When you come across a role you’re interested in, you may be tempted to approach a law firm directly, instead of applying through a recruitment agency. This is likely to be especially true if you have connections with the firm in question; perhaps a past colleague now works there or you met the senior partner at a recent networking event.
However, working with a specialist legal recruiter who knows the market within your practice area well (like our consultants at Realm) can be really beneficial for lawyers looking to secure a new position.
1) Working with a legal recruiter will save you time
We’re here to make life easier for both you and the law firms we work for. Crucially, a legal recruiter will make the recruitment process more efficient for both parties.
It is sometimes incredible how much times goes into the recruitment process. Arranging interviews, for example, usually involve liaising with and cross-referencing the diaries of three or more individuals and, as you’ll well know, lawyers are busy people with jam-packed diaries. As legal recruiters, we’ll work hard to make the process as stress-free as we can for you, reducing the amount of time you need to spend on the admin and logistics aspect of finding a new job.
2) Working with a legal recruiter will help you prepare
At Realm, we have years of experience of arranging interviews and taking feedback following them from both law firms and job seekers. When we are instructed on a vacancy, we take detailed information from the employer so that we thoroughly understand exactly what they are looking for.
During the application process, we’ll relay this information to you and explain a little more about the firm’s culture and way of working. If you secure an interview, we’ll help you prepare and explain who you’ll be meeting with and their role at the firm so that you know what to expect. That way, you’ll be better equipped to highlight your strengths and experience in a way that will pique the interest of the interviewer.
3) Your legal recruiter will offer advice
While you might feel like you’re familiar with the firm you’re applying to, you may not know how they compare to their competitors. At Realm, our consultants know the markets they operate in well. Our understanding of law firms within your practice area, in relation to corporate cultures at different firms, market rates and the availability of roles, means that we’re well-placed to offer you fair, honest and candid advice.
In some cases, the advice we offer, whether it be to the law firms we’re recruiting for or to the lawyers we’re helping make a career move, is the difference between our candidates landing a role or not.
4) Working with a legal recruiter will save you from any awkwardness
Whilst knowing someone at the firm you’re applying to work for can add weight to your cause, having them as the direct point of contact in the recruitment process can, on occasion, be awkward. By acting as the middleman, your legal recruitment consultant will prevent any embarrassment by handling any potentially tricky conversations, including salary negotiations.
5) You’ll have other options
If for whatever reason, you don’t end up being offered the position, we can help you explore other opportunities. We work with law firms across the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands and can put you in touch with practices that might be a better fit for you and your career.
Whether you’re looking for a new position in Family Law, Personal Injury or Private Client Law, our specialist legal recruitment consultants can help you. Call us on 03300 245 606 for a confidential chat about your career.
