Like any other profession, Houston-based lawyers rely on networking. As one example of lawyer marketing, professional networks are all about building rapport and developing mutually beneficial relationships. The more you network, the easier it is to establish and differentiate yourself.
Why a law firm or corporation should hire a legal search firm
With the continued growth of internal recruiters with law firms and corporations, is there still a need for an outside recruiting firm? Yes. Hiring through search firm devoted to law firms and corporate legal departments is a good way to avoid damaging relationships with businesses that you often work with or causing tension with a competitor. Hiring from the same pool of talent becomes far less complex when working through a discreet, impartial third party.
A legal search firm brings expertise, confidentiality, and provides the luxury of only interviewing the best of the best. Let us expound on some of these ideas.
Social Media Tips for Networking in the world of lawyers
Want to attract legal professionals for networking and/or possible job opportunities? Are you interested in building a legal practice or expanding your professional network? Or, possibly looking for a new job? A strong push on social media is a great way to get involved in conversations and meet new people, employers, or influencers, expanding the opportunities you come across.
Essential Skills for Working Remotely and Successfully
Like it or not, remote work is a part of our professional landscape for the foreseeable future. Although for several years it was commonplace for many companies to allow professionals to work remotely some or all the time, law firms have typically not been part of that group. Attorneys may work from home on occasion, but it was not the norm. Same with paralegals. Rarely did you hear about a legal admin, billing clerk or receptionist working from home. Now they are.
How COVID-19 is Affecting the Hiring Process
After an extremely active legal job market in 2019 and an equally great start to 2020, we hit a mammoth roadblock with the COVID-19 pandemic. Scheduled interviews quickly went from in-person to video or phone to being canceled altogether. Employees began working remotely and within a week, office buildings were empty and Zoom and other video platforms were commonplace.
Keeping in Contact with Your Recruiter
Considering partnering with a recruiter to assist you with your job search? That relationship will partly be determined by your current employment status and situation. Are you unemployed and looking for a job today? Moving to a new area and looking for a job in 6 months? Employed and looking to make a move in the next year – “keep me in mind if you hear about X”? If this is an attainable request, let the recruiter know.
Qualities to Look for When Choosing a Legal Recruiter
There are thousands of legal recruiters in the US and some are better than others. As a potential client, not knowing what to look for in a legal recruiter can be disastrous. Here’s a recent example of two candidates who mistakenly placed their trust in the same legal recruiting firm:
“My husband and I both submitted our resume to the agency to help in our job search. We submitted our resumes separately, of course and we both received an email back saying they do not have the resources to help us. Both of us have 15 years of experience, so I am not sure who they help.”
How In-House Counsel Candidates Can Shine in Interviews
Years ago, the Texas energy industry was thriving, and candidates were driving the hiring process. Candidates could sit back and let the client sell them on why they should move from a job that is stable and fulfilling to an even better opportunity. But our legal headhunters saw a dramatic shift recently. Corporations suddenly held the bargaining chip – a job. Sometimes, the job was pulled before an offer went out to the selected finalist due to other corporate constraints.
Texas Legal Recruiters See Demand For Legal Operations Specialists Continue To Rise
As legal and compliance recruiters in Texas, we continue to work with corporations who are improving their legal operations and getting more out of every dollar of legal spend. General Counsels remain focused on optimizing performance and creating new efficiencies in order to positively contribute to the bottom-line. Creating a well-run legal machine with enhanced productivity and improved efficiencies requires lawyers to combine their legal knowledge with business judgement. Enter stage right – Legal Operations Specialists – now indispensable members of the corporate legal team. Legal Operations Specialists arrive at their specialty through myriad paths, from legal work as an attorney or paralegal, an I.T. background, accounting, or other internal operations.
New Rules for Waiving in to the Texas Bar
New rules have been announced for lawyers seeking Admission Without Examination (waive-in) to be admitted in Texas. Currently in order to be licensed in Texas without taking the Texas Bar Examination, you must demonstrate that you:
- Hold a J.D. from an ABA-approved U.S. law school
- Are licensed to practice law in another state
- Have been actively and substantially engaged in the lawful practice of law as your principal business or occupation for at least 5 of the 7 years immediately preceding your application
- Have never failed the Texas Bar Examination