Hiring the best legal talent is not just about finding someone who meets your requirements. It’s also about ensuring that a person fits the company culture.
The first step is knowing what you need to do and how to do it. The second step is ensuring that the candidate’s skills and experience match the job description. But there are other factors at play, too. An excellent legal hire is someone who works well with others and has an eye for detail. Finding someone motivated by more than just money is also a huge plus.
Whether you’re commissioning a company offering legal recruitment service or hiring by yourself, consider the following legal recruitment tips:
Establish a Long-Term and Comprehension Legal Team Vision
The vision for your legal team is the foundation for all your hiring decisions. You shouldn’t hire someone unless they fit into this vision. This rule applies to the people you have already hired and any new hires you’re considering.
- Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my ideal legal team?
- What skills should they possess?
- How many people do I need in each department?
- Do we want to grow the team or keep it small?
This vision will help you determine whether or not someone is suitable for your firm.
Create a Hiring Plan and Develop a Striking Communication Strategy
You have to know what you want. Do you want a team member who can work independently and make decisions? Do you want someone who will need a lot of hand-holding? Do you want an attorney with specific experience in a particular area of law? Perhaps you’re more comfortable with a generalist? Knowing these things will help you determine how to attract suitable candidates for your firm.
Once you know what kind of employee you’re looking for, it’s time to develop a communication strategy. Start by creating an attractive job description that tells potential candidates why they should apply for the position.
After which, create an employer brand that speaks directly to those candidates. Make them feel that your firm is where they could thrive. This quality will set you apart from those also hiring legal talent.
Consider Hiring Talents as an Ongoing Process
You must ensure that you’re constantly checking for the best talent. Don’t just settle for the first person who appears at your door. You will have to invest effort into training and guiding them. You should also ensure that you meet their needs. These can motivate them to perform well for the company.
Create a Succession Plan
You need a clear strategy for the candidate’s growth and development in your organization. It’s essential to have a plan for succession in case something happens to an employee or a worker leaves.
You can start by identifying your current employees’ strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Then, you should determine what types of roles they might want in the future. With this, you can offer them opportunities where they’ll be able to grow and develop their skills. This practice will ensure that everyone has a clear idea of where their career is going.
You also need to know what skills are most important for your company’s success. For example, hiring someone experienced in interstate litigation may be beneficial if you have an office in several states. Whereas if your business is primarily online-based, then being able to write code would be more critical.
Finally, remember that every employee brings something different to the table. So, make sure you’re always willing to give people a chance before dismissing them entirely.
Invest Time in Your Hiring Plan Today
A well-thought hiring plan will not only help you cross paths with the best candidates. It will also make your firm more stable. If you know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to find people to fit the bill. Moreover, strategic communication planning makes you more trustworthy in the eyes of potential candidates.
The best talents will naturally gravitate toward you because they trust you. Consequently, when you have the best legal talents onboard, you can offer better service to your clientele. All these benefits start with a simple decision: investing time in your hiring plan.
