Confessions of a Legal Recruiter©: Law is change, are you still relevant?

Innovation and technology impact every aspect of our lives. Technology has changed the pace and face of how we do business.

Innovation and technology impact every aspect of our lives. Technology has changed the pace and face of how we do business. Law firms are now much more efficient. Research that used to take weeks now take hours. Technology affords access to communicate and collaborate around the globe in real time.

With all this access there are threats to our privacy and our livelihood. Big law gets bigger. Mergers, acquisitions create a never ending litany of conflict of interests. Laws are being changed and challenged. The world is spinning out of control.

Partners are evaluating what areas of law to focus on. Everyone is way too stressed out worrying what the new firm’s direction is and if they are going to downsize your department.

Your skill set may no longer be relevant, you talents may be worth more with another firm. Everyone needs to assess where they are and what they need to focus on. As we close the books on another year, it’s a good time to ask yourself if you are leaving money on the table. How are you set up for 2018? Are you happy at your firm? Are you on target?

“What was once true, may no longer be relevant. Change is constant in this industry. Lot’s of uncertainty. Take your eye off the ball and you may find yourself out of job.” — Shari Davidson, President On Balance Search Consultants.

Get real. Sit down and work with a consultant on setting goals for your immediate and future career plans. The power of strategic goal alignment will help you meet and stay on your timeline for where you need to be down the road.

  1. Focus on what you can control and have a plan for the rest. For every goal, there are areas you can control and forces that are beyond you. Be clear on the distinction, and have a plan for what to do if the out-of-your-control factors don’t line up.
  2. Are your qualifications and skills still relevant. If not, what are you doing to be a player in the marketplace. Which success stories will make you a suitable and impressive candidate? Line up your goals in a way that allows you to gather those accomplishments and learn the skills.
  3. Think about the big picture. Add professional seminars and other educational opportunities to your goal list. Continued learning is critical to your career goals success. Get to know how different parts of the firm fit together. It will prove useful and may help set you apart from competing candidates.
  4. Periodically assess how well you are achieving your goals. The reality is that it’s often difficult to focus on your goals. Assess what’s working and examine if any changes are needed to the plan.
  5. Journal your accomplishments. Maintain a list of your success stories. List everything, and then pair the list down with great wins.

“As a legal recruiter, I have seen too many candidates get stuck in niches that hold no interest for them.  Once you are typecast in a practice area, it is very hard to change, so the earlier you learn what works for you, the better.” — Shari Davidson.

Plan, set yourself up for success. You can’t achieve your goals if you are not constantly working on them. Make sure you have the skills that make you relevant. Work with a top recruiter to realize your career goals faster and keep staying at the top of your game.

About on Balance Search Consultants

On Balance offers great insight and industry intelligence.  Shari Davidson, president of On Balance Search Consultants, advises law firms on how to take a firm to the next level and helps rising talent make the transition to the right law firm.

Contact us today.  Call 516.731.4300 or visit our website at http://www.onbalancesearch.com

Please note that the content of this blog does not constitute legal advice and is only intended for the educational purpose of the reader.  Please consult your legal counsel for specifics regarding your specific circumstances and the laws in your states pertaining to social media and any legal restrictions regarding the law.