Advantages of Using a Legal Recruiter
Navigating the hiring process can be a particular struggle for those who are making a job transition after years of working in the same position, as well as for those who are looking to more significantly transform their career (i.e., if you are interested in going in-house after years of corporate law firm work). Without the requisite experience, time, energy, or network, the barrier-to-entry for embarking on a serious job search in the legal industry may be too high.
To put it in simpler terms: in the job market, sometimes it’s easier to stay put than to make a move. Inertia is attractive when you’re exhausted, stressed, and uncertain about your future.
Legal recruiters make it easier for attorneys to navigate the hiring process by providing a specialized job acquisition service. With a legal recruiter, an attorney gains access to structural advantages and relationships that would otherwise take many hundreds – if not thousands – of hours to cultivate on their own.
Still, perhaps you’re not convinced of the actual value provided by a skilled legal recruiter. You need details.
Why – specifically – should you use a legal recruiter? Consider the following.
Using a Legal Recruiter is Free
Legal recruiting companies like Garb Jaffe & Associates Legal Placement, LLC don’t charge candidates any fees to use their services. Recruiters are paid by the law firm or company that has hired them to look for suitable candidates. When a candidate is placed at a particular firm or company, then the recruiter is paid their fee. Since using a legal recruiter is free for the candidate, there is no risk involved in reaching out and getting started.
Some candidates express concern over legal recruiter priorities, given their income source. Recruiters are incentivized to make long-lasting placements, however, and are not rewarded for placements that turn out to be short-term. If a firm were to consistently hire candidates who don’t last from a particular recruiter, they would stop using said recruiter. As such, the best – and most successful – recruiters are those who consistently place candidates in a position where they will be happy, grow, and make significant contributions.
Application Guidance
Your legal recruiter not only has more experience when it comes to understanding what makes a successful attorney candidate generally, but is also deeply informed on the inner workings of each law firm and company it has connections to. When you work with a recruiter, they will provide guidance on how to tailor your résumé, and interview strategy to appeal to each specific employer. This “insider knowledge” gives you a significant leg up against the competition.
Time Savings
If you’re already hard-at-work at a law firm or company, you may not have the time or the energy to launch a serious job search on your own. Successful attorney transitions typically require a significant time investment, as they involve a great deal of research, soft networking, and follow-ups with potential employers. Legal recruiters do this work in your stead, saving you from having to expend time and effort that you might not otherwise be able to spare.
Recruiters Have Built a Network
Legal recruiters like Garb Jaffe have extensive networks of law firms and large corporations with which they form close working relationships. This network is fundamental to a recruiter’s value, and they are paid to tap into this network to ensure that the right candidates are placed at the right firms/companies. Thus, legal recruiters not only have the advantage of a larger network than most candidates could hope to achieve, but they are able to tap into this network more concretely in order to drive an application forward.
A skilled legal recruiter will ensure that your application is reviewed by the right people, and that your candidacy is front-and-center throughout the hiring process. It’s what they’re paid to do.
Market Expertise
Without an insider, it can be incredibly difficult for candidates to learn the “truth” about the work environment of a particular law firm or company. Legal recruiters have unique access to the going-ons of companies both in and out of their network (thanks to relationships with former candidates, hiring managers, etc.). This information can help you avoid transitioning to a position that will not satisfy your expectations.
Recruiters like Garb Jaffe also keep track of both California and national legal hiring trends (i.e., salary, bonuses, promotional tracks, etc.) and can advise on the opportunities that candidates should pursue based on these trends.
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When you’re ready to make some moves in your legal career, working with a legal recruiter to explore new positions has unique advantages when compared to job seeking on your own.
If you’re an attorney looking for a new position, speak with a Los Angeles legal recruiter at Garb Jaffe & Associates. We have extensive experience placing attorneys with prestigious law firms and large corporations located across California, and will advise throughout the recruitment process so that you can secure an ideal placement.
Call us today at (310) 207-0727 for a free consultation.