A knowledge of your organization's structure, practice, clients, work assignments and style helps to identify the individuals who will be successful applicants and allows for better promotion of your firm to applicants. Upon locating candidates who meet your hiring criteria and who match your profile of successful lateral additions to your firm, I will forward resumes to you along with pertinent additional information such as goals and reason for wanting to change jobs. I ask your cooperation in assuring the confidentiality of each applicant. Not only have associates learned the building blocks in a practice group, but they have learned to write, learned to navigate the politics of a workplace, learned how to relate to the support staff, learned how to benefit from and not be devastated by criticism, and learned whether this environment is for them.
Lateral recruits are lawyers who have survived the critical first few years.
We will find lateral associates who are committed to striving for success, who fit the practice focus and level of experience necessary. We acquaint our client law firms with the candidate's motivation to join a new firm and we counsel candidates about what will constitute a good move. Typically they request introductions to attorneys whose clients fit the strategic plan of the firm. Lawyers sometimes need to offer their clients greater depth of associate help and broader services from expert partners in a firm culture that fits the lawyers' work style and mix of clients. Partner compensation plans differ among firms, client generation opportunities are fostered and supported differently, and firm governance structures vary.