Ask A Recruiter - Law

When should you follow up with a recruiter? A week after submissions? Two weeks?

Is it okay to ask why you weren’t selected?

I recently made it to the final round for a role that I was genuinely excited about but didn’t get the offer. I debated whether to ask for feedback or simply… more

I'm a recent call looking for a junior commercial litigation associate position in Toronto. I was called to the BC bar in Dec. 2025 after articling at a large full-service firm in Vancouver, where… more

Looking for insight on in-house claims positions with insurers. I have a few years of insurance defense experience. What is it like on the inside? For various reasons, I’m looking to transition to a n… more

I practiced corporate law in London for four years before moving to the US and completing a specialized tax LLM at NYU. Now that I’m hitting the job market here, recruiters seem utterly baffled by my … more

Any insight into WilmerHale NY litigation?

I’m a senior associate prepping to lateral, and I know the new firm will want a detailed conflicts list. The issue is that I’m currently under a strict NDA regarding an internal investigation I’m on f… more

How do I handle a lateral application with a co-counsel firm? I’m currently working on a massive multi-district litigation case where my firm is co-counsel with a highly prestigious national firm. I’v… more

Do you apply for roles on holidays and holiday weekends? Currently unemployed and the 4th of July feels like any other day. Kind of worried how the firms may perceive someone who applies on days when … more

When considering a move in house, is it easy to get pigeonholed into an industry even when you’re a generalist role? Have wanted to go in house for some time. Have an offer from a great company, but i… more

4/5 interviews went really well (including HM). Not sure about the last one with GC and was hard to read. Recruiter reached out after to discuss comp expectations, start date, and asked for references… more

Just wanting so advice! I have a job interview on Monday for a law firm, I’m wondering if anyone can give me some advice on how I should prepare for it.

I had an interview where one unexpected question threw me off. The interviewer asked me “If we offered you this role today, what would make you hesitate to accept it” I hadn’t anticipated that one. Wh… more

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