Page 69 - MASTER COPY LEADERS BOOK 9editedJKK (24)_Neat
P. 69
Leaders in Legal Business
“We are paying the price for having more law schools produce more graduates at a time when demand
for legal services has slackened and the landscape has changed,” explains Robert A. Major, Jr., MLA’s founding
partner.14 “As the differential grows between supply and demand, the ‘price’ goes up, and, in a recruiter’s world,
that price is quality of resume and the closest match possible between what a candidate offers and what a client
requires.”
Specific to the in-house world, there has also been an increased interest in and popularity of in-house
positions.
“There are many reasons stated for the rising attraction of in-house practice,” explains Major in Advice
to Law Firm Partners Considering Going In-House on InHouseBlog.15 “Some relate to the deteriorating lifestyle
found in the firms: the grim billable hour demands; the never-ending pressure to bring in business; client conflicts;
‘prima donna fatigue;’ and the feeling that one is being brought in as a lawyer to ‘clean up messes,’ rather than
advising on a strategy and course of action that won’t result in messes to begin with.”16 Major also listed several
perks of going in-house: developing a close relationship with a single client; knowing that your contribution leads
to long-term impacts; being part of a team that creates an instantly identifiable product (e.g., Coca-Cola);
strengthening management and teamwork skills that would not otherwise be utilized; and being exposed to a
larger variety of legal issues. These other skills, which in a normal law office would only be used on an infrequent
basis, can help lawyers evolve into other roles within an organization, such as business development, sales,
marketing, or even the position of CEO.17
Of course, this is hardly to say that working as an in-house lawyer is preferable to working at a law firm;
that depends on the individual. Again, this is where an experienced legal recruiter can guide candidates and clients
toward the best match.
The Influence of Technology
Technology directly impacts the legal industry at large and thus legal recruiting and staffing. Perhaps the
most significant advancement has been the global connectivity provided by the Internet, email, and social media.
“Years ago when we recruiters relied primarily on the telephone, the mode of communicating with
candidates put a premium on brevity,” explains Major in Why didn't I get a job interview? I'm the perfect fit...” in
his recent post to In Brief. “If asked to provide a detailed explanation of a job opportunity, you were forced to
severely limit the number of candidates with whom you would speak on a daily basis. … However, the advent of
websites and email changed that.”18
Major also adds that the ever-increasing amount of information on the Internet has provided a lot more
“noise” for clients and candidates alike. “What has not changed, but become more essential, is the clients’ and
candidates’ need to work with highly qualified, savvy, knowledgeable legal recruiters and staffing professionals.19
Technology will continue driving changes to the legal market, and the successful legal recruiting and staffing
professionals will always need to adapt to the oncoming wave of technological advancements.”
“In our search-optimized, app-laden world, anyone with access to the Internet can get a decent snapshot
of available options in a given market,” explains Michelle Fivel, a partner in the Associate Practice Group of
MLA’s Los Angeles office, and Ru Bhatt, a managing director in the Associate Practice Group of MLA’s New
14 Robert A. Major, Jr., Why Didn’t I Get a Job Interview? I’m the Perfect Fit… IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 7, 2014, 02:46:00 p.m.),
http://blog.mlaglobal.com/why-didnt-i-get-a-job-interview.
15 Robert A. Major, Jr., Advice to Law Firm Partners Considering Going In-House, INHOUSEBLOG (February 25, 2014),
http://www.inhouseblog.com/going-in-house/.
16 Id.
17 Id. See also David Maurer, Law Firm to In-House: Things to Consider before Climbing Mountains, IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 23,
2014, 01:53:00 p.m.), http://blog.mlaglobal.com/law-firm-to-in-house-things-to-consider-before-climbing-mountains. Contra Michael Sachs, Law Firm to
In-House: a Different Type of Mountain, but not Insurmountable, IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 11, 2013, 05:00:00 p.m.),
http://blog.mlaglobal.com/law-firm-to-in-house-a-different-type-of-mountain-but-not-insurmountable.
18 Id.
19 Robert A. Major, Jr., Major, Lindsey & Africa (2014).
62
“We are paying the price for having more law schools produce more graduates at a time when demand
for legal services has slackened and the landscape has changed,” explains Robert A. Major, Jr., MLA’s founding
partner.14 “As the differential grows between supply and demand, the ‘price’ goes up, and, in a recruiter’s world,
that price is quality of resume and the closest match possible between what a candidate offers and what a client
requires.”
Specific to the in-house world, there has also been an increased interest in and popularity of in-house
positions.
“There are many reasons stated for the rising attraction of in-house practice,” explains Major in Advice
to Law Firm Partners Considering Going In-House on InHouseBlog.15 “Some relate to the deteriorating lifestyle
found in the firms: the grim billable hour demands; the never-ending pressure to bring in business; client conflicts;
‘prima donna fatigue;’ and the feeling that one is being brought in as a lawyer to ‘clean up messes,’ rather than
advising on a strategy and course of action that won’t result in messes to begin with.”16 Major also listed several
perks of going in-house: developing a close relationship with a single client; knowing that your contribution leads
to long-term impacts; being part of a team that creates an instantly identifiable product (e.g., Coca-Cola);
strengthening management and teamwork skills that would not otherwise be utilized; and being exposed to a
larger variety of legal issues. These other skills, which in a normal law office would only be used on an infrequent
basis, can help lawyers evolve into other roles within an organization, such as business development, sales,
marketing, or even the position of CEO.17
Of course, this is hardly to say that working as an in-house lawyer is preferable to working at a law firm;
that depends on the individual. Again, this is where an experienced legal recruiter can guide candidates and clients
toward the best match.
The Influence of Technology
Technology directly impacts the legal industry at large and thus legal recruiting and staffing. Perhaps the
most significant advancement has been the global connectivity provided by the Internet, email, and social media.
“Years ago when we recruiters relied primarily on the telephone, the mode of communicating with
candidates put a premium on brevity,” explains Major in Why didn't I get a job interview? I'm the perfect fit...” in
his recent post to In Brief. “If asked to provide a detailed explanation of a job opportunity, you were forced to
severely limit the number of candidates with whom you would speak on a daily basis. … However, the advent of
websites and email changed that.”18
Major also adds that the ever-increasing amount of information on the Internet has provided a lot more
“noise” for clients and candidates alike. “What has not changed, but become more essential, is the clients’ and
candidates’ need to work with highly qualified, savvy, knowledgeable legal recruiters and staffing professionals.19
Technology will continue driving changes to the legal market, and the successful legal recruiting and staffing
professionals will always need to adapt to the oncoming wave of technological advancements.”
“In our search-optimized, app-laden world, anyone with access to the Internet can get a decent snapshot
of available options in a given market,” explains Michelle Fivel, a partner in the Associate Practice Group of
MLA’s Los Angeles office, and Ru Bhatt, a managing director in the Associate Practice Group of MLA’s New
14 Robert A. Major, Jr., Why Didn’t I Get a Job Interview? I’m the Perfect Fit… IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 7, 2014, 02:46:00 p.m.),
http://blog.mlaglobal.com/why-didnt-i-get-a-job-interview.
15 Robert A. Major, Jr., Advice to Law Firm Partners Considering Going In-House, INHOUSEBLOG (February 25, 2014),
http://www.inhouseblog.com/going-in-house/.
16 Id.
17 Id. See also David Maurer, Law Firm to In-House: Things to Consider before Climbing Mountains, IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 23,
2014, 01:53:00 p.m.), http://blog.mlaglobal.com/law-firm-to-in-house-things-to-consider-before-climbing-mountains. Contra Michael Sachs, Law Firm to
In-House: a Different Type of Mountain, but not Insurmountable, IN BRIEF: A LEGAL CAREER BLOG (October 11, 2013, 05:00:00 p.m.),
http://blog.mlaglobal.com/law-firm-to-in-house-a-different-type-of-mountain-but-not-insurmountable.
18 Id.
19 Robert A. Major, Jr., Major, Lindsey & Africa (2014).
62
