The Best Attorneys Want Information BCG Attorney Search

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The Best Attorneys Want Information
Introduction As a legal recruiter, I am often
quite surprised by the differences among
attorneys in their receptiveness of information
presented to them. When associates are called by
a recruiter out of the blue, they are often
extremely suspicious, declare they are not
interested in speaking with the recruiter at all,
brag about how happy they are, and then get off
the phone as quickly as possible. Successful
partners and associates tend to do the opposite.
An event of a couple of weeks ago comes to mind.
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• A recruiter of ours called an associate at a law
  firm. The associate told the recruiter in no
  uncertain terms that he/she was extremely happy
  where he/she was and would never consider another
  opportunity under any circumstances. The
  associate also warned the recruiter that he "had
  better be careful" because the associate worked
  directly with the hiring partner of this law
  firm. The recruiter (who is used to recruiting
  high-level partners) was amused by this. About 10
  minutes later, the recruiter called the hiring
  partner at the same firm. The partner told the
  recruiter that for the right opportunity, he and
  "some of his associates" would be interested in
  moving. The partner questioned the recruiter for
  about 60 minutes about opportunities in the
  market, and the recruiter eventually had to get
  the partner off the phone to get home for dinner.
  The partner told the recruiter he wanted him to
  come down and speak with him when he had some
  time.
• What many attorneys do not realize, but should,
  is that information about the job market can be
  one of the most important resources for the
  advancement of their careers. Because I am a
  legal recruiter, I know that top associates and
  partners inside law firms often keep a dialogue
  going with recruiters for years. They do this not
  because they are unhappy, bored, or underpaid,
  but because they want to know information about
  the market. As an attorney, there are few things
  you can do with your time that are more
  productive than learning about what is going on
  in the market You and your career are both
  commodities, and you want to make the best use of
  these commodities.

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While many of these partners and associates may
not move for years (if ever), they are always
keeping an open dialogue. It is much more common
for better attorneys to keep an ongoing dialogue
with a recruiter than it is for lesser attorneys.
The reason, I believe, is that an excellent
attorney realizes his/her career is a commodity
that needs a market to thrive. A recruiter offers
the attorney knowledge about the market for
his/her skills, as well as other general
information about the job market. Regardless of
how you get this information, it can be extremely
useful. This article analyzes the importance of
information to your legal career. Regardless of
whether you are happy or unhappy with your
current employment situation, you should know
that good information can make all the
difference. Information is useful (indeed
essential) to your legal career because it (1)
lets you know if you are on the right track, (2)
gives you options, and (3) can improve your life
and career. This article The Best Attorneys Want
Information first appeared on BCG Attorney Search
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