Practicing law has changed dramatically since I started now long ago. We made far less money, ($12,000 when I started), but we never worried about making partner and the law firms demanded less of us. If we worked hard, it was more a choice we made not a demand from our law firm.
Years ago
It was late fall 2001. The internet bubble had burst. A stock I owned that had traded at a record $130 per share was on it way to single digits where it remains today. I foolishly bought shares all the way down.
I remember a conversation with our law firm’s financial officer. He told me
When I retired from my law practice to coach lawyers, people (including some close to me) asked why I would give up my law practice at the very peak of my career. There were many reasons. One was I simply wanted to do something different and new.
When I retired from coaching at the end
In July of 2000, Seth Godin wrote an article in “Fast Company” titled: “Unleash Your Ideavirus.” In the article Godin says:
Ideas are driving the economy, ideas are making people rich, and most importantly, ideas are changing the world.”
He suggests that to win we need to unleash an ideavirus, which I interpret
Seth Godin recently posted: Mass personalization is a trap. For those of you whose firms send email blasts designed to make clients and potential clients think it actually came from you, I suggest you take a moment to read what Seth Godin has written.
I still get emails every day from law firms, from
If I have learned one thing in my recent recruiting career, or better said, if I have been reminded of one thing in my recent recruiting career, it is this:
Law firms are looking for lawyers with clients they can bring and a book of business
For some firms, the cutoff is $1 Million annual
As you know, I practiced law a long time. I loved most of my work and I loved most of my clients.
Over my years I discovered many lawyers who did not feel the same way. Some knew what they don’t like. Others hadn’t thought about it. Others discovered they did not want to practice
Now that I am helping lawyers find the right firm and helping law firms find the right lawyers, I am reflecting more on what would motivate me to join a particular law firm if I was still practicing. I know what some of you are thinking:
Money
If that was all that motivated me, I
I have posted at least some of this a few times over the years. Now that I am recruiting, I believe it is pertinent for what I will try to look for in candidates I will try to place.
In a nutshell, I believe the lawyer who sees things others miss will be most valuable
First, I’m back working. I started last week as a Senior Director at Lateral Link and discovered just how much I have to learn.
I am at the moment the least experienced legal recruiter in the firm, and yet in Spanish Soy el reclutador más viejo. (I am the oldest).
My new business email is