What is the best time of the year to lateral?

In a strong market, firms are hiring year-round and often hire opportunistically so there is no ideal time to lateral.  Hiring opportunistically means that a firm will hire based on a great candidate’s skill set, even though there isn’t a current job opening.  It could be said that the best time to start applying is a few months before your year-end bonus is paid out but remember that firms have different measuring periods/fiscal years.

If I've only been at my job for less than a year but I'm unhappy, should I start looking now or will it be a red flag?

Every situation is different and the answer will depend on a number of factors including your employment history, the reason(s) you are unhappy, and your goal(s) in making a lateral move. It's never too early to speak to a recruiter who can review your materials and give you an honest assessment of your likelihood of achieving your goals if you choose to apply to firms before the one-year mark. Feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to help you navigate your situation. 

Why should a candidate use a recruiter?

We have strong relationships with the law firms’ recruiters.  As a result, we frequently know about unposted openings and strategic hires.  Also, our submissions tend to be prioritized and reviewed sooner because they know we have screened the candidates in advance (you go to the top of the pile).  We help tailor your submission by firm and make sure that your applications have not been lost by continuing to follow up with the recruiters.  If a firm passes on your submission, we try to obtain and provide feedback that we can use to tailor future applications.  If you have any red flags in your background like not passing the bar the first time, gaps, or a lot of movement, we are able to serve as a middle person and answer any of those tough questions for you.  Our interview preparation includes written information and calls with our recruiters, who provide strategies, tips, and mock interview questions.  We also help you negotiate the offer, including salary, start date, signing bonus and other perks on your behalf. 

How much does it cost to use a recruiter?

Our services are free for candidates since we are paid by the firms and companies who use our search firm to help expedite their recruiting processes.

Does using a recruiter hurt my chances of getting the job because of the associated fee?

No.  Recruiting agencies are an integral part of the hiring process for most Big Law firms, so they have already factored in our fee when attempting to fill a job opening. 

If I have a friend who works at the firm shouldn’t I just submit through them?

This can be a tricky situation since you don’t really know how that person is perceived by the decision makers at the firm.  Frequently it is better to go through a recruiter, so you get the firm’s attention and then follow up with the friend’s connection.