Ask A Recruiter - Law

Hello all,

I'm interested in a temperature check on the in-house counsel industry. I have been working on the director level for 5+ years in the biotech industry (12 years overall). I've been applying to j… more

Heading to a litigation boutique from BigLaw. Any tips for success?

Any tips for stepping into a first GC role? I’ve been thinking about what it takes to transition into a first General Counsel role. It seems like a big shift — from execution to leadership, strategy, … more

I’ve had a few interviews for roles where everything felt positive, then I get rejected with no feedback at all. After spending hours prepping, the silence is honestly the worst part. Do you ever foll… more

I’m stuck between 2 options. One firm is offering about $7k more but felt very formal and honestly a bit cold. The other pays less but the team seemed way more supportive. I keep going back and forth … more

I am a second year corporate associate (primarily VC) at an amlaw 20 firm in Northern California looking to lateral. I am increasingly entertaining the idea of going in house or to a boutique for wlb.… more

I’m interviewing for this in-house role that looks like better wlb than firm life, but the title is crappy and I know titles can affect future moves. Pay's ok. The actual work sounds better, which… more

A company I interviewed with wants references before giving salary details, and I’m hesitant because I do not want to involve current contacts if the number ends up not making sense. The role sounds i… more

I have my first interview for a lateral hire position in a medium-size firm, and this is my first interview in years. Interview is set up with three of the partners. Any insight on questions to prep f… more

I have an interview coming up for a role that would clearly be a better long-term path, but I am worried about salary because the posting listed a wide range and I know I tend to answer too cautiously… more

How do you evaluate contract roles vs. full-time stability? I’ve been considering a contract role recently. The work itself sounds interesting, but the limited term makes me wonder about stability — a… more

A friend recently accepted a fully remote role with a significant pay cut. Meanwhile, my company switched to 5 days in the office this year, and with the open-concept setup I’m finding it really hard … more

I'm waiting for a decision from a mid/large tech company. I finished my final interviews about 10 days ago. Do I still realistically have a shot? The recruiter said last week he is going to check … more

Any insights on junior lit lateral market in NYC right now? I’m a second year having a hard time getting traction over the past few months. Strong credentials (HLS, ex-McKinsey) but lateraling from pu… more

I am a CRE attorney, with 5-6 years under my belt. My long term goal is most likely to go in house rather than do the partner thing. I have a potential opportunity to make a move in house, but the pos… more

Do lawyers need a niche to stay competitive? I have been practicing a few years now and wants to move in house, I hear that having a clear specialty makes it easier to stand out, but at the same time … more

Are there any recruiters in Cali? Specifically in LA that are looking to work with a transactional attorney?

I’ve been thinking about picking up some additional skills outside traditional legal training — things like AI tools, data analysis, privacy, etc. — to make myself more competitive in the job market f… more

How do you stand a chance of landing an interview for an in-house position you are very overqualified for? Like, the job posting asks for 3+ years of experience and I have nearly 20. Willing to take… more

I had my first and second round of interviews for a lateral position a week and a half ago. I thought the interviews went great, it felt very natural and multiple interviewers told me it would be wond… more

Do long hiring processes cause companies to lose strong candidates? I’ve noticed some hiring processes stretch across multiple rounds and weeks (sometimes months). By the time an offer comes, candidat… more

Noticing a lot of Defense firms "Urgently Hiring" and using every available recruiter to fill vacant jobs.

Are they growing or is it just a revolving door?

If the salary range is A-Z why does the offer … more

I applied for a role where I matched almost every requirement, but they rejected me and reposted it a week later with the exact same description. It makes you start wondering whether companies are act… more

A company asked if I’d be open to a contract role first with the possibility of converting later. The work itself sounds strong, but I’ve never taken a legal role without knowing exactly where it lead… more

A recruiter suggested I should widen my search beyond the exact practice area I’m in because hiring is stronger in adjacent areas right now. The skills overlap, but I know legal hiring can get very sp… more

Any recruiters specialize in LATAM Global Investigations and litigation, including Central America and Mexico? Asking for a friend...dm me if want.

I’m trying to decide whether to apply to firms that look slightly out of reach on paper. The practice area matches, but most of the postings ask for people coming from firms that are more recognizable… more

A recruiter told me one firm liked my background but worried I might be too used to how my current firm does things. That confused me because isn’t experience supposed to help, not make you look rigid… more

As a junior lawyer that's currently job hunting and having a hard time with the current market, I was wondering how recruiters (especially in-house firm recruiters) and small to mid-sized firms tr… more

I am evaluating offers to join in house team. Wondering how much does the team size matter for in-house roles? With similar pay, one role is part of a large legal team, while the other is the 2nd hire… more

Are job descriptions becoming unrealistic? I was reading a in house job posting today, they ask for a long list of skills — subject matter expertise on transactions, employment law, contract and litig… more

Are fully remote ‘work from anywhere’ legal roles still out there? curious whether it’s still possible to find fully remote roles that genuinely allow you to live anywhere, even if only for part of th… more

Anyone here did the Privacy certificate, does it actually help? Or any general certifications or additional courses actually help lawyers stand out? I’ve noticed more lawyers taking extra certificatio… more

Hi everyone. I’m a dual-licensed attorney in South America and New York. After completing my LL.M., I passed the bar and joined a firm working on mass tort litigation. My background is more transactio… more

What’s a reasonable guaranteed salary amount and term for a lateral junior partner with a growing book ($800k billed:/$550k collected in 2025 and on pace for $1mm+ in 2026)? Seeking a firm that can su… more

What are law firms looking for in AI when recruiting for a paralegal? I am actively searching for a new opportunity as a commercial real estate paralegal and have been asked about my experience with A… more

I was three months into my third year at a small (3 attorney firm) before I was let go, because of the uncertainty the Tarrifs and Interest Rates causes in our clients' projects and matters (const… more

Do lawyers need to actively build a personal brand now? I’ve been noticing more lawyers posting insights on LinkedIn, speaking at events, or building a visible profile online. It makes me wonder wheth… more

Between my current role and last perm role, I worked at one law firm for few months. I didn’t include it on my resume because I only worked there 4 months (I felt the culture is super toxic once I sta… more

I’m talking to a recruiter about a firm that looks solid, but the interview process starts with an informal dinner before any formal meeting. That somehow feels harder than an interview because it’s l… more