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.”

5)  Discuss your long term goals. Make it clear that you LIKE what you do and that you are looking for a firm to commit to for the long haul where you can continue to develop your own book of business.  Firms are skittish about associates jumping ship; assuage these fears even though the question will not be asked directly.

6)  When it’s your turn to ask questions, pursue one line of questioning in particular: work distribution. How is the work distributed; how are associates matched up with partners; how much work is generated in that particular office and how much of it comes from sister offices? By asking these questions, you will get an idea if this firm can give you what you want, and, they will get a glimmer what it would be like to have you as someone they can assign work to.

If you are speaking with an associate, ask them what they like best about the firm.  Ask them how long they have been with this firm and if they enjoy their position.  Keep it positive.

Be prepared for different types of interviewers.  Some attorneys you will meet with will be prepared for you and will be great at interviewing.  Let them lead the way.

Others will have glanced at your resume 2 minutes before the receptionist leads you to their door and they will be slightly panicked at the thought of spending the next 30 minutes with a stranger. Make it easy on them.  Lead the interview by addressing  1 – 6, above, and allow them to interrupt if something you have said intrigues them.

7)  Have fun! So much of interviews are about chemistry.  Clearly, you have the right credentials and they are very serious about you or else they would not have invited you in for an interview.  Now they want to see if you are someone that they would want to work with on a daily basis and get to know better.  Are you a good face for their firm?  Are you trustworthy?  Would clients like you?  Be professional but also don’t hesitate to laugh and engage.

8)  A few “don’ts”. Don’t ask about salary, billable hours, or flex-time options at your first interview.  Don’t criticize your current firm, current boss, colleagues, etc.  Don’t check your blackberry or cell before or during (this HAS happened) your interview.  Don’t exaggerate your expertise and/or experience.  Stick to your resume and cover letter.

9)  A few “do’s”. Do dress professionally – this means a dark suit and slacks or skirt for the ladies.  Do have your business card.  Do be warm and friendly with the receptionist and HR coordinator.  Do come prepared:  research recent press about the firm; know their biggest deals/ wins; know what practice groups they have and what cities they have offices in; demonstrate an understanding of their clientele.  The more prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be and the more confident you will appear!

If you have more tips or more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We’re attorneys, too; and we’ve all been through the interview process.  It can be stressful, or it can be the beginning to a wonderful career!

1)  Let them know why you are interested in their firm. Make it clear that you aren’t looking for any port in the storm and that you are being highly selective about the opportunities you are choosing to interview for.  If you are only meeting one firm for a specific position and where not even actively looking until Swan contacted you, then be sure to convey that.

Firms want to know why you are leaving your current position.  You must be consistent with your answer and you must keep it positive.

Firms may ask you where else you are interviewing.  Keep it vague; you can say something like: “firms similar to yours that have a biotech component to their corporate group.”  Again, you want to enforce the perception that you are being extremely selective and that you will only move for the right fit.

2)  Ask them what they need. Why are they hiring right now?  New client?  New case? How long have they been looking?

3)  Discuss three solid examples of your work. They may or may not ask for specific examples, but you can take charge and lay them out.  What you discuss should dovetail with your resume and cover letter.  Be sure to review both of those documents beforehand.

Knowing what you want to discuss in advance is also a wonderful way to stay relaxed during your interview!

4) Don’t be afraid to discuss a difficult issue that you had and how you resolved it. You want them to see you as a problem solver and someone who remains calm under pressure while getting the job done.

Stay tuned for even more interview tips!  If you need any additional help, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re attorneys, too!

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!

Above all else, don’t give up!  We know that this current market will turn around.  Stay positive!

If you have specific questions about your legal career path, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We’d love to help!

As we all know, the world is becoming smaller and smaller each year.  With the technology options we have all come to appreciate (and depend upon), it’s really quite possible to work from home and anywhere in the world at the same time.  In my research, I came across a few interesting statistics about global legal work, as well.   Consider this: U.S. drug companies’ foreign profits have quadrupled between 1997 and 2008 while domestic profits fell by a third. (Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Scherling-Plough – which recently merged). Coca Cola gets 64 percent of its sales and 79 percent of its profits from foreign lands. The companies listed below earn between 50-80 percent of profits/revenue from international sources.

Procter & Gamble
Kraft
Google
IBM
McDonalds
Colgate-Palmolive
Microsoft

I see it as a legal area that growing, and I think attorneys should embrace the change!  So, what does this mean for you, the attorney who has a couple of gaps in the resume?   This means have an open mind and explore an international job as a possibility.  Could you spend one week a month in Tokyo?  How about a couple of months each year in Buenos Aires?  If this sounds like something of interest, pursue it.  You’ll be ahead of the curve, and the jobs may not be as competitive as they have been in the US for the last 18 months or so.  (Keep in mind during your search that being multi-lingual will most likely be preferred, if not required.)

Check out some of the international bar organizations.  A great place to start may be HG.  It appears that there could be endless amounts of information here.  In addition, you could always search on US-based firms in the international department.   Although these are good jumping off points, they are most likely the routes that most job searchers will take.  In addition to the “traditional” job search methods, try something a little different.  Make some phone calls to the international offices.  Speak with a lawyer in the office, and ask to take an informational meeting via Skype.    Look for international law seminars and conferencesand try to attend, or at least get the information from the seminar.  (There may be a book or video available for purchase after the seminar.)  Don’t overlook the importance of looking for in-house legal jobs, as well.  If you’re interested in a particular company, check out the website and see what legal jobs are open.  If no jobs are open, contact the HR department and set up a Skype meeting.  If you have any relatives who live outside of the US, now may be a great time to plan a visit.  (Be sure to set up some informational interviews for your trip!)

For those of you who aren’t really interested in the international thing and want to re-enter the legal job force on your own terms, consider doing it the American way – start your own firm!  That was my take on the situation.  My daughters arrived the second year of law school and during the California bar.  I practiced  law part-time for six years to accommodate my Mom status; and once they started school, I looked around in dismay and thought, “What next?”  I believed a traditional law firm would likely not take a relatively self-trained USC Law grad, and I rather liked being my own boss.  So in 1997 I started Swan Legal Search and began hiring former practicing attorneys (mostly moms).  Fifteen years later, I’m still here!

I hope that one of these options speaks to you.  Of course, the traditional US-based law firm is always an option, as well.  As is always the key in any job search, you’ve got to network like crazy and let everyone you know understand that you’re looking for a job.  (For more information on networking, check out the series posted earlier this year.) Although it may be challenging, you will most certainly find something that best suits your strengths. 

If you have more questions about re-entering the legal job market, please do not hesitate to contact us or leave a comment, below!  We’re happy to help.

In particular, using Linked In is a wonderful place to start.  (There are, of course, many other social media sites that can be very helpful in getting a legal job, as well.)  The question remains – how do you use Linked In to your advantage?  It’s a great question, and there are several easy ways to use Linked In to make sure that you land the law firm job you’ve always wanted. 

1. If you don’t already have a Linked In account, start one today.  It’s very simple.  Fill out your bio information completely.  Be sure to include all of your previous career experience, your education and any other information that could be helpful for a hiring partner to know about you.   Most importantly, make sure to include a professional picture.  People connect more with a picture than with text.
2. Ask previous bosses and co-workers for recommendations.  It is sometimes hard to ‘brag” about yourself, so let others do it for you!  It’s important that potential employers see you have great skills and an incredible work ethic.  Also, it doesn’t hurt to show that previous employers can’t stop raving about you.   
3. Connect.  Find people on the site who work within the practice area and city where you’re focusing your job search.  If you’re interested in speaking with someone you don’t know but would like to know, ask one of your other connections to “introduce” you.  You’ll be amazed how many people you know have connections with people you wish you knew.
4. Get involved with the site.  Check in every day.  Join groups of attorneys or other professionals who work within the field in which you’re interested.  Be sure to update your status report and read others’ status updates.  It’s also important to invite people to join you and answer connection requests you receive from others.  The point is to connect with and interact with people.
5. Answer questions.  Take advantage of the “Answers” section of Linked In.  This is a section where people can ask questions about any number of topics.  Find a topic about which you can thoroughly answer questions and answer away!  Show people that you know your stuff when it comes to your area of practice.  Others will take notice!
6. Post questions.  It’s a great idea to ask questions, as well.  This shows that you’re involved and that you’re trying to gain knowledge about the law or the legal field.  Asking questions is also a great way to meet other lawyers.  When they answer questions, you can ask them to connect with you and you can start a dialogue. 
7. Don’t be shy.  Make sure that folks know you are looking for a job.  You can subtly mention on your status update that you’re “working on your resume.”  You could also be more direct and ask some of your connections for informational interviews or introductions to hiring partners.  As long as you are polite and considerate, you should ask for what you want.

There are so many ways to use Linked In to your advantage.  The more you involve yourself on the site, the more benefit you’ll derive.  Before long, you could be connected to hiring partners at the firm of your dreams.

If you have any other questions about the legal job search, contact us.  We’d be happy to help.  Swan Legal Search has been helping attorneys and law firms connect for more than a decade.  We’re attorneys helping attorneys, and we’d be thrilled to help you!

As a partner, it’s so important to find the position that will fit with your career goals and your lifestyle needs.  This position may be the one for you.  If you’re in the San Francisco Bay area or are willing to relocate, this firm is searching for a partner with a $1M book of business and extensive experience with environmental litigation and regulations.  Sound like something you’d like to try?  Contact us or visit SwanLegal.com for more information. 

For the job-seeking associate attorneys, we have a wonderful opportunity in a Los Angeles office.  This position is for the general litigation group of the firm.   If you are  a 2005 graduate with strong litigation skills, excellent writing skills and the ability to run a case, this may be the perfect fit for your career.  More information about this opportunity is available at our website or by contacting us.

Don’t see a perfect match?  We’ll be posting more opportunities next week.  There are more job openings every day at Swan Legal Search.  Contact us to find the career opportunity of a lifetime.

Developing a book of business is not the reason most of us attended law school; and it’s certainly nothing that we’ve been taught.  At times, lawyers can find this process to be overwhelming.  Therefore, we at Swan Legal Search have broken down the process into a few simple tips that are sure to help you grow your book of business.

1. Strengthen existing relationships.  Strong relationships within (and outside of) the legal community are imperative.  It’s common for folks to aggressively pursue new contacts and forget to follow up with and give attention to existing contacts.  This is a big mistake.  Sometimes, upon first meeting, the contact has no need for a lawyer.  Six months, a year or even two years later, his/her situation may change. Make a list of contacts and be sure to communicate with them at least twice per year.  Send a short email asking how they’re doing or inform them of your status.  The follow-up doesn’t have to be long or incredibly formal, but it should be professional and they should know that you are seeking new clients.  
2. Get referrals.  If you have current contacts or clients, ask them to refer you to friends, associates and/or acquaintances.  Referrals are the easiest way to get new clients, because you come as a recommendation from a trusted source.  One important note – if you are referred to a client, be sure to give him/her the “royal treatment.”  When referred clients go to their original source and sing your praises, more referrals are sure to come your way!  (Remember to send referral thank you gifts.)
3. Market yourself.  As a lawyer, it’s sometimes tough to learn how to market yourself.  However, it’s really the best way for folks to learn who you are and what you do.  There are many ways to market yourself without being unethical or tacky.  Write an article to be published in a legal magazine or send an introductory letter and business card to someone with influence.  Whatever you choose to do, get your name out among other lawyers and business owners.  You’ll be amazed how quickly your phone will start to ring.
4. Put yourself in front of people.  Speaking with influential people face-to-face is a wonderful way to meet potential clients.  I love technology as much as the next person, but nothing is quite as impactful as an in-person meeting.  There are many types of events you can attend.  Find a business or charitable organization that “speaks” to you.  Go to as many meetings and events as you can, talk to new people and make sure they have your business card in hand by the end of the conversation.
5. Take advantage of your alumni associations.  It doesn’t matter how many years ago you graduated, your high school, college and law school alumni associations can be wonderful resources for building a book of business.  Check with your alumni associations to find out if there’s a way to get involved or to get a mailing list of other alumni.  Reach out to fellow alumni and let them know what you’re doing.  People love to help others with whom they feel a connection.  Many alumni will be thrilled to speak with a fellow graduate and may become clients.

Need more help?  Please contact us today.  We’d love to work with you and help you with your career  goals!