In today’s competitive legal talent market, when only 10% of legal professionals are actively looking for a new opportunity, law firms face the challenge of attracting and recruiting top talent. However, at the beginning of the year, the market is more active than this with many lawyers resolving to start the year with a job move.
If you’re looking to grow your team this year, there are certain things you can do to take advantage of this busier period, stand out from your competitors and attract the candidates you’re looking for.
Here are some key steps law firms can take to make the most of the active talent market:
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Clearly communicate your Employer Value Proposition
A strong and clear Employer Value Proposition is essential for attracting top talent. As a law firm, focus on building a positive reputation by highlighting what makes you different as an employer, spotlighting success stories from within your teams, and your commitment to your people.
Communicate your EVP in your job adverts, conversations with your recruitment partner and on your website and social media, to make sure that your values and employer offering are clear to the market. Encourage employees to share their experiences, accolades, and career growth within the organisation. Video content and interviews with members of your team are a fantastic way of highlighting the culture of your firm and giving an authentic insight into what it’s like to work there.
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Put in place an engaging recruitment process
To secure top talent, you also need to streamline your recruitment process and make it engaging. Utilise innovative techniques such as video interviews or interactive assessments to provide candidates with a glimpse into your firm’s culture and expectations. Highlight the growth opportunities, work-life balance, and unique benefits your firm offers to set yourself apart from competitors.
Importantly, ensure that your interviews are a two-way process; it’s not just about you finding out about a potential candidate, they must be able to ask you questions too, so that they can make sure the firm is right for them and their career.
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Embrace flexible working
The active talent market often favours organizations that prioritise work-life balance and flexibility. By offering remote work options, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks, you’ll be better able to attract candidates who value a healthy work-life balance. In your job adverts and employer brand marketing, make sure to emphasise the firm’s commitment to employee well-being and demonstrate how it aligns with the changing needs and expectations of today’s legal professionals.
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Invest in professional development
The best legal professionals are continually looking to develop their skills and grow their expertise. Investing in training programmes, mentorship initiatives, and professional development resources will help nurture the potential of your employees. By fostering a culture of learning and communicating to the market that this is something your firm is committed to, you will be able to attract high-performing candidates who are motivated to expand their skill sets and advance their careers.
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Foster a diverse and inclusive culture
Diversity and inclusion are not only essential for building strong teams but also for attracting the best talent. Law firms should aim to create an inclusive environment where individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and abilities feel welcome and supported. Actively recruit diverse talent, establish affinity groups, and ensure equal opportunities for growth and advancement.
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Provide competitive pay and benefits
In a competitive talent market, law firms must offer attractive compensation packages and benefits to retain the best lawyers. Benchmark your salaries against industry data (we have recently released our Winter 2023 Salary Guides) and consider offering performance-based bonuses or incentives.
If you aren’t able to compete on pay, providing other benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible working will help you to offer a package that appeals to the active market.
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Prioritise employee engagement and retention
Retaining talent is just as important as attracting it. Implement strategies to foster employee engagement, such as regular feedback sessions, career development plans, and recognition programmes, to make sure that your existing employees feel valued. Encourage open communication, listen to employee concerns, and address issues promptly. By nurturing a positive work environment, you’ll reduce turnover and retain top talent.
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Work with the right recruitment partner
While you may find it easier to recruit directly when the market is more active, there’s a still a significant proportion of legal professionals who are inactive or passive and who are unlikely to be browsing job boards or visiting your careers page. Partnering with a specialist legal recruitment consultancy with established communities of relevant lawyers will enable you to tap into this segment of the market and capture the attention of the individuals you’re looking for.
By implementing these strategies, law firms can make the most of January’s active talent market, position themselves as desirable employers and attract and retain the best legal professionals in the field.
If you’d like to take things one step further, our specialist recruitment team can help you by providing you with bespoke advice on how you can successfully attract, recruit and retain the legal professionals you’re looking for so that you can grow sustainably and meet your commercial goals. Contact us via this website or give us a call on 03300 245 606 to learn more.
