Ask A Recruiter - Law

How’s everyone finding the in-house job market these days? I haven’t actively looked for a new role in several years, so this has been a bit of a reality check. I’ve applied to a handful of in-house positions rec… more

Are there any mid sized law firms in Los Angeles hiring remote or hybrid?

I’ve been told that nobody actually reads cover letters anymore, but every portal still requires one. I’ve been using a pretty standard template for years,. I want to show a bit of personality, but I’… more

I just got a unexpected job offer from a law firm which I am wanting to take. Because it is unexpected, I have two trips planned for the upcoming months (one long weekend and one full week). Should I … more

I’ve spent the last four years working for a non-profit representing low-income tenants, and I’ve loved it, but I need to start paying off my student loans. I want to move into a firm that does commer… more

My resume looks incredible, but I’m a terrible interviewer because I get massive imposter syndrome and freeze up. I’ve already blown two interviews at firms that should have been safe bets based on my… more

A recruiter keeps sending me new job alerts after I told them that I will not be applying to any places in the near future. If I do in fact apply for a job 3 months down the road and it turns out it w… more

Is there a way to do a preliminary conflict check with a recruiter before I invest hours into the application process? I’m a paralegal at a mid-sized firm and I’ve worked on a huge variety of cases ov… more

Just had an interview, it went well but it is very interesting what the hiring manager said were so different with the job posting! how common is the gap between the posted role and the actual role?A… more

What would be a good transitional area / who would hire someone that wants to transition out of immigration law?

New to the process and I’ve always been unsure about the best timing for compensation negotiations during a legal hiring process. Do you normally agree with a range before moving forward? And then neg… more

Throughout the rest of the year, what’s the seasonal hiring trends and timeline from applications to interviews offers, specifically for big Law as someone who is a sixth year or higher? Looking for l… more

Recently joined the community and start to explore my next opportunity. I’ve noticed that many fully remote legal roles seem to offer lower compensation ranges compared to similar hybrid or in-office … more

So cal senior lit associate at Vault 100 with $500k+ originations 3 years in a row at competitive rates ($1100+). Feasibility of lateraling to AmLaw 200 as NEP? What is the range for base salary?

I recently had an interview process where the conversations felt positive, the chemistry seemed strong, and I left genuinely feeling like things had gone well ,only to later receive an email saying th… more

I had an interview that seemed to go well until the very end. First, I asked a few questions that the interviewer implied had already been answered earlier in the conversation. When we got off the cal… more

The toxicity at my last firm got so bad that I quit without another job lined up just to save my mental health. I’ve been unemployed for two months now. How do I explain that I walked away from a high… more

I recently noticed that many senior in-house roles now expect lawyers to wear multiple hats,legal advisor, business partner, operations support, compliance lead, sometimes even project manager. I am w… more

Mid level associate at AmLaw 50 firm. I’ve been incredibly burned out for the last four months but my hours aren’t “the worst” in the group (i.e. I bill around 185 a month to client work and then 30 p… more

I have an interview at a very forward-thinking entertainment law boutique that says their culture is casual and creative. Every fiber of my being says I should wear a full suit, but I don’t want to lo… more

What’s the magic number for a portable book of business that actually gets firms excited? I’ve been a non-equity partner for three years and I’m starting to realize that the path to full equity at my … more

3rd-year ID associate in South Florida. $140k salary, 2160 billable requirement, but 2400 encouraged. I mostly WFH, which helps, but litigation stress feels unsustainable with a 9-month-old baby. I ca… more

Any BigLaw firms where the maternity leave benefits kick in day one? I know you can negotiate full leave once you get an offer but I'm so scared of them thinking I was a fraud for going through th… more

I want to leave my firm, but my contract has a clawback provision where I have to repay my sign-on bonus if I leave before the two-year mark. I’m at 18 months, and I’m miserable, but I don’t have $20k… more

How do I frame my experience? I’ve spent my career in a small town doing a bit of everything like wills, real estate, and small business disputes. I’m moving to a major metro area because my partner i… more

Just curious how much weight should one give to gut feeling during a job search, especially at the senior level? Have you ever ignoring those instincts and regret it later? (I had a quite interesting … more

Hi, I'm wondering if it's worth becoming a notary public. I'm working on a paralegal certificate right now. I'd like to work in disability or immigration law.

Would a firm or legal employer consider hiring a more senior candidate even if the positing is for a junior role? For example, if the position is for a mid-level associate, but someone with 15 years o… more

I’m a mid level associate at a Seven Sister firm in Canada in a high-demand, cross-border practice area. What’s the typical process for making the move to NY? Should I be writing the bar on my own tim… more

Hi everyone — I’m currently exploring my next opportunity in the UK and would appreciate recommendations for specialist recruiters in the Global Immigration.

My background is in programme management, stakeholder… more

I just spoke with a recruiter about a role that initially sounded very aligned with my background, but as the process progressed, the actual scope and expectations seemed quite different. How often ar… more

Are companies/ firms taking up to a month or more before deciding their new hire these days? I’ve had two close people that this happened to. I interviewed at two firms, one of which I made to the fin… more

How do I apply for remote legal assistant roles in the US?
I'm from a third world country, a law graduate (LL.B)and I've been job hunting for a while now, most of the interviews I've had has been with… more

What’s the best way to handle the sponsorship conversation so it doesn't overshadow my actual legal qualifications? I just finished my LLM at a top US school to qualify for the New York Bar. I’ve … more

Does anyone have insights into the SF/Bay Area lateral market, particularly for offices of V20 firms?

I went through several long interview rounds for an in-house role, and near the end of the process I was given a fairly extensive writing assignment that felt surprisingly complicated and time-consumi… more

Friend of mine met up with her old boss who said they have an in house position coming up and if she knew anyone. She recommended me, and her boss said I could send him an email and reach out. I sent … more

I recently went through a process where the initial interviews moved quickly and seemed very positive, but then there were long gaps between follow-ups and decisions. By the time the company reengaged… more

I recently spoke with a recruiter about a role that looked almost identical to my current position, same type of work, similar compensation, similar level, but at a different company.

It made me wonder… more