Ask A Recruiter - Law

Why do employers post job vacancies and keep reposting the same roles even though hundreds of people have already applied? Is it that difficult for them to find the right fit or is this just a tactic … more

I was laid off 4 months ago and interviews slowed after the first couple months. I’m worried the gap is starting to hurt me even though it’s not that long. For those who searched 6+ months, how did yo… more

Would anyone be willing to share their firm's PTO/Vacation/Sick policies for non-attorney staff with me? Right now we've got different policies in every state because of all the PSL laws, and we're hoping to merge them into one policy.<… more

I am looking for a job that will let me work remotely from Spain because my husband is going to be getting his PhD there. I’m probably going to be in Spain on a digital nomad visa. Are there recruiter… more

I left Big Law for balance and now trying to returnis a b****. Firms question commitment even though the move was intentional. It’s like exit paths are one-way. Did anyone reenter after leaving and ho… more

Recently graduated and was wondering how to go about getting a job as a conflict attorney, would it be looked down upon if I took a role that didn’t require a JD but was doing conflict work to gain ex… more

I’m noticing that its actually a challenge to move practice areas once you’re a few years in. Recruiters keep saying my experience is too specific but I find it weird since the core skills transfer. S… more

I 've a paralegal cert. and I am working towards my advanced certificate. I have applied to hundreds of jobs during the last 6 months, and I have gotten between 10 and 15 interviews, but not a sin… more

When recruiters go silent — what’s usually happening?
I recently had a situation where early conversations with a recruiter were very positive,quick responses, detailed discussions and then suddenly… n… more

I'm interviewing for a mid-level position at a publicly traded company with 6-7 current lawyers on their team. I was just given a 7 page contract to redline. How many candidates do they typically … more

Do ‘Easy Apply’ applications on LinkedIn actually work? It’s tempting to click, but I’ve always wondered how seriously those applications are reviewed.

I’m working with a recruiter who is helping me find a position in a new city. While we’ve applied to posted and unposted positions, lately he’s just been sending me a list of firms and asking for perm… more

Would love some insights on the typical timeline between final round of meetings and offer for a counsel/NEP role in Big Law. I was told about a week ago that an offer was in development. Not necessar… more

Is LinkedIn actually effective for finding legal roles?
Some people swear by it, others say real opportunities come through recruiters and networks. I saw a few interesting roles on LinkedIn each have … more

Does interviewing itself become a skill over time?some people seem incredibly polished in interviews regardless of role, while others struggle even with strong experience. It makes me wonder whether i… more

How do you get pass the ATS system and actually get an interview with a hiring manager for legal and/or quasi legal (e.g., contracts management, etc.) roles in Toronto, ON?

I lateraled into a BigLaw firm and I’m about two weeks in. I expected high expectations and a steep learning curve, but the supervisory dynamic has been concerning.

My supervising partner has repeatedly questioned… more

How do you explain leaving a role after less than two years without raising flags? I joined my current company 18 months ago and the role shifted significantly from what was sold. I want to move but w… more

Would you accept a solid offer below your target or keep searching in a slow market. The offer is stable but compensation is light. But I'm afraid another opportunity won't come soon and I'… more

Law firms in the UK - I had an interview almost two weeks ago. This firm handles recruitment process in house with no involvement from agency. The first interview went on well. I met with the line man… more

Anyone have insight on what mid-sized commercial litigation firms are paying associates in South Florida? Is it definitely better than the ~$100k average for ID firms in this area?

I was at a firm with a non-equity partner class when I left to go in-house about a year ago. It's not what I thought it would be, and I'm looking to go back to a firm. What's the best way … more

I’m a senior litigation associate in NYC biglaw. We’re expecting our first baby later this year and once the baby is born, we’d like to relocate to Cleveland to be closer to family. What’s the best w… more

I have been working as a Legal Assistant for a government agency for about 7 years now. I started as a Legal Assistant II and I am currently a Legal Assistant III. I am looking to land a more senior l… more

So I got sucked into a conversation with a recruiter yesterday who baited me, and they are now shopping my profile around my city, but they’ve done minimal to help me and are not very responsive to my… more

Any insight on Big Law salaries for their offices in Mexico City (partner/counsel/associate)?

Why do recruiters ask for salary expectations before sharing the budget? I gave a number aligned with my last role at 165k and now I am worried I anchored too high. The role fits my experience perfect… more

I was recently contacted by a recruiter about a confidential role (company name withheld). Around the same time, but before the recruiter disclosed the company name, I had already been introduced and applied to w… more

Reached out to a recruiter who connected with me on LinkedIn months ago but never directly messaged me. He posted about a few jobs he is recruiting for and included a description of the type of candid… more

I’m an 8th year, major metropolitan city. I recently made a practice switch to a role that turned out to be more temporary than permanent. Have been applying for roles and pay being equal choosing bet… more

Are lawyers over-optimizing their careers? Between title-chasing, comp comparisons, and constant LinkedIn updates, it sometimes feels like everyone is trying to engineer the “perfect” trajectory. I am… more

Deal volume has been uneven this year and I’m seeing fewer postings for transactional roles. Recruiters say firms are being cautious even when they are busy. Four months, no traction. Is this just a s… more

With all the talk about AI drafting tools cutting down junior work, I’m starting to wonder what that means for lateral hiring. I have 6 years of experience but a lot of it is motion practice that AI c… more

Does pulling out after accepting an offer and beginning onboarding (but before having a start date) to accept another offer that came in late attach a stigma to you that follows you in a mid-sized mar… more

Is it common that the chances of senior employees being laid off are higher than new employees when business doesn’t go well ? Or they should be appreciated and kept as a valued member/asset for the… more

I built a small commerical litigation book over the last 6 months while practicing solo. I don’t want to service the cases anymore and want to switch entirely to transactional work. What should I be d… more

Is burnout becoming the default career filter in law? It feels like more people aren’t leaving roles for better opportunities, they’re leaving because they’re exhausted. Burnout seems to be driving mo… more

If interested in lateraling as a more senior attorney, is working partner level connections at the target firm more effective than trying to go through a recruiter?

Had a call back last week through an internal referral. The referral asked the recruiting department when I could expect an answer last Friday. They were told by the recruit that they “ hope to have a… more