Category Archives: california legal market trends

Need for IP attorneys on the rise

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McDermott Will & Emery has been hiring intellectual property attorneys like it’s going out of style, and they aren’t alone!  The firm is rapidly expanding its patent prosecution practice, and law firms all around California seem to be following suit.  In the last few weeks Jones Day has announced new hires, as has VLP law Group.  Delia Swan, owner of Swan Legal Search, assures us that more of this trend is on the way.

“It’s true that we’re seeing an increase in intellectual property positions throughout the state,” Swan said.  “This is an area of law that we don’t see slowing down anytime soon.”  In particular, Swan said, she is seeing a lot of positions for lawyers who have experience with the technology sector in the Silicon Valley area.

“From what we at Swan Legal Search have seen, IP attorneys are more in demand now than they have been at any time in the last few years.  This is great news for patent attorneys and other IP lawyers who have an EE, CS or physics background.”  Just a quick review of the search engines for IP jobs produces a slew of recent hires and need-to-hires.

“This is a very exciting time for attorneys.  We are starting to see a real increase in jobs across the state,” Swan said.  “It appears that California lawyers have something to celebrate – finally!”

So, what does this mean for you?  If you have patent and IP experience, now is the time to start thinking about making a move.  There are definitely jobs to be had, and firms are ready to hire.  Be sure to get your resume in order, brush up on your interviewing skills and don’t forget to contact us.  We’re in the know about IP jobs throughout the state, and we’re here to help you get the job you’ve always wanted!

SLS and BALIF

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Recently, Delia Swan was a panelist at the BALIF meeting in San Francisco.  The panel was geared toward those attorneys who were in the process of the job hunt and needed expert advice on how to navigate and understand the current legal market. Delia was the only recruiter on the panel, and she provided thorough advice about resumes, cover letters and interviews.

SLS in the news

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Despite today’s weak jobs report (18,000 net new jobs last month, the least in nine months), SLS remains optimistic.  President of Swan Legal Search, Delia K. Swan was quoted by AMLaw Daily regarding the status of the California legal job market. While, the view isn’t exceptionally rosy for new law school graduates, SLS is seeing a definite increase in lateral associate positions.

“We’re seeing an abundance of corporate opportunities, especially in northern California; tax associates are in demand up and down the coast; IP and general commercial litigaiton remain stable and strong.”  There are plenty of jobs available for well credentialed lateral associate candidates, Delia points out.

What are your experiences with the legal job market?  Do you see any trends in hiring either recent grads or lateral associates?

 

Law school (almost) grads, rejoice!

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It looks as though those of you who are graduating in the next couple of months have something to celebrate – a greater likelihood for a legal job!  According to The National Law Journal, a recent study indicates that associate hiring is almost back to pre-financial-crisis levels.

In 2009, offer rates for associates who worked in the firm’s summer programs were at the lowest rates in years. Fortunately, 2010 rates bounced back considerably, and 2011 offers seem to be heading in the same direction.

It seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel:  at least for new law school grads.  For the rest of us, the recruiting rate still looks a bit sluggish.

“Things are turning around in the legal market, but they’re still a bit slow,” said Delia Swan, president of Swan Legal Search.  “All attorneys need to make sure that they are really getting themselves out there actively networking and keeping optimistic.  In the current legal hiring climate, that’s what it takes.”

So, what does that mean?  “That means that attorneys need to brush up on their interviewing skills, have several people review their resumes, research like crazy and, if possible, start generating revenue.  Nothing is more attractive to a firm than an attorney who can bring business when they join the firm.”

What are law firms looking for in an attorney?

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It appears that the legal market is finally turning around. We’ve been seeing some progress for a few months, but things really started picking up since the beginning of the year.  If you’re an attorney searching for a job, you’re in luck!  However, the question remains – what are firms searching for in an associate and a partner?

To be sure, there are still more attorneys available than attorney positions and the market is highly competitive.  Firms are choosy about attorneys and look for specific traits along with experience.  Do any of these sound like you?

For associates

Strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity;

Loyalty and desire to go the extra mile;

Excellent communication skills;

Team player

For partners

Practice area expertise;

Superb reputation;

Business generation skills;

Team player

If you have these traits, you definitely should show prospective employers just as you want to demonstrate your legal expertise.  Be sure you include examples of these traits in your cover letter.  To show intellectual curiosity and dedication, you may want to say something like “I worked in my last position for more than four years.  During that time, I worked tirelessly to learn all I could about tax law.  As a result, my knowledge of tax expands beyond code – I now understand how tax law affects a company from the top down.”

Of course, it’s always a good idea to let firms know of any business you bring to the table.  This is extremely important for partners, and very helpful for associates, as well.  Be specific regarding what type of cases you could bring to the firm and list the ways you plan to continue to generate more business in the future.

Any other questions?  Contact us!  We’re attorneys helping attorneys and we are happy to help lead the way to a great new position!