The (Potential) Benefits of Working with a Legal Recruiter

Working with a legal recruiter is not the right move for every candidate (and it’s never the right move for law students). There are also tons of legal recruiters who, let’s face it, have no idea what they’re doing. However, a good legal recruiter can provide several benefits to a lateral candidate, including:

1.     Access to unadvertised job opportunities: Legal recruiters often have access to job opportunities that aren't publicly advertised. This can be especially valuable for job seekers looking for specialized or niche roles.

2.     Guidance and advice: Legal recruiters have a deep understanding of the legal industry and can provide valuable guidance and advice to job seekers. They can offer insights into the job market, provide feedback on resumes and cover letters, and help job seekers prepare for interviews.

3.     Time savings: Job searching can be a time-consuming process. Working with a legal recruiter can save job seekers time by handling the initial screening and vetting of job opportunities. This can help job seekers focus on their job search and make the most of their time.

4.     Negotiation assistance: Legal recruiters can help job seekers navigate the negotiation process, including salary negotiations and other benefits. They can also provide guidance on the appropriate time to negotiate and what factors to consider.

5.     Confidentiality: Job seekers who are currently employed may want to keep their job search confidential. Legal recruiters can provide a level of confidentiality that may not be possible when applying directly to job openings. For instance, a legal recruiter can “blind pitch” a candidate to prospective firms, so that the the candidate is initially evaluated on an anonymous basis.

6.     Expertise in the legal industry: Legal recruiters have expertise in the legal industry, including knowledge of practice areas, firms, and hiring trends. This can be especially valuable for job seekers who are new to the legal industry or are looking to switch practice areas.

Working with a legal recruiter can provide job seekers with access to unadvertised job opportunities, valuable guidance and advice, time savings, negotiation assistance, confidentiality, and expertise in the legal industry. By partnering with a legal recruiter, laterals can increase their chances of finding their ideal job in the legal industry.