Staffwell National – What June showed us about hiring attorneys

In June, we reached out to over 400 attorney candidates across multiple active searches.

Response rates were healthy. Responses were not the problem.
Fit was.

A candidate can reply.
A candidate can even express interest.

That still does not mean the candidate is the one.

By the time you filter for practice area, recent relevant litigation experience, compensation, location, commute, and timing, the candidate pool gets smaller very quickly.

That is one thing law firms can underestimate.

Notice how specific the fit usually needs to be.
A candidate can be a strong litigator and still not be right for a particular search.

the practice area is too different.
the recent experience is not close enough.
the move would require more support or training than the firm is prepared to provide.

We saw that repeatedly in June.

We also saw the usual points of friction.

Compensation.
Commute.
Billable expectations.

When a candidate is lateraling, the role has to feel credible enough to justify that move.

This is why some respectable attorney roles still struggle.

The pool of attorneys who are both qualified and motivated is usually narrower than it first appears.

If your firm is hiring in July, reply with the role you are looking to fill.

Staffwell | Legal Recruitment
Staffwell.ca | (929) 560-0868