Should I Stay or Should I Go?

By Ali Shapiro

It seems like just yesterday that the recession was in full swing, firms were firing instead of hiring, and recruiters had tons of terrific candidates and not enough open positions. Flash forward a few years to 2015, and the legal market is booming again. Firms are anxious to hire, companies are expanding their in-house legal departments, and associates are being paid bonuses that are larger than most people's salaries. Strong candidates not only have great opportunities to consider again, but are actually receiving multiple offers, something that seemed impossible only a few short years ago. During the recession, lawyers who were lucky enough to receive a solid offer were pretty much sure they would take it even before it came, as opportunities were so few and far between. Now, however, with opportunities more readily available, candidates are once again faced with the question of whether or not to take an offer that is presented, or to stay at their current job and wait for something else to come along. In making these decisions, there are several issues that candidates should consider.

1. Back to Basics

After a lengthy and sometimes stressful interview process, it can be easy to lose sight of the reason why you were looking at other opportunities in the first place. Maybe things temporarily slowed down at work, and you forgot how you are always the last person standing on national holidays. Perhaps once you started interviewing and had mentally checked out, you forgot how much you can't stand the people in your group. Or, maybe you haven't thought for a while about last year's terrible bonus, or how they keep passing you over for partner. Whatever your situation, you need to regroup, and try to remember why you started looking for a new job in the first place. Remember, job offers don't magically appear - there was a reason that you submitted your resume to a firm or company when you did. Try to remember what led to that decision, and remind yourself how this new opportunity will address those issues.

2. The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself

Even if you are clear as to the reason you want to leave your current position, some candidates start to develop Stockholm Syndrome and paralyzing fear when faced with the prospect of truly leaving their current firm. All of a sudden, when faced with freedom, that boss who made you miss your grandmother's funeral no longer seems so bad. And billing 3000 hours a year now seems very reasonable and manageable. I'm not sure why it happens, but it definitely can strike the best of us, particularly us risk-averse lawyers who are suddenly faced with a huge change. Just remember - the devil you know is still the devil, and just because something is new doesn't mean it is bad. Most changes are intimidating at first, but change can be a good thing, and just because you are nervous doesn't mean it is a bad decision to leave and accept a new opportunity.

3. Hit the Road

Once you have gotten through steps one and two, and have made the decision to leave, the next step is to give your notice, and ACTUALLY STICK WITH IT. In this market, where firms are competing for top talent, no firm wants to lose one of its top worker-bees, and to be faced with the prospect of having to hire and train someone to replace you. So, not surprisingly, they are willing to offer you cash, partnership, their first born child – pretty much whatever it takes to keep you, to avoid the time, money and hassle of finding your replacement. Accepting such a counter-offer is never a good idea, as you will thereafter always be viewed as the disloyal one on the team, and all of the old problems that exist (see 1 above) will still be there long after you've spent that retention bonus. There's a reason why the vast majority of people who accept a counter-offer still end up leaving their current job within a year. Don't end up as one of those statistics, and don't let your current employer's desperation affect what was a good, well thought-out decision on your part.

In sum, it is great news for employers, candidates (and of course, recruiters) that the legal market has come back with a vengeance, and that opportunities abound. However, with more options come more decisions, and it is important to recognize that a strong offer is still hard to come by, and should not be taken for granted.

Niche Please

By Greg Veza

I know. You don’t need to be reminded.

The class of 2011 is universally known as the class hardest hit by the recession, and subsequent classes didn’t fare much better. Less than a month into the class of 2011’s 1L year, Lehman filed for bankruptcy. The unthinkable had happened. It was a maddening twist of fate, and professional trajectories seemed to take a nosedive before they even began. Unable to land positions with prestigious firms, a fortunate few found employment, but took any legal job, earning meager salaries simply to cover living expenses and service student loans. A few years into practicing, those attorneys no longer feel lucky “just to have a job”–they’re anxious and uncertain about their futures.

However, traditional pathways to legal careers have changed. Legal employers are increasingly valuing specific experience. That’s the good news – employers are looking more to the lateral market as a resource. And, you can still take control of your careers if you focus your efforts, determine your strengths and assets, be able to frame your niche, and develop a personal brand to stand apart from the competition.


Get Smarter. Learn as much as you can. Be inquisitive and curious. Read about new laws in your area of practice, listen to podcasts, attend CLEs, speak with people in the industry, and understand business needs of employers and their clients. This will give you the chops to network and interview effectively.

Get Involved. Get involved in the practice community and be creative. Write articles, speak at bar associations, guest lecture a course. Take on leadership positions—if there aren’t any, create them. People control opportunities and information. The more people you know, the more likely you’ll be to uncover valuable opportunities.

Build Business Competencies. As important as it is to build your knowledge base and network, it’s just as important is to be “business ready.” Studies have determined traits desired by legal employers, many of which aren’t taught in law school such as relationship building, creativity/innovation, and strategic planning. Smart legal employers look at candidates as long-term human capital, so build these skills in your practice and volunteer positions. Be able to demonstrate your upward potential.

Target Your Resume. Another component of your brand is your resume. Its function is to show employers your value based on your experiences. You’re selling a product, so your resume should highlight relevant information, rather than be a compilation of everything you’ve done. Craft your resume to emphasize pertinent experiences and frame those experiences to bolster your candidacy.


You may not have your dream job, but wherever you are right now, it’s a footnote—you can make the transition. At McCormack Schreiber, we work with attorneys from every practice area, and those with a targeted focus and an entrepreneurial approach to their search often have the most success. The path won’t always be straight, but you’re playing the long game, so keep those eyes on the road.

Dear Sir or Madam - - Cover Letters

By Liz Davies

A new year brings us reason to develop better habits and hopefully to change some bad ones. When it comes to your 2015 job search, let’s discuss cover letters. Who likes writing them, and how many people read them? I review hundreds of resumes per day, and I think it's safe to say that when applying for a new position, your experience - as detailed on your resume - speaks volumes. I will read a cover letter, but only after reviewing the resume. If a prospective employer specifically directs you to attach a cover letter, resume, transcript, etc. - attach away! Otherwise, I often find that a brief yet carefully drafted email introducing yourself and attaching your resume is a good practice.

Some important things to DO when emailing a prospective employer:

• DO list the position for which you are applying


• DO mention mutual contacts or referrals


• DO explain any recent job moves


• If you wish to relocate to a new city, DO explain any connection to the city and when you are available to interview, relocate and start the position


• DO proofread all of your submission materials


• DO NOT send form letters

Finally, always keep track of where you submit your materials. Be sure to keep a record of dates of submissions, positions/descriptions, prospective employers, contacts, job codes, websites, etc.

I hope that you have a happy and successful 2015, and good luck with your job search!