Recruiting in a Shrinking Talent Market: Thinking Outside the Legal Industry Hello. I’m [NAME, POSITION] with Robert Half Legal, a division of Robert Half International (RHI) [GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY AND WHAT YOU DO]. Today I’m going to talk about career management for attorneys in transition.

Industries to Recruit From Professional Services Accounting Consulting Architecture/Engineering Financial Services Government Contracts Project based/cost sensitive High Pressure/Fast-Paced Environment with a “difficult clientele” Making intelligent decisions about your career requires an understanding of your attitudes, objectives and long-term goals. As tempting as it may be to simply blame the job for your feelings of discontent, you must remember that there once was a time when you chose to work for this particular organization. Assess what attracted you to your current work as an in-house counsel. Consider many factors, including growth potential, job security and compensation. Revisiting your original objectives will provide an understanding of the ambitions and expectations you originally brought to the position. This will help you define which events and circumstances subsequently dampened your initial enthusiasm and, perhaps, allow you to determine what you can do to become more motivated in your job. Two of the key questions recruiters always ask are “What attracted you to your current job? And why are you looking to make a move?” It’s important to set your priorities: compensation, quality of life, amount of travel. Many don’t think about what their priorities are before accepting another job offer.

Skills to Look For: Problem-solving skills Communication skills Initiative Adaptability and resiliency Judgment Management skills Thick Skin/ able to handle constructive criticism Problem-solving skills Organization, time management Technology skills Conflict resolution skills Presentation skills What makes a good attorney great? Sears Roebuck has developed a list of “Law Core Competencies” (refer to handout). Additional points to make: Enhancing your productivity at the office also can play a role in your career success. Companies seek employees at every level who know how to maximize their work hours and their contributions to their organizations. Everyone works at different paces and different time schedules. Determine your best time of day for productivity. Just as attorneys at law firms log their activities for billing purposes, chart your work during a typical week to evaluate whether you’re focusing on the appropriate priorities. If you’re spending more time answering e-mail than meeting deadlines, you may be undermining your own effectiveness. Keep a diary of your work every day. It helps “justify” your existence and helps if you have to prepare for job interviews.

Sample Resumes of Successfully Transitioned Candidates! Taking a close look at your career requires honesty. Though it’s easy to track your significant accomplishments, it’s also important to review areas that might need improvement. Because in-house attorneys interact with a wide range of people in their organizations, they must possess exceptional interpersonal skills. Are your project management abilities as strong as they could be? Do you communicate effectively with company executives? Are there any particular departments with which you have trouble interacting? Are you effectively conveying what projects you would like to work on to the appropriate parties? Assess whether these or other areas – such as technical experience or business acumen – require improvements that could help spark a renewed interest in your career. Know thyself. Be honest and objective about your shortcomings, i.e. if you are not a detail-oriented person, you could be miserable as a tax attorney or ERISA attorney.

Recruiting in a Shrinking Talent Market: Thinking Outside the Legal Industry We’ve covered a lot today, so thank you for your attention. Now I’d like to take the time to answer any questions you may have. roberthalflegal.com