Where Do We Source Quality Candidates – is there a ‘Secret Place’ where recruitment consultants go to find amazing job applicants?
Finding lawyers in some parts of the UK for particular types of law can at times feel a little like hunting for a needle in a haystack. Lawyers can be incredibly cautious about moving and law firm owners can be particularly specific about their requirements. Put the two together and recruitment can be quite a task!
Indeed and LinkedIn are by far the two most mentioned places for clients saying where they managed to do their own recruitment and both are indeed valuable resources. As a recruitment agency we don’t use either very much, other than to post jobs and articles into our LinkedIn feed. The majority of our placements come from our own candidate database (12,500 solicitors and counting) which we have built over 25 years. There are no secret groups online stuffed full of exciting candidates looking for work and who are only being approached by certain law firms. Similarly candidates are not sat waiting to be cold called by headhunters (which is also incredibly expensive). So no, there is no ‘secret place’ that only certain law firms get to access.
So how do you find them?
The answer is fairly simple. You need to see vacancy filling as marketing. Here’s a very simple example that probably just about sums up the two possible approaches to recruitment:
Option 1 Conveyancing Job – Full Time in West London
Wanted, conveyancing solicitor with at least 5 years PQE to handle their own caseload. Must be professional, IT literate and willing to work hard. Office based only. 25 days annual leave, salary levels up to £55k. Apply with a covering letter explaining why you are the perfect candidate by the 5th November.
Option 2 Conveyancing Job – Full Time in West London
Friendly, approachable law firm with a very relaxed approach to flexible & remote working is looking for a conveyancing lawyer to grow with them as they expand their practice. Good sized caseload, full secretarial support provided. Full time role, but very happy to discuss flexible hours. Generous package including a base salary of £55k. Contact us to discuss further, or send us a CV across. Partners willing to meet at any time for a confidential chat with anyone interested. Long term opportunities to develop your career in a caring and nurturing environment.
Which one would you want to apply for – the firm friendly version (option 1) or the candidate friendly version (option 2)? At present, the key reasons for moving that we see time and again are a) remote working opportunities, b) flexible working opportunities and c) earning potential. Reasons for not moving on and staying put in a current job include a) stability and concern about a new firm’s finances, b) loyalty to an existing firm and c) working conditions and environment at the present firm even if the new firm offer a higher salary.
Firms who regularly complain that there is a lack of quality out there and no candidates applying for their jobs, are often the same firms who offer rates of pay so low a solicitor cannot get a mortgage! We find that in most areas firms with a good reputation for quality of work and life, and treatment of staff in general, are the ones that do not have problems recruiting. Those that are smaller, and perhaps have no reputation at all find that if they offer reasonable salaries and working conditions they attract candidates who will stay and grow the firm. Those firms who simply see their staff as an expense and fail to appreciate the direct correlation between paying solicitors a wage that enables them to live and treat them as qualified professionals, tend to be the ones who constantly need to look around for staff to replace existing lawyers departing.
