Should I use a Legal Recruiter?

By Staff Reporter May 07, 2021 02:09 AM EDT

When you are looking for a job in the legal field, you know that one attractive option to help you in your search is working with a legal recruiter. You may be considering going this route due to the number of calls you have been getting from legal headhunters. Although the calls may sometimes be annoying, they may have planted the seed in your head and now you might look more favorably upon the idea of working with one or more of them. Should you do it?

Some Benefits of Working With a Legal Recruiter

Market Knowledge

A legal recruiter definitely knows the legal job market, a valuable tool when you are starting a job search. When you talk to one, either by phone or in person, you will be able to have an intelligent discussion regarding your career goals and objectives in the short and long term. And if you are interested in working at a specific law firm, they may be able to share with you some insights as to the firm and the available positions they may have.

Improving Your Resume

If you think your resume could be better, a legal recruiter can have a look at it and give you some pointers as to how to improve it. They can also look over your cover letter and make suggestions on how to perfect it.

The Interview Process

When it comes to the interviews, a legal recruiter can help you prepare, they may even offer to conduct a mock interview and then give you feedback on how you did. Once you start with the interviewing process, they will have information to give you on how you did and on the next steps.

Receiving an Offer and Giving Notice

Once you receive an offer, you can bounce ideas with your recruiter as to the terms of the offer and they may suggest ideas on how to evaluate or negotiate it. And if you are still working while interviewing for the new position, your recruiter may also give you advice on how and when to give notice.

Some Questions to Ask A Prospective Legal Recruiter

Where They Are

Before starting to work with a legal recruiter, it may be in your benefit to find out something about who they are and what they do. You may want to start by finding out where they are located, if they only focus on jobs in one particular geographical area. Also, what type of relationships they have established with the legal job market in the city where you want to work.

How They Work

Sending out your resume indiscriminately to all firms and companies that are recruiting will not lead to good results. You want to work with a recruiter that focuses on who you are, what your experience is, and the type of position that would fit you best and that you are interested in.

Sending out so many resumes will only cause frustration since you will likely not hear back from the majority of places that received your information. If, for example, you are looking for attorney jobs in Miami, you want a recruiter that is responsive to your needs. One that is available when you need them, that understands you, and that will have your best interests in mind.