Now’s the time to make sure you are at the right platform!
And here’s how to tell…
I have a few candidates I’m in touch with that I’ve known since I started my career as a legal recruiter.
While some of these candidates have made partner already, some have not. I’m encouraging them all to take a look at their careers and ask the hard questions (partner or not).
Here’s what I’d ask:
Is this the best platform for my practice?
Is the firm encouraging me to develop a practice?
Is my practice area growing, staying steady or shrinking?
What’s happened to deal flow? Has it slowed down?
Do I have the support I need from my mentors? What about from junior associates and mid levels?
Is my firm looking to grow in these uncertain times or are they just looking to survive?
Don’t wait for the recession to be over to do “the work.”
Many firms are still growing right now and are actively pursuing their strategic plans, even throughout the recession.
As always, I want to encourage you to do what’s best for your career because no one is going to look out for you except for you.
Even if you’re represented by a different recruiter or have no immediate plans to move, I encourage you to reach out so we can go over these questions. I love having these conversations and helping candidates find clarity with their long-term goals.
I hope that I got you thinking!
In any market, it’s always important to have your OWN clients.
But today more than ever, it’s critical that you maintain client relationships that will transfer with you if you switch firms.
There’s a lot of partner movement in the market currently.
As a partner in a market like this, there’s no chance of moving without portable clients.
While no one knows when the economy will change, the best thing you can do for your career is to have leverage.
And if you want to have leverage, you have to have a book of business to take with you to your next firm.
From my perch, it’s just as important to be a talented attorney as it is to have a practice of your own.
Remember, this is the business of law and a lot of factors go into whether or not you’re hired.
If you want to continue this conversation, send me a direct message. I’m always happy to discuss!
As a legal recruiter, I’m fortunate to spend time discussing attorneys’ careers, goals, achievements and at times, what they find challenging about their work. M&A is one of the best corporate practices for long-term growth and exposure. Here’s the lowdown:
M&A provides the greatest amount of exposure to different types of work. M&A lawyers are able to work on deals from the initial stages to completion. This provides an in-depth view of the inner workings of the deal. Transactional lawyers not only work on documents, but engage with clients on a regular basis. The day-to-day work varies depending on the stage of the transaction.
Further down the line, as you get closer to executing these transactions, you may start to get into the weeds with negotiations & the art of the deal. Many partners that I speak with consider themselves to be “deal junkies,” as they truly love the intricacies of having a successful acquisition. When choosing a practice area, consider M&A as the broadest practice where you will have the most options to pivot in your career. The skills are transferable & highly sought out in other practice areas.
You got a job offer! Amazing! However, it may not be the right fit for you or perhaps you’ve already accepted another offer. There’s a way to decline the offer that will leave you appearing professional, classy and even leave the door open for future possibilities. Here’s our suggestions for doing just that:
-DECLINE RESPECTFULLY: decline in a timely fashion, giving the employer plenty of time to continue searching for the ideal candidate. Demonstrate the same level of respect for them that they gave to you.
-MAINTAIN POSITIVITY: try to maintain a positive relationship with them by attributing your decline to reasons outside of their control such as, “my long-term goals are more aligned with a different firm.” Avoid blaming the firm or their culture for your decline.
-EXPRESS GRATITUDE: make sure to convey how thankful you are that they gave you a job offer. Gratitude goes a long way & it’s important for them to know that you were happy to receive the offer, even if it ultimately wasn’t right.
Langer Search can help you navigate the job search every step of the way. It’s not easy to tactfully decline an offer, but we have the experience and knowledge to advise you to position yourself strategically while leaving doors open.
Here are my top tips for sealing the deal in your job interview. When “dress professionally and arrive on time” is a given, here’s how to go above and beyond:
SHOW CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF HOW YOUR SKILLS ARE TRANSFERABLE: This will require some work on your behalf as you know your experience best. Walk your interviewer through your resume and deal sheet strategically. Your goal is to convey a cohesive and convincing argument of how your skills directly relate to this job.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON THE FIRM: This one is absolutely crucial. You can ascertain information about the firm on their website, in articles written about the firm online on other websites AND by speaking to colleagues who work there or know someone who works there. Get creative and learn as much as you can about the firm.
BE YOURSELF, DON’T TRY TO IMPRESS: Try to be as authentic as possible. You’ll connect more naturally with your interviewer because you’re most comfortable in your own skin.
COME WITH THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS: Jot down thoughtful questions tailored to your particular practice. The level of detail of your questions reflects the level of interest you have for the job and will signal to your interviewer that you want the job.
