Ask A Recruiter - Law

I’m preparing for an interview for next week, and as I’ve become more senior in my career, I’ve realized I’m interviewing the company just as much as they’re interviewing me. Beyond the usual question… more

I recently found out through a mutual friend that a recruiter I’ve been talking to has been looking through my personal, private Instagram account by following one of my friends. Nothing on there is i… more

Interviews seem to be getting longer and longer. recently went through a process with multiple interview rounds, meeting several stakeholders over a few weeks. By the end, I felt like the company knew me we… more

I’ve started using AI regularly to improve my workflow, drafting first versions, summarizing long documents, and brainstorming approaches. It’s made me noticeably more efficient, but I rarely hear any… more

What is the best way to shop around / see what’s out there? Both in terms of big law cultures and in house opportunities. If it’s to work with a recruiter, how do I find one (I assume better to find m… more

A lot of employees overlook their 401(k) employer match, which can result in leaving free retirement contributions on the table.
It may be worth double-checking your contribution rate against your empl… more

I have a good in-house job with competitive pay, a supportive team, and interesting work. I’m not unhappy, but I still find myself curious about other opportunities when recruiters reach out.

Does anyo… more

I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I recently graduated with LLB Law with criminology and got a 2:2. I’m looking to start my career and work as a paralegal. However, I have not no experience in this area a… more

I’m applying for a state government legal role that strictly requires me to list my salary requirements in the cover letter, or the application will be automatically rejected. My current private firm … more

I interviewed with a firm a little over a month ago. Two rounds. I liked everyone I met and I thought everything went well. Completed some due diligence stuff. However, a month have passed since my la… more

I went through four (what I think were) great interview rounds. The exec said the others said good things about me and we had a pleasant, fluid conversation. I followed up with the recruiter after 2 d… more

I recently realized that if I changed jobs today, I’d likely have to choose between a fully remote role and a role that requires significantly more time in the office. Remote work offers flexibility and mor… more

I’ve been reflecting on whether every legal career eventually hits a ceiling whether it’s compensation, title, or growth opportunities.
How do you know you’ve reached that point? And what signs tell yo… more

I’m interviewing with a firm that claims to have an unlimited PTO policy, which sounds amazing. However, I’ve heard horror stories from friends in Big Law who say unlimited actually means zero because… more

A recruiter recently reached out to me about a role that offered more flexibility, like 2-3 days in the office instead of 5, but the commute would be 3 times longer than my current one. It made me rea… more

I’ve noticed that some recruiters stay in touch over the years, while others disappear after one conversation.For those who have built long-term relationships with recruiters, what made those relation… more

I recently interviewed for a role that I’m genuinely excited about, but it’s been a few weeks of silence since the last round.

At what point is it appropriate to follow up? Is persistence viewed positi… more

Is it too soon to start looking for a new job after only six months? I was hired by a mid-sized firm specifically to build out their environmental law practice, which is what I went to law school for.… more

I’m currently a Junior Partner at a small, regional firm, but the firm is struggling financially and I need to make a move. A major international firm is interested in me, but because of their tier st… more

I’m at a legal aid organization, and our primary federal grant was drastically cut, meaning my position will be eliminated in three months. I need to find a private firm job fast, but I’ve only ever d… more

Gut check:

7th year invited to interview at a bigger company after about a year in my current role. Already did screener.

Comp would go from $350k to about $550k TC, with the difference mainly being equity.

Reason… more

What’s the story with GRSM’s student loan assistance program?

It seems like the big law lateral market is picking up. What are you seeing for signing bonuses for mid/senior M&A associates currently at a top 20 law firm?

For the last three years, I’ve been balancing a reduced-hour associate track at my firm with teaching an evening class as an adjunct professor at a local law school. I love academia, but I need to ret… more

Does loyalty still matter? It seems increasingly common to see people move every few years in pursuit of better opportunities. How do hiring teams view tenure these days? Is staying with one employer … more

I recently came across a role that looked interesting and aligned with my experience, but I couldn’t help wondering whether I might be viewed as overqualified. I’ve heard mixed views on this, some say… more

How do I write a compelling deal/matter sheet? I’m a lateral candidate in criminal defense, which means almost all of my most impressive cases involve highly confidential, pre-indictment representatio… more

I was recently speaking with a recruiter and was asked why I was exploring opportunities when I already have a good job and am fairly well compensated. I was simply curious about the market and open t… more

I went through two interviews for an in-house role - one with the hiring manager who liked me and another with someone I’d be working closely with. The recruiter is usually very quick to respond to em… more

I’ve come across roles where I felt I checked nearly every box, yet never received an interview invitation. What are the most common reasons a seemingly strong candidate gets screened out before the f… more

I started a hiring process very excited about a role, but after months of interviews and delays, I found myself less interested than when I started.

Have others experienced this? At what point does a h… more

How do I balance showing my passion for pro bono with proving I’m still a profitable investment? Over the past two years, I’ve logged an incredible amount of pro bono hours representing asylum seekers… more

I’ve been trying to break into Privacy and Cybersecurity law, but since I don't have active client matters in that space, my resume keeps getting rejected. To compensate, I’ve spent the last six m… more

Has anybody asked for a salary that’s more than the posted range in the job description and got it? I’m wondering if that’s just their floor. I’m looking for a slight increase above the posted range b… more

I’m currently five months pregnant and just started looking for a new lateral associate position because my current firm’s parental leave policy is practically non-existent. I know it’s technically il… more

I just spoke with a recruiter about a role, responsibilities were broad, expectations seemed high, and the company was looking for someone with significant experience. However, compensation was much l… more

I’ve been in my current in house role for 6.5 years now and enjoy the work, team, and the compensation was not the best but ok. And I’ve seen most of the team members switched jobs in the past 2-3 yea… more

A partner at a competing firm reached out to me directly and offered me a job on the spot, bypassing their HR department entirely. It’s a great opportunity, but nothing is in writing yet, and he told … more

I’ve had recruiters contact me about opportunities, express strong interest, and then disappear after I responded. Is this just part of today’s recruiting landscape, or does it usually mean the role, … more

In your experience, what are the most important things to look for when searching for an effective recruiter / recruiting company with the goal of lateraling from one big law firm into another? Smart … more