Friday, May 30, 2008

Am Law Second 100



The American Lawyer just released the list of the 101-200 firms ranked by gross revenues. Click here for the story and rankings.

So many attorneys look to flee BigLaw for an in-house position without considering a move to the Am Law second 100. Look at the stats provided by the American Lawyer: the average profits per partner for the Am Law second 100 is $666,000. It's certainly less than the average PPP for the Am Law 100 ($1.315 million) but more than you would make in an average in-house legal department. Something to think about on this Friday afternoon.

You could have a pretty good life on $666K/year!

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Is FUN a Four Letter Word?

When I made the transition from practicing law to become a recruiter, I thought that my stress-induced sleepless nights were a thing of the past. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I recently had to pause and re-visit the stress management techniques I tried to master when I was practicing law. Doing so made me recall the importance of stress management.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers when it comes to effective stress management. I feel a great deal of responsibility to the attorneys I represent and I’ve had to counsel people through some pretty difficult junctures in their careers. Between my professional obligations and the craziness of my household (two young children and many pets), stress management is something I have to work on constantly. For now, a few tips that I have found to be incredibly effective:

  • Exercise: I didn’t believe it until I committed to a regular exercise routine but the mental benefits of exercise are incredible. The gym has never “done it” for me so, instead, I found myself taking tennis lessons, joining recreational sports teams, etc. The key is to find something that you enjoy doing so that you will actually do it!
  • Take a deep breath: When you feel the pot is going to boil-over, step away from the kitchen and take a breather. Leave your office. Take a walk, grab a cup of coffee, and then come back to the fray. I know it’s not always possible to step away but, I also think that many of us tend to overstate just how impossible it really is to step away. We all have deadlines and e-mails that need to be returned. But, take time to be honest with yourself and if you really can step away for five minutes, do it! You’ll be much more effective after you’ve had a chance to breathe.
  • Smile or (gasp) Laugh many times a day: It feels good to smile. Even better if you can come up with a reason to laugh. It sounds so simple but if you stop and pay attention, you might be surprised to find that the world seems to have stopped smiling. If you stop for a brief moment, think of something wonderful, positive, or funny and allow yourself to smile, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes in your overall disposition.

Above all, know thyself. As I said at the beginning, stress management is not my strong suit. But, I do know that when I find myself snapping at people or waking up at 2:00 am for no apparent reason, I'm letting things get to me. And, that's when I know I have to go back to the simple things that help me manage my stress levels. I really believe that stress is responsible for a lot of illnesses and other difficulties. So, it’s worth it to take the time to think about the way you manage stress and learn to adopt some good, healthy habits!

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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Speak No Evil

The Bush administration continues to provide us with numerous valuable career and crisis management lessons. The publication of What Happened , a tell all White House expose written by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, gives us some new examples.

First the career lesson: never speak ill of a current or former employer.

Scott McClellan is getting a quick lesson in this rule. On the same day that news of his book was released to the public, former and current Bush officials were covering the airwaves with a comprehensive attack on Scott McClellan. It's too early to tell who will win the PR war; but clearly McClellan's integrity has now been effectively challenged.

Similarly, while you may harbor serious misgivings about a former or current employer, think long and hard about whether you want to air these grievances publicly. An institution has better resources to get it's message across. Is it really worth it to your career to have the satisfaction of getting your message out to the general legal community. This is particularly true in an interviewing situation. If you want to make a lateral move, talk about the positive attributes of the firm where you have the interview. Don't badmouth your current firm.

Second: in a crisis, get everyone on the same page.

Regardless of what you think of Karl Rove or other former close advisors to the President, you have to give them credit for the skill they demonstrate in getting everyone on the same page. On the same day that the news broke about McClennan, Karl Rove, President's Counsel Dan Bartlett and former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer were all commenting how "sad" this was and how this is not the Scott McClennan we knew.

While my own political inclinations would make me want to believe McClennan's version of reality, this carefully orchestrated counterattack definitely made me consider whether McClennan is in fact a disgruntled former employee who is trying to profit from his experience.

As we enter a period of economic down turn and law firms need to consider the unpopular decision of laying off associates, they would do well to make sure the message that is put out to the public is a unified message. Speaking with a unified voice will at least give the firm a chance of minimizing the negative fallout of a layoff.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Senioritis: Diagnosis and Treatment

I. Two Weeks More and I'm Free! But how can I possibly last two more weeks??

You've landed your dream job and you're a mere two weeks away from leaving your current firm, taking that tropical vacation, and then making a fresh start at your new position. You feel exuberant, on top of the world, like you could do anything. There's a bounce in your step and a playful smile hovering around your mouth as you begin cleaning out your office with unleashed enthusiasm. You've got Radiohead's new album on and you're making rim shots into the industrial sized trash can that would make Lamar Odom weep. The world is yours.

That is, until your intercom buzzes and suddenly your play time is interrupted by a junior partner needing some research done ASAP on a case you've already sent to the file room. Crashing back to earth, you sigh, push aside the legal detritus that's accumulated onto your desk, and sign on to Westlaw. You've got senioritis, and you've got it bad.

Senioritis is a completely normal affliction that varies in degree; it's power over you is directly affected by a number of factors such as (a) the excitement you have for your new job; (b) your desire to leave your current position; (c) the emotional roller coaster of your job search; (d) the fabulousness of your so-close-you-can-almost-hear-the-waves-vacation; and (e) the fact that you may be just plain worn out.

Continuing to do strong work in a job that you are ready to cast off is extremely challenging. Unless engaged in a trial or a deal that you've been working on for months, you're more than likely to fall victim to senioritis. Senioritis is an affliction that results in feelings of ennui towards your normal routine coupled with a galloping excitement about what the next job/adventure will bring. But not to fear, there is hope! The important thing to do with senioritis is to diagnose it then treat it. Diagnosis is easy. Treatment takes some effort.

II. Part One: Diagnosing Senioritis

Ask yourself the following questions and any number of affirmative responses is a likely indication that you have it.

1. Has a certain malaise come over your attitude to current tasks?
2. Are you (unpleasantly) surprised when called upon and expected to engage in rigorous critical thinking and/or brain numbing document review?
3. Does your lunch time actually resemble a small party? That is, do your gather friends together, frequent a place with real silverware and perhaps enjoy an adult beverage?
4. Do you go to the gym when not reveling in special lunchtime parties?
5. Do you come in at 10:00 am?
6. Leave at 5:00 pm?

Now that we've established the diagnosis, let's discuss treatment.

III. Treating Senioritis

The important thing to keep in mind when treating senioritis is that it's temporary, and, generally, harmless. However, to ensure that there is no damage done to either your reputation or your networking relationships, bear in mind that it is your goal to leave your current firm with well-wishers and potential business contacts. You want to be missed. Not shown the door.

To do this, we recommend keeping in mind the following guidelines as you make your way towards the finish line.

1. Remember the original excitement that you had when you accepted your current position. At one point in time, it was your dream job.
2. Remember that your current firm invested in you and you developed your current, marketable skills under their tutelage.
3. Remember that you are still being paid. While supervisors understand and anticipate a certain amount of slacking off, it's very important to complete the tasks that you've been assigned and to do them well.
4. Remember that "this too shall pass." Senioritis is infamous for the death grip it can have over its victims, but again, it's only temporary. You're going to get through that last brief, last depo, last review of a purchase and sale agreement. Just hang in there!
5. Make the rounds. Now that you have some free time, use it to your best advantage. Pop in to offices, make some small talk. Chances are that people have been talking about your departure so beat them to the punch.
6. Thank people. Be sure to make your gratitude known to all the people that you've worked with during your time with the firm. Practice groups are like little colonies and it can be a difficult time when one of the members leave. Some folks may be taking on more work to cover you and a recognition of that fact goes a long way.
7. Be sensitive. While you are now starting a fresh chapter in your life, others are left behind slogging away. So, while a certain level of excitement is expected, be careful not to go overboard. Firms have feelings too. No tap-dancing on the conference table at your last calendar meeting.
8. Be proud. You've obviously done a terrific job at your current position which propelled you into the new one. Take a little time and think about all that you've accomplished. Remembering your achievements can also help any nervousness and fear about the next step. But that's another article.....

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Friday, May 23, 2008

Wooing Your Prospective Firm

Me: Unfortunately the firm decided to pass on you today.

Candidate: Why? I thought the interview went well.

Me: They said you showed a lack of interest in the firm and that you didn't seem excited to be there.

Candidate: What?? That's crazy, I was totally excited about the firm. It was my first choice...
----

I've always said that interviewing is a lot like dating. You need to show enough interest so that the other party is receptive to you, but you also don't want to come off as desperate. Some of my candidates have encountered difficulty in displaying enough interest in a firm during an interview. On a couple of occasions, I've had firms say to me that they passed on someone specifically because the candidate appeared indifferent to the firm.

Interviews are not the time to play hard to get. Now I am not suggesting that candidates change their personality or feel pressured to act like someone they are not. Rather, I think it is important for attorneys to be direct about their interest in a firm. In your mind, you may feel that you are extremely interested in a firm and excited to be there. If these feelings are not communicated clearly to the firm, they will have no way of knowing how you really feel. Understanding doesn't occur just because you say something, it evolves from communication that makes an impact on the other party.

Thus, for those of you who are a bit more reserved, make it a point to directly tell your interviewers that you are excited about this potential professional opportunity and why you like their firm. Even the most jaded of interviewers enjoy meeting with positive people who are enthusiastic about the prospect of joining their firm. Being too shy or reticent can easily be mistaken for being snobby or uninterested. Showing genuine interest in a friendly and confident manner, will take you far in an interview. Good luck out there!

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Next Stop Partnership

A former candidate of mine recently decided to go on a couple of interviews for positions that had opened up in his practice area. The firm we placed him with several years ago was a terrific choice for him initially. But as his seniority level rose, the size of the practice group and the unclear path to partnership led him to roll the dice and explore his options. He contacted me for suggestions the factors that should influence his decision making process at this stage of his career.

The biggest difference in the present is that any move he makes now will be his last stop before partnership consideration. That makes for an entirely different equation than the one we applied when he was a mid-level. For those of you that are senior associates, lateral partners or in between, here are some suggestions and questions you can use as a filter in your search process:

First, run the most thorough interview process you can, seeing several firms if possible. If you have the luxury of multiple opportunities, educating yourself on what is out there will add to your peace of mind whatever you ultimately conclude. It is in everyone’s best interests for you to make the most informed decision you can. Be forthright with prospective firms about your timeline and desire to find the best fit for your next professional home. When you put it in those terms, there generally is no problem.

Once you are ready to make a decision about an offer or offer(s) ask yourself the following and if you are working with a good recruiter, you already have the answers to the majority of these questions. Revisiting them once your options are more clearly defined can be very useful in making a decision:

How many partners have been made in the practice group in the last few years? (If the group is new or small that should be taken into consideration.)

Who else will be up for partner at the same time as you in any offices where they have attorneys practicing in the same specialty as you?

Historically, what is the track record over all of lateral attorneys being made partner or moving from non-equity to shareholder status?

How does your practice area fit into the strategic plans of the firm-- and what is the focus in general of the firm's practice? (Is your practice important to the firm? Why?)

What is the billing rate at the firm(s) you are considering? How will it impact your ability to build a book of business or originate work? What about any existing matters that you hope or plan to port?

How will your firm be positioned following the Presidential election? Depending on your practice area, the strengths of your firm, and the outcome of the election, this could have bearing.

When and upon what basis will you be considered for partnership?

What are the hour’s expectations for partners? How are partners evaluated? Is there a buy in?

Is credit given for client origination only, new matters from existing clients, servicing a client, and/or cross selling between groups?

What sort of debt does the firm have?

How are decisions made? Are you comfortable with the management structure of the firm?

Does your firm have a culture and a vision that is consistent with how you view yourself as a professional?

What are the firm’s goals and reasons for wanting to expand an area? Do they make sense and support the strategic plans of the firm?

The final step is to return for a visit to the firm or firm(s) you are most impressed with, offer in hand. Ask to speak with one or two laterals that came in with a similar set of circumstances or seniority level to you (the practice area is not critical for this purpose). Listen carefully to how things have gone for them and ask any questions you held back during the interview process. Look around you—are people smiling? Do they seem to be enjoying themselves? Can you see yourself here?

Things can look very different once a firm has asked you to join them and there is no longer the pressure of being in the hot seat. The post-offer visit can be critical in making the best choice. I am sure some of my colleagues may have additions to this quick list that they will add, but I hope this is useful.

Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Twice Yearly Period of Celebration/Mourning

A moment of silence. California Bar Results came out last Friday. I received a rush of emails on Saturday from candidates whose searches were on hold pending Bar passage. They are the happy ones! I wish that passing the Bar guaranteed them their dream legal position. Now, the work begins to get that offer! The market is tight but not impossible. Having the Bar is huge for out-of-staters.

I wonder about the silence coming from the other candidates who were also waiting for Bar results. Twice a year, I wait for a few days... then gingerly check their names against the "pass list." Not passing the Bar can floor people. It takes time to regroup and come to terms with the implications. My heart goes out to these folks. It can be a pivotal moment in some one's life.

I always want to tell these candidates about stories of persistence and success. I want to remind them that different Bar prep programs work for different people. One of the best and most admired stories of Bar Passage Success came from an out of state attorney with whom I worked as an associate. I watched him go through the painful process of studying and barely missing the pass cutoff two or three times. He never lost his sense of humor. We were scheduling an event and checking his availability. When questioned whether he would be busy on a certain day a few months away, he gleefully exclaimed, "No problem, that's my Bar Study off-season."

His survival skills and confidence amazed me. And fortunately, he passed the next time around. What a great party we had for him a few years back around this time in May.

Congrats to many and do not despair if you were disappointed!

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It's Who You Know

I've been a member of Linked In for several years and I have yet to make use of it. I generally accept the invitations that I receive; but beyond that, I don't do much. And I don't think that I am alone in this.

On the other hand, I do believe that Linked In is reaching a tipping point where it can actually be quite useful. Users of the service have now increased their pool of contacts so that there truly is a lot of potential value in mining the information.

Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation about this with a partner at a boutique law firm. He has been a Linked In member since 2003. But it is only in the past 6 months that he has discovered that his contacts have contacts that he would like to reach.

He also gave me a few good tips about Linked In. First, he suggested that it is important to look at job titles. If you want to reach key decision makers in organizations, then find the contacts who are linked to "C" level employees (or partners if you are talking about professional service providers.) Or maybe more broadly, if you want to make a connection with someone, make sure you ask for an introduction from someone who has contacts at the "right" level in the organization. Second, he suggested that before asking a contact for an intro, ask the contact if he thinks the individual can be helpful (in whatever way you need help.)

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Monday, May 19, 2008

10 Questions to Ask Your Headhunter

My name is Dan Binstock and I'm a legal recruiter in Washington, D.C. As my first post, I wanted to link to an article that appeared in the Legal Times in November 2006.

If you are thinking of using a legal recruiter, this is one of the most important decisions you can make regarding your career.

Legal recruiters (especially in large cities like Washington, D.C.) come in all shapes, sizes, experience levels, ethics, backgrounds, etc. It is always quite shocking how little most attorneys really know about how legal recruiters work, and how little effort is usually put into researching and vetting the potential recruiter.

And I am not casting judgment, as I speak from personal experience.

When I was practicing in a large firm, I received cold calls all the time. I remember receiving a phone call from a headhunter that happened to catch my attention regarding one position. I was under the mistaken impression that just because this recruiter cold called me that she was the only person working on the search (which, in truth, was hardly the case). This was just one of the many things I was in the dark about when it came to working with legal search firms.

This article will help shed some light on the mysterious world of legal recruiting, and will arm you with some questions to ask to ensure that you are able to choose the best person to assist you. Here's the link: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1162548320507.

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LinkedIn - Ramp It Up!

I am a fan of LinkedIn. I think that it has incredible potential to maximize an individual's network. By linking your network with your the networks of your contacts - you can exponentially increase your contacts. Those contacts can help you find a job or a new client.

People ask me about the benefits of LinkedIn all the time. I really think that people are just beginning to mine the opportunities.

If you'd like to explore the possibilities, you might want to check out Jason Alba's new book, I Am On LinkedIn - Now What? Jason has a blog in support of the book. Click here to view!

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Don't Torture Yourself Post-Interview

Last week, I prepared a very qualified candidate for an interview for her "dream job." Sure, she was a little nervous about a few questions she might be asked about her resume. After all, about a year ago, after working at her law firm for a number of years, she up and quit her job to care for an ailing family member and do volunteer work. Plus, she felt "rusty" in terms of her interviewing skills, in large part because she had not interviewed for a job since before graduating from law school.

By the time we conducted the preparation session for the interview, this candidate had done her homework and practiced answers to many of the questions we anticipated she would be asked. As we spoke, she fine-tuned her answers and articulated them in the most concise way. Moreover, she had researched the individuals with whom she was going to meet and crafted some insightful questions for each of the interviewers. By the time she was finished preparing for the interview, she was confident, excited and ready to go. As I always do, I asked her to call me after the interview to provide me a summary of how she thought it went.

As the obedient candidate that she is, she called me as soon as she finished the interview. That is when the self-torture began. She began recounting each and every sentence she articulated to each interviewer and began tearing each response apart. Within two minutes of calling me, she was practically in tears, convinced that she had sounded like an uneducated, inarticulate, unqualified candidate who had no chance of receiving an offer.

Now, don't get me wrong, we are all human, and sometimes candidates say stupid things in interviews. But as this candidate recited the answers she provided to the questions asked, I thought she sounded fantastic. Sure, her answers were not “perfect,” and she may have said “ah” and “um” a few more times than she needed to, but overall, she relayed professional, concise answers that showed not only an interest in the job but a true expertise. However, in her mind, she had failed to explain in the best possible detail how and why she was the best candidate for the job. As our conversation continued, and her panic grew, I had to cut her off and begin my Post-Interview Lecture, which goes something like this:

DO NOT TORTURE YOURSELF AFTER AN INTERVIEW. Once it is over, there is absolutely nothing you can to do go back and re-answer the questions asked of you, so there is no use in obsessing about each and every word you said during the interview. Instead, take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and remind yourself that you prepared for the interview to the best of your ability and gave it your best shot.

Of course this lecture is completely inapplicable to the candidate who thinks he or she does not have to prepare for an interview, but I will save those individuals for another blog. If you have thoroughly prepared for an interview and given everything you have, then torturing yourself after the interview with the things you said (or failed to say) is completely counterproductive. Sure, there is always room for improvement and things that can be learned from an interview, and for those reasons, reflecting on the interview is very important. But reflecting on an interview is very different than obsessing about it and convincing yourself that you completely blew it.

After multiple calls to me, during which she relayed additional "stupid" things she said during her interview, I finally convinced my candidate to let it all go. Easier said than done, but I think she is starting to realize how destructive her behavior was. While she has not yet heard from the firm, and she is not confident that she will receive an offer for this job, she is no longer spending 90% of her time thinking about the "deficient" answers she gave and the "proper" answer she should have provided.

Or at least that is what she is telling me.

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Surviving Conflicts Checks (or not!)

In the past week, two of my "placed" candidates received the results of their conflicts checks and the news was not good. In each case the new firm bringing in the candidate found irresolvable conflicts that could not be surmounted with waivers or walls, etc. Not only was this a huge disappointment to both candidates (and to me!); the process took 3-4 weeks to reach resolution. During this time, the candidates had put their search on the back burner, put their thoughts into their new firm and had mentally and logistically started to change direction. It can be very hard to bounce back from this type of disappointment.

As much as we would all prefer to celebrate when an offer is received and accepted, it pays to not pop the corks until conflicts clear. The clearance process seems (in my experience) to be taking longer than ever and the challenges are more frequent. I am putting more emphasis on this issue sooner and sooner during the search process. It is prudent to discuss potential conflicts with an interested firm during the interviewing process. It is extremely smart to submit the conflicts information to the firm as soon as possible. You should not give notice with your current employer (or make big announcements to friends and colleagues about your new position) until conflicts have cleared. And you may want to keep interviewing with other firms, depending on your comfort level regarding a likely problem.

In my experience, this happens with about ten percent of my placements... not frequent, but often enough to be prudent and cautious and avoid getting blind-sided. It pays off emotionally and logistically to see the conflicts check as a last critical step in a sophisticated process.

May all your conflicts checks be clear!

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Book Recommendation

Dan Binstock, one of BCG's most successful recruiters, recently sent this around:

I am reading a really, really good book called “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith. Probably more “a-ha” moments than any other book I’ve read in a long time, and it has been widely recognized as one of the top business performance books of 2007.
Dan is so successful because he is always challenging himself to be better. He's definitely the person from whom you'd want a performance book recommendation.

Here is a link the book on Amazon.

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The Downside of the Internet

Here's a little secret: one of the first things a future employer will do is "Google" you. A good recruiter will Google you first - before the firm has a chance to do so. What is out there about you?
  • Last week, I was recently speaking to an attorney who was interested in working with BCG on his job search. He is working at a big firm and was looking to make a lateral move. In our preliminary conversation, he mentioned that he had worked at two firms. After our conversation, I wanted to see what was out there about him - and I found that he had worked at a third firm as well. When I asked him about it, he asked me how I had heard about that. He was shocked when I said a ten second Google search. If I found it, any potential employer can find it as well. Be honest. Full disclosure.
  • Yesterday, David Lat from Above the Law highlighted another unfortunate case. A 21 year old who is scheduled to begin Fordham Law School this fall was featured in The Horny Issue of Time Out New York. This information will come up on the Internet for years to come. This girl has already hurt her law career - and she hasn't even begun law school or signed on the dotted line of her law school loans. Why would she want to handicap her future career prospects? Query whether a firm like Davis Polk would be interested in someone who has appeared in The Horny Issue or whether Fordham Law would want someone with such poor judgment. All types of people work at law firms - some with interesting and fascinating "hobbies." What you do is your business - but it is better to keep it on the down-low.
  • Recently, a candidate came to us and noted that he was gay, but that he didn't want to advertise that fact to potential employers. (Note to job hunters: the vast majority of firms don't care if you are gay.) Of course there isn't any obligation for you to disclose your sexual orientation. It's your business. Guess what? A super fast Google search. His sexual orientation disclosed to one and all. So, although he had intended to keep his orientation a secret, he really hadn't.
  • I am not going to even address the countless law students who have inappropriate photos and language on their MySpace or Facebook pages and other social networking sites. There are stories about those jobless people all the time.
Moral of the story? Always know what is out there about you! Do your best to control that information. If you don't, you'll be doing extensive damage control for a long time to come.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Thriving in a Down Market

Recruiters at BCG Attorney Search spend a great amount of time each day on the phone with associates and partners at law firms. We are hearing different stories about workload right now. It varies from firm-to-firm and from practice-to-practice. Many associates are slow and are struggling to find billable hours. Others associates are still billing 250 hours (in a specialty group) or more. If you find yourself on the slow side in this economy, make good use of your time! Before you know it (hopefully!), you'll be back to full schedule.

1. Get all of your CLE.
2. Reactivate your network through reconnecting with friends and former colleagues.
3. Catch up on time entries.
4. Write an article.
5. Speak at PLI or similar event.
6. Update your resume.
7. Update your deal sheet or representative case list.
8. Catch up on doctors appointments.
9. Go to the gym.
10. Do some volunteer work - either pro bono work or non-legal volunteer work.
11. Find a boyfriend or girlfriend i.e. reactivate your social life. It can expand your network!
12. Research potential clients and business development opportunities.
13. Catch up on legal news at www.nylawyer.com, NYLJ, Recorder, etc.

There are so many things to do. Don't sit idle! The recruiters at BCG Attorney Search have experienced down markets both as attorneys and as recruiters. The market will turn - savor the down time at bit.

Any other suggestions?

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Legal Career Advice: Keep Your Eyes Open!

Last week, I had the opportunity to revisit my law school days at my 10th law school reunion (go Fordham!) It is incredible to see how diverse the career paths of my classmates have been. Sure - there are those who joined a firm in 1998 and have now made partner there. But the vast majority have tried two or more law firms, before going in-house or on to another venture - either law or non-law related.

For many junior attorneys, partnership is the ultimate goal. That changes for many people as they gain seniority and realize that there are many other options for them. Some turn down partnership because they are more intrigued by another path.

In my class, we have spread like the diaspora around the country and the world. We are in so many different industries and are partners, counsel and associate at law firms big and small.

Here are some examples:
- partners at BigLaw firm in U.S.
- partners at BigLaw firms outside of the U.S.
- partners at smaller firms in NY and in smaller legal markets
- general counsel at a publicly-traded corporation
- general counsel at an investment firm
- solo practitioners
- in-house counsel
- government employees
- one (very) happy staff attorney
- one (very, very) happy legal recruiter!

You'll have so many options throughout your career. Your career path has to work for you. Believe me - very few of my colleagues would have chosen to become a legal recruiter. But it completely works for me.

My advice for today: Work hard, be well-regarded among your colleagues and periodically assess your options.

My BCG Attorney Search colleagues and I are always here to discuss the legal market!

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