Most associates think about partnership at some point. For some, it is the long-term goal from the beginning. For others, it becomes something they start evaluating a few years into practice once they understand how firms actually operate. The problem is that partnership tracks are not always as transparent as people hope they will be. Firms rarely sit someone down and say, “You are off track.” More often, the signals are subtle and spread out over time.
Articles under For Candidates
Don’t Lose that Candidate! What to do Once Your Offer is Accepted
Getting an offer accepted can feel like the finish line. The search is done, the role is filled, and it’s easy to assume things are locked in. In reality, that stretch between acceptance and start date is where things can still shift.
Why Mentorship Programs are More Important than You Think
Mentorship is one of those things most firms say they value. It shows up in recruiting conversations, on careers pages, and in internal initiatives. But in practice, it’s often informal, inconsistent, or left to chance. Some attorneys get strong guidance early on, others figure things out on their own, and the experience can vary widely within the same organization.
Should Your Law Firm Keep Work from Home Policies?
Work from home used to be a temporary solution. Now it’s part of how most legal teams operate, whether they planned for it or not. Some firms have leaned into it. Others have tried to pull things back in-office. Most are somewhere in the middle, still figuring out what actually works. The challenge isn’t just policy. It’s how that policy affects hiring, retention, culture, and day-to-day productivity.
Honesty Goes Both Ways When Working with a Legal Recruiter
Many people think the recruiting process is straightforward. You meet with a recruiter, give them your resume, and wait to hear about available positions. If something fits, you proceed. If it doesn’t, you keep looking.
Onboarding Legal Talent: Best Practices for Hiring Managers
Successful hiring does not begin when a candidate accepts an offer. It begins when hiring managers establish expectations and a thorough plan for integrating the new hire into the organization. Clear communication, defined expectations, and a structured onboarding process can significantly influence how quickly a new hire becomes productive and unified into the team. When hiring managers treat recruiter partnerships as strategic collaborations rather than transactional relationships, outcomes improve across the board.
How are Law Firm Interviews Different from Other Interviews?
Law firm interviews are a distinct breed of professional evaluation that differ in both expectations and execution from many corporate or general industry interviews. While the core goal remains the same, assessing fit between candidate and employer, the emphasis on technical precision, depth of legal reasoning, cultural dynamics, and strategic questioning makes law firm interviews unique.
Recharging: Can You Take a Break from Law and Come Back?
Leaving the practice of law, whether for family reasons, personal growth, health, or burnout, is more common than many attorneys realize. But stepping away often comes with a lingering question: if you take a break from law, can you successfully return to the profession you once knew so well? Understanding the challenges and opportunities of a legal hiatus can help attorneys make informed decisions about their careers and transitions.
The Limits of AI in Legal Recruiting: Why a Personal Touch Matters
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how candidates are sourced, screened, and matched across industries. In legal recruiting, AI tools can be helpful for organizing data and identifying surface-level patterns. But when it comes to evaluating talent, navigating confidential career moves, and advising firms on long-term hiring decisions, technology alone has clear limitations.
Litigation Work vs Trials: What You Should Know
In the legal world, “litigation” and “trial” are often used interchangeably, but the reality is more nuanced, and the difference matters both for law firms and attorneys considering their next move. While litigation encompasses the full spectrum of dispute resolution, from pre-suit investigation, pleadings, discovery, motions practice and settlement negotiations, trial work refers to the subset of cases that actually go before a judge or jury.