to in-house lawyers. You will, of course, need to maintain the legal expertise across your team, however business acumen, communication skills, project management and team working are also invaluable in a legal function. Make these part of the career development options for your in-house team.

Why would a good candidate want to join your team or organisation?

A team or organisation recognised for its commitment to learning and development, inclusion, diversity and social responsibility may be attractive considerations for talented candidates .

Does any organisation-wide framework accurately reflect what you and your internal clients need?

Does any organisation-wide framework accurately reflect what you and your internal clients need? While you will value critical thinking and good judgement , your clients may have a greater need for skills and behaviours such as clarity, teamwork, business acumen and project management.

Do HR departments have to opt out of the process?

However, this doesn’t mean you have to opt out of the process completely. Instead, get involved by agreeing your hiring strategy and process and shaping information about the role.

Other Challenges

Lawyers were asked, “What is the greatest practice management challenge facing your law firm today?” The responses were as follows:

6 Tips for Recruiting in the Legal Industry

Besides Sullivan’s suggestion, Robert Half Legal provides the following tips to help firms optimize their recruiting efforts:

Survey Methodology

The online survey was developed by Robert Half Legal and conducted by a leading independent research firm. It is based on responses from more than 175 lawyers in the United States and Canada who work full time at law firms with 20 or more employees.

Expert Legal recruiters who know the market and deliver results

In today’s highly competitive legal market, you can’t afford to make mistakes with talent. From in-house counsel to law firm associates, from Senior Partners and whole practice groups to new office branches, knowledgeable and efficient legal recruiting can make the difference between simply competing and consistently winning.

Our expert legal recruiters understand and excel in the business of law

Lucas Group legal recruiters understand the critical integration between company and counsel, and we help you make hiring decisions that wisely power your business.

Delivering the talent your business needs

Hire with confidence. Our recruiters source game-changing talent—qualified, proven professionals who will propel your business forward. With customized solutions, collaborative services and deep insights, we know your next hire.

Expertise

Lucas Group legal recruiters are avid students of the legal market and industry trends, providing firms and companies with critical, game-changing recruitment insights.

What Our Clients Are Saying

"It goes without saying with unemployment at an all time low and the stress of trying to decide on what site to place an ad for candidates it is very difficult to bring in good qualified people. The company that I work for has been hard pushed for qualified candidates in sometimes a 24 hour period because of the rapid growth we are experiencing.

Delivering the talent your business needs

Hire with confidence. Our recruiters source game-changing talent—qualified, proven professionals who will propel your business forward. With customized solutions, collaborative services and deep insights, we know your next hire.

From Law School to In-House

I started my job as an in-house attorney six days after taking the bar exam. It was through a winding path of mutual connections, several interviews, several job offers, and strategic negotiation that I ended up as an attorney for Naxos Music Group, the world’s leading classical music company.

Build Your Own Associate Program

As an attorney that started in-house right after law school, I would say formalized training is definitely beneficial, but not something that should keep law students or corporations from employing recent graduates. I was able to build my own “first year associate” program through widely available online resources.

How are recruiting fees paid?

While good recruiters build close relationships with their candidates, recruiting fees are paid by the employer. When a legal employer hires a candidate that was first introduced by a recruiter, the search firm is entitled to a fee (generally 25% of the first-year salary). This fee is usually paid 30 days after the candidate begins working for ...

How long does it take to get paid for a search firm?

This fee is usually paid 30 days after the candidate begins working for the firm . Many search firms also guarantee a portion of their fee for a period of months. Given the salary inflation that has occurred in the legal profession, these fees can get quite large.

What is legal recruiting?

Legal recruiting is a niche business that caters to a relatively small subset of the legal community. Like any business, legal recruiting is constrained by the business realities of the marketplace. Smaller firms are often unwilling or unable to pay search fees. Firms that are open to paying search fees are generally looking for a specific ...

How long does a resume last?

Unfortunately, resumes do have a shelf life of at least six months. No law firm wants to risk being responsible for two search fees. So once your resume has been presented to the firm by any source, the law firm will not work with another search firm for at least this amount of time.

What does "stellar" mean in law?

In the eyes of the client firm, "stellar" generally means an associate with two to six years of experience at a major firm (which usually means strong academics) or a partner with substantial portable billings (i.e., in the hundreds of thousands).

How to get a job if you are unemployed?

If you are unemployed and have the time, try to do work on a contract basis as a way of getting your foot in the door. Mention your availability to do contract work when you are out networking. Try to avoid contract work which is unlikely to lead to permanent employment.

Does BCG do in-house placement?

Most search firms do some in-house placement. BCG is unusual in focusing exclusively on law firm placement. When looking for a search firm that does in-house placement, understand that in-house search is very different from law firm search. Virtually all major law firms work with search firms from time to time.