Ask A Recruiter - Law

Did Gunderson Dettmer lay off paralegals when it had layoff two years ago in NY? Few recruiters reached out to me for the VC Paralegal role and I’m really interested in it, but also scared of stealth … more

What is the billable hour requirement at Clark Hill for an Employment Law Attorney? Do they allow you to include pro bono work? Also, is the position hybrid? If so, how many days in office in DTLA?

Is it better to work with one recruiter or multiple at the same time? When job searching, it’s easy to end up talking to several recruiters at once. On one hand, it increases exposure; on the other, i… more

Every year around bonus season, it feels like half the legal world is quietly waiting it out… counting days, refreshing bank accounts, and then suddenly updating LinkedIn. A few of my friends are all … more

Any recommendations for a recruiter in Houston? Looking to relocate to be closer to some dear friends. (c/o 2022, commercial real estate, graduated order of the coif from a non-T50 in the southeast)

Is right after bonus season the best time to job hunt?
I’ve heard a lot of people say that the market loosens up right after bonuses are paid — more candidates start moving, and more roles quietly open… more

How "technical" should I expect interviews to be for a 5th - 7th year technology transactions BigLaw position? Spent my entire career at one firm and I'm not used to answering questions … more

How much weight do you give to benefits versus base pay? One offer is 10K lower but has strong health coverage and real PTO. Another pays more but feels bare bones. How do you compare total value?

I’m a 2019 grad in the philly market and recently accepted a lateral offer at $150k base.

The role is subrogation practice area where I have little to no direct experience, but I have several years of solid genera… more

I have a callback with the hiring partner. Any tips?

It seems like applying to a job posting on LinkedIn sends your resume into the abyss. I’ve only had success getting interviews through referrals, recruiters, or DMing the hiring partner directly. Do I… more

Are recruiters actually sharing feedback? I get rejections with no context after multiple interviews. It makes it hard to improve or adjust. Has anyone found a way to get real answers?

Are referrals still worth chasing? I keep getting referred and still end up rejected or ghosted. It feels awkward to keep asking people for help.

In this business, you really can’t assume anything with recruiters, law firm senior associates and/or partners that interview you for attorney positions; however, what do you think about interviewers … more

I have applied to 3 jobs recently wherein I have been asked supply them with my credit report and I can only use the link they provide, no report pulled from any other site will be accepted and I have… more

I get a good amount of interest from recruiters based on my overall credentials, but almost always get ghosted as soon as I send over my transcript. To be fair, I struggled a lot in school due to pers… more

I’m curious what the numbers actually look like in this market. How many applications does it realistically take to land an interview — and how many interviews usually lead to an offer? It feels like … more

I’ve been working in my practice area for about 5 years. Is it too late to change practice areas? I’m currently a senior attorney but I’m willing to start at a lower level in order to try something di… more

Is it better to use a recruiter or apply directly to the firm website as a first year associate? In what ways can a recruiter make a difference?

I'm barred in Indiana (1 YOE) and moving to D.C. for my partner’s job. Federal roles(usajobs/etc..) only require any state bar, but a recruiter noted that Federal Agency/ D.C. Court jobs eventually demand local admissio… more

This job market is really messed up. I know we all know that, but wow. I really did not think it would take this long to find another job, its been a year and a half. I have two years of Legal Assistant experienc… more

Should we stay patient or start lowering standards? The markets feeling tight, not sure if its worth waiting for the perfect job anymorer. At the same time, taking the wrong role feels costly. I go ba… more

How are new grads supposed to break in when every role wants experience? keep seeing entry-level or junior legal postings that still ask for “solid experience.” It makes me worry about how new graduat… more

How to not be typecast by recruiters ? I want to switch into a different area of law from Trust and Estates but they only message me about TE roles. They say I could switch once im in a different firm… more

Does anyone else feel pressure to seem endlessly flexible during interviews? I catch myself nodding along to things I already know I don’t want. It feels like survival mode. How do you stay honest wit… more

Is AI starting to replace lawyers? Or maybe more junior level lawyers? With AI handling research, drafting, and first-pass reviews, I’m starting to wonder what happens to traditional junior-level work… more

I am thinking switch job from in house back to law firm. Am I being unrealistic on it?
I’ve seen mixed views on this — some say firms value the business perspective, others say it’s hard to re-enter o… more

Is flexibility becoming more valuable than title in legal careers? seeing more lawyers prioritize remote work and control over their schedules, even if it means stepping away from traditional titles. … more

Saw a role reposted for the third time in two months. Same description, same company. Makes me wonder if they’re being picky, unsure, or just fishing.

What are possible reasons that a company scheduled my next (and final) round interview before my upcoming interview has even happened? I want to see it as a good sign, but I’ve played these games befo… more

Has networking felt different for anyone else lately? I’m finding that casual check ins are leading to more honest conversations than formal referrals. People are more open about what’s actually happe… more

I have 12 YOE (big law and in-house at large US companies) and am thinking of moving to another in-house position at a large tech company in Asia. If I wanted to return to the US in 5-6 years, would I… more

To those of you who have participated in hiring, what role do the cross-functional, non-legal interviewers play in the decision making at your company? For example, in a product role, would the lead P… more

I have worked in a Big Four M&A tax group for the past two years. However, since passing the bar, my desire to work at a law firm has increased significantly. I would like to understand how diffic… more

my husband to take the CA bar in February because we would like to relocate to the west coast where my family is. I am also looking to make a move with firm wise. Can I negotiate something in Ca but s… more

How much of your job search happened through your network versus public postings? Seems like most people I know who landed great roles didn’t do it through online applications alone.

Is moving to alternative legal service providers a good idea? Me and my friend are both considering whether it makes sense to leave full-time role for platforms like Axiom or Elevate. I know one perso… more

We had two openings with reasonable above market pay and it took us 5-6 months to fill the positions and this year I am thinking switching jobs but scared of the long process and I can be exhausted af… more

I saw many “recruiters” are recruiting for Cooley. How to tell who’s a recruiter and who’s a searching agent? It makes no sense to apply through a searching agent.

My compensation is the only thing keeping me in my current job. I don’t hate the work, but I don’t feel excited by it either. I’m starting to feel trapped by the lifestyle the salary supports. If anyo… more