Utilizing Legal Recruiters

Use this sample annotated retained search agreement in drafting an agreement with a legal recruiting firm.

Introductory Sections 1.    Introductory section which defines the parties to the agreement.

This letter is an agreement between [Firm](the "FIRM"), a California partnership containing professional corporations and SEARCH FIRM LEGAL SEARCH, INC., an California corporation ("SEARCH FIRM") (the "Agreement") concerning a search [describe search] the [department or practice group] of the [city] office of the FIRM (the "Search"). READ MORE >

The stakes—time, money, or firm-wide resources—are always high when you embark on a search for a lateral hire. And these costs often have nothing to do with due diligence or questions of fit and synergy. Instead, it's a matter of sheer economics. Because some headhunters' fees now run in the six-figure range, managing such relationships on the front-end can be crucial. READ MORE >

The first and most important step of the legal-recruiting process, building long-term client relationships with law firms, is too often ignored or underestimated by many recruiters. Strong relationships are what allow a firm to trust a recruiter with its hiring decisions and are actually critical to any recruiter's effectiveness. Building this trust is far more rewarding than making an individual deal or placement, although it often takes much more effort and consideration for the client's needs. To this end, a good recruiter must always look to deepen its business relationships into partnerships and take into account whether an attorney he/she represents will benefit that attorney's partners as much as that attorney's placement will benefit his/her own interests. READ MORE >

I. Introduction
You've received a call from the managing partner in your firm's intellectual property practice, who needs to hire three new associates, pronto. READ MORE >

His character's fate sealed by mortal wounds suffered on a historic battlefield, the actor casts his glance heavenward and breathes forth an elegant final soliloquy, imparting timeless words of honor, courage, and love. When he finishes, all is silent, save for the clatter of his falling sword and shield as the hero slumps and falls. The story has concluded. The curtain falls. The audience, moved by the dramatic scene just witnessed, erupts in applause, shouting its adoration. Another fantastic stage production has ended for the theater company. READ MORE >

Law firm recruiting managers are called upon daily to handle a myriad of responsibilities for their firms, including coordinating fall recruiting programs at law schools, planning and managing summer-associate programs, managing lateral hiring, professional development, and conducting partner and associate evaluations. Some of these professionals also handle human resources and marketing functions. These professionals are highly skilled and most often overworked. READ MORE >

There is a pervasive opinion among attorneys and firms that all recruiters work out of a spare room in their lofty mansions, pocketing 100% profit from their commissioned attorney placements. While some legal recruiters do indeed operate like this (usually minus the lofty mansions), BCG Attorney Search incurs many traditional and many more "invisible" costs, most of which go into solidifying our clients' position in the legal market. Recruiting businesses, like all businesses, have expenses-advertising, payroll, office overhead-that are sunk costs. Additionally, all businesses have the choice of how to allocate the rest of their funds, with the traditional options being putting those funds straight into the President's pocket or reinvesting them in the company. Putting the time and effort (and money) back into the company in our efforts to provide the most full-service legal-recruiting agency is what sets us apart. READ MORE >