Much like accomplished attorneys, good legal recruiters don’t just grow on trees. Whether you are an employer or candidate, a top-notch headhunter can make all the difference when your reputation is on the line. Successful legal recruiters share many of the same qualities – ones that all parties must recognize when deciding who to work with. Regardless of which side of the negotiation table you find yourself on, here’s what different audiences look for when choosing a legal recruiter.
What Qualities Do Employers Value in Recruiters?
As an employer, be sure to choose a recruiter with these skills and qualifications:
Attentive
Being extroverted and talkative doesn’t necessarily mean that a recruiter is good at their job. Recruiters at the top of their profession are also good listeners, allowing them to focus on the needs of their clients and candidates.
Proactive
In addition to being active listeners, recruiters “in the know” understand the legal marketplace and take the initiative to find talent well before it’s needed. They also respect the confidentiality of all parties involved, while doing their best to protect it.
Self-assured
Since working as a recruiter requires the ability to interact and network with a lot of people, confidence and self-assurance are essential personality traits. The best recruiters are self-confident because they realize they possess viable skills that clients and candidates need.
Approachable
Like any personal or business relationship, recruiters that are likeable and approachable make those they’re working with feel comfortable. A successful recruiter must be able to cultivate long-lasting relationships while establishing solid, professional rapport with everyone they work with.
Effective communicator
Recruiting involves a lot of communication, which means that your recruiter must be able to communicate effectively across various formats – including face to face. As a deal broker, recruiters are expected to keep all parties in the loop by promptly updating them with new information and opportunities as they become available.
Results-driven
Legal recruitment is a highly competitive field, and any recruiter worth their salt must be self-motivated and results-driven. Since the earnings of the average recruiter are performance-based, those unwilling to put in the extra time and effort often end up empty-handed.
Selling skills
Recruiting and sales share much in common. A recruiter sells their services to the client and then entices the candidate to accept the job. Any legal recruiter that can’t sell is going to have a hard time finding clients and placing candidates.
Time management
Recruiters are often asked to manage multiple projects from different clients simultaneously, all while providing everyone with status updates. A good recruiter must be tech-savvy and adept at multi-tasking while prioritizing responsibilities based on the level of urgency.
Patience & perseverance
Things don’t always go as planned in the recruiting world, which makes patience and perseverance highly coveted qualities for any successful recruiter. Good recruiters keep their emotions in check even when feeling tired and frustrated.
Do Law Firms and Corporations Value the Same Things?
Although their practice needs and desired candidate qualifications vary, both private law firms and corporations employ attorneys to assist them with day-to-day business operations for the primary purpose of turning a profit.
While being paid to represent and litigate the legal interests of corporations, many corporate lawyers practice at mid-sized to large law firms. Conversely, in-house corporate counsel departments directly employ attorneys as internal legal advisors for business-related issues.
Good recruiters must be highly adept at working with a wide range of clients while maintaining a talent pool that can meet the ever-changing needs of those clients. To be successful, a recruiter must be skilled at proactively identifying client needs and matching them with qualified candidates quickly and confidentially – qualities that any respectable law firm or corporation would value.
What Should Candidates Look for in Legal Recruiters?
When changing jobs, it’s not uncommon for candidates to interact with several recruiters. Choosing the right one for your job search – someone who will best represent your professional interests – isn’t easy. On the other hand, the right recruiter – one with a vast network of industry contacts – can be an invaluable resource as your career objectives change.
As a legal professional, here’s how to choose a recruiter:
- Start by getting the list of legal recruiters serving the geographic market you are interested in work in by visiting the appropriate metro page on the Legal Recruiter Directory.
- Research their network and industry contacts through social media, their website, professional organizations, etc.
- Find out what others have to say by reading client testimonials and online reviews.
- Consider their area of expertise, as recruiters that specialize in one industry – for example, legal – typically understand a given market better than those who represent clients in various industries.
Where Candidates and Companies Overlap
Factors that include the Covid Pandemic and emerging digital technologies have forever reshaped the legal landscape. Although candidates still value job considerations such as compensation and geographic location, additional employment issues such as work/life balance, company cultural, and the flexibility to practice from home are increasingly becoming deal makers or breakers.
Recruiters worth their weight in gold understand those factors and possess the skills necessary to ensure that the interests of both candidates and those seeking to employ them seamlessly overlap while orchestrating the placement process.
The Role of the Legal Recruiter Directory
No matter what role you find yourself playing, seamlessly navigating the talent acquisition process takes planning, patience, and perseverance. At Deep Footprint, the agency responsible for the Legal Recruiter Directory, we specialize in goal oriented digital marketing solutions for legal recruiters, law firms, and legal placement firms.
Helping those we serve to realize higher client engagement and conversion rates is something we excel at. The Legal Recruiter Directory also provides online support that allows legal recruiters to place talented active or passive attorney candidates with prestigious law firms and corporations in the most timely and efficient way possible. To learn more about our services, contact us today.
