Recruiting lawyers: 5 tips for finding the right legal expert

The picture most people have of a lawyer is often fairly similar: a man or woman in a gown, with quite a bit of self-confidence and above all a great deal of legal knowledge. But if you want to recruit lawyers, there are other things that deserve at least as much attention as knowledge and experience. We give you 5 tips to help you get started effectively with recruitment in legal, for the long term.

1. Know your challenge before you start searching

Exactly who you're looking for can depend on a number of factors. Which cases does your firm mainly handle, and what background should the lawyer have to handle these cases independently? Of course there are different specialisations (think of corporate law, employment law or family law), and you want the lawyer with the specialisation that fits the cases your firm takes on. You can also think broader: someone with knowledge of other areas of law can broaden your general expertise too, and that always comes in handy.

2. Search specifically for candidates with potential

Where do you find the ideal lawyer? You can search in lawyer directories, or make use of your own network or that of your current colleagues. You can often see online whether someone is a good fit in terms of knowledge and experience, too. Another option is RPO: outsourcing your legal recruitment to a third party. A legal recruitment agency like that shares your vacancies online (this is called job marketing) on platforms that appeal to your target group. RPO is an inexpensive way to recruit legal staff, because you don't pay a placement fee or mark-up factor. That saves a lot, because this can run up to as much as 25% of an annual salary. And with a lawyer's salary in particular, that can take a huge bite out of your budget.

3. Checking references and track records

When recruiting lawyers, taking a good look at a CV is an essential step. That really applies in every industry, but especially in legal recruitment having the right knowledge and experience is crucial. That's why in legal recruitment it's smart to go further than just looking at the degrees and experience on a CV. Check someone's references, track records, disciplinary status and memberships, for example. Also ask the lawyer you're speaking to about his or her previous cases. What does this person have experience with and what are his or her success rates? All of this is useful to know when you decide whether or not to hire someone.

4. An efficient introductory meeting

So things like knowledge and experience are very important when you're talking to a potential new colleague for your law firm. Still, having a click is at least as important. You can't read that from a CV. That's why it's important that in the introductory meeting you don't just look at what someone has achieved, but also at how they come across. Is there mutual interest, and is there the odd laugh during the conversation? Then you're probably on the right track.

During the introductory meeting you can also ask other questions to find out more about someone's way of working. What rates does he or she normally charge? Which approach do they prefer? And how does this person prefer to communicate with colleagues?

5. Want a long-term relationship? A smooth start is key

Well begun is half done, in this case too. Before your new colleague starts, you can already begin with preboarding: the phase before onboarding. Think of a nice email, a welcome pack and the schedule for the first week. Has the first working day arrived? Make sure there's a warm welcome, clear instructions and a workspace where everything is ready. Give your new colleague a tour of the office and make sure he or she has access to the systems they need. Involve him or her in conversations too, for example over a shared lunch or a walk. That way there are plenty of chances to get to know each other properly.

Looking for knowledge, experience and the click

So recruitment in the legal profession is about more than just knowledge of the law and experience in the field. If you make sure there's a click and a strong bond of trust, your new lawyer will never want to leave! Want some extra tips and tricks to help you recruit lawyers? Get in touch.