[blindlaw] 10 tips for getting noticed by recruiters

Fri Jun 28 15:51:48 UTC 2013

Hi Dan,

Yes, you are right that quite a bit has changed in the legal market since
1980.  Most firms aren't going to expect an associate level attorney to
bring clients with them.  Rather, the associates are desirable because they
have a specific skill set that the firm's current and prospective clients
may need.  

No doubt corporations will always need lawyers.  But small to medium firms
are able to undercut larger firms on the bottom line and are more nimble
when adapting to changes in the industry.  There will probably always be a
need for big international corporate firms.  But the smaller, more
responsive firms with lower overhead will probably do very well as the
market for legal services evolves.  I suspect the days of corporations
putting up with firms that act more like clients than service providers are
ending.

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel McBride [mailto:dlmlaw at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 10:22 AM
To: tim at timeldermusic.com; 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [blindlaw] 10 tips for getting noticed by recruiters

Tim:

I am in no position to disagree with your suggestions.  However, if your
suggestions have validity, this would represent a significant change since
1980.

And, if a prestigious firm is looking to hire someone with some experience,
my bet is that the person hired has a significant corporate client that will
come with him/her to the firm.

Finally, over the past 30 years, the prestigious firms have only grown in
size and opened more offices in more major cities in America and around the
world.  As long as corporations run this world, I do not foresee their legal
representation waning.

But, again, that's just my 2 cents worth. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tim Elder
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 10:54 PM
To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] 10 tips for getting noticed by recruiters

I'm not sure both a top ranking and a top school are both necessary.  My
opinion is that one or the other will suffice for large or prestigious
firms.

Also, once you've been out for a couple years and develop a special skill
set the pedigree is less important.  Then the head hunters start calling
you.

The more important question becomes whether Big Law is an environment in
which you want to work.  Many, if not most, associates burn out after 3 to 4
years and either leave the legal profession entirely or find other career
paths (in house, government, smaller firms, etc.).  I think the legal market
is changing and many small to mid-level firms will thrive.

-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Matney [mailto:amatney at hf-law.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 2:20 PM
To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] 10 tips for getting noticed by recruiters

Hi Dan:

I don't know Virginia's rank now, but when I was there, it was in the top
10. Certainly, some firms have more stringent requirements than others, but
the article referred to "Big Law" (note the capitalization). Many of my
classmates who were not in the top 5% got Big Law jobs. My point was that
not all "Big Law" jobs are foreclosed to people who did not graduate in the
top 5% of a top-10 law school (and I know this because I attended such a
school).

Best,

Angie

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-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel
McBride
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 2:12 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] 10 tips for getting noticed by recruiters

When I was working for the corporate firm in my freshman year of law school,
the firm name was Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Brown & LaBoon.  Next to Fulbright
& Jaworski and Vinson & Elkins, it was the third largest firm in Houston,
with offices in Austin, Dallas and Washington, D.C.  At that time, Locke &
Purnell was the largest firm in Dallas, with offices in Austin and
Washington, D.C.  Lord & Bissell was a large corporate firm out of Chicago,
with offices in the United States, London and Hong Kong.

Somewhere along the line, Locke & Purnell merged with Lord & Bissell.
Shortly thereafter, Locke, Lord & Bissell merged with Liddell, Sapp.  The
firm is now Locke, Lord, Bissell & Liddell, with offices in 13 cities in
America, London and Hong Kong.

While employed at Liddell, Sapp, part of my job duties involved the
recruiting and hiring of new associates for fall and spring hiring classes.
I can tell you that their list of 'acceptable' law schools included the Ivy
League, Michigan, Stanford, Notre Dame, Illinois, UC Berkeley, Texas, Texas
Tech, Baylor & SMU to name a few.

And you had to graduate Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude to be considered.

I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule.  However, the top notch law
firms in this country recruit graduates only from the most prestigious
schools who are at the top of their class.

Angie, with all due respect to your alma mater, I cannot say that I have any
idea where Virginia ranks.  However, I would not believe it to be in the top
20 to 30 schools.  But, that's just a guess.  With all due respect to my
alma mater (South Texas College of Law), it isn't even on the list, and a
South Texas grad can forget about it.  And, perhaps, we might differ on what
is meant by a 'top' firm.  I am talking 'elite' firms such as Fulbright &
Jaworski, Vinson & Elkins and Locke Lord.  To get into one of these firms,
you best attend an Ivy League school and graduate no less than Magna Cum
Laude.

Now, of course, if one should attend any ABA accredited law school, graduate
Cum Laude and have an uncle or aunt in Congress, or a top executive at a
Wall Street firm, then they can probably be an exception to the general
rule.

And, if you lack these credentials, the other 10 tips are of little value.
That's just my 2 cents worth.

Dan McBride

Fort Worth, Texas

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