Matthew Wheatley’s Post

There's a lot of talk about the highly sought after "first legal hire" role. Rightfully so - it's an exciting position! But so far this year, I've seen a greater number of 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 legal hire roles. Startups obviously took a beating in 2023. But now that the market is correcting itself, the GCs who toughed it out solo are finally getting the approved headcount for a 2nd hire. Naturally, it's 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 tempting to rush into hiring after being solo for so long. But hiring needs to be done with strong & clear intention. Before running to get the first "perfect candidate" you can find, you HAVE to take a step back and evaluate your needs, or you risk an unnecessarily drawn out search and/or quick turnover. These are 3 big 2nd legal hire trends I've been seeing: ✨ 1: Specialized GCs are bringing on attorneys with completely different skills to balance out the in-house coverage & reduce outside counsel spend. Lots of corporate-focused GCs hiring healthcare/regulatory attorneys. ✨ 2: Generalist GCs are more keen on all-around support. Think more junior versions of themselves who have a solid foundation & a hunger to develop/grow. ✨3: Both types of GCs who are drowning in paperwork and processes are turning to legal ops pros, contracts managers, and/or paralegals. Like I said before - while it can be tempting to chase after the shiny senior attorney, depending on your workload, these can be more efficient & cost-effective hires.

LinkedIn News has identified the 'Legal Operations Director' role as one of the 25 rapidly growing jobs in the US in 2024. And here is the crucial skillset you'll need to showcase if you are eyeing to transition into #legalops: These 25 listed jobs are more than just titles; they represent overlapping skill sets that transcend specific roles. A common thread among all the roles identified is that they involve aspects of the same skills and competencies. All of them often require individuals to contribute to the overall success and growth of their respective organizations. A legal operations role is no exception: 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Defining an organization's direction, allocating resources, and setting long-term goals. 2️⃣ 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Guiding and inspiring individuals to achieve common goals within an organization. 3️⃣ 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ongoing process of choosing between options to address challenges or achieve objectives. 4️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩/𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Shaping the organization's strategy and exerting influence to achieve desired outcomes. In the current landscape, legal is more about business than about legal. As legal operations continue to rise, it's crucial to position yourself at the forefront of this dynamic intersection between legal expertise and strategic business acumen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, there! I am Sara Ajmi, Legal Ops & Technology Manager. Passionate about job search and career development strategies, I'm seamlessly integrating these interests with my professional experience to offer valuable support in your career journey. 🔔𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧-𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

This might come as a surprise to some folks, but I didn't hold a legal ops job title 3 years ago. I held a contracts manager title. But about half of my job (if not more) was focused on legal operations work. In fact, I've done legal operations the entire time I've worked in the legal field (16+ years). But still didn't have legal operations in my title until 2021. I've been hearing more and more that folks are being turned away from legal ops roles due to "lack of experience". Despite the fact that it is clear from their experience they can not only do the job, they can do the job incredibly well. And a role that is solely focused on legal operations should not require a JD, either. It's clear there is a gap here. Companies are missing out on great candidates. Candidates are being turned away that can excel in these roles. ✨ For those hiring legal ops roles: Stop rejecting candidates because they haven't checked off every single box - most of these boxes are a "nice to have" not a "must have". Stop auto-rejecting smart people who isn't a SME in every area of legal operations and trust that they can learn and excel in these areas over time. ✨ For those applying to legal ops roles: Take the time to tailor your resume to show the outcomes, not just the day to day work you performed in previous roles. You've done some amazing legal ops (or even just ops) things in previous roles - make yourself and what you've done shine. ❓ Any other advice you'd give those hiring in legal ops or seeking a legal ops role? #legalops #legalprofessional #inhouselegal #legalinnovation

If you want to transition to #legalops but believe you need to have a specific background, think again! The more I talk to folks like you interested in making the move to legal ops, the more I learn that the #1 blocker you all have is the belief that you are not capable of doing it because, for instance, they have a law firm/e-discovery background and fear the hiring employer will reject their application since they've never worked in-house. Of course this is just not true! To prove it, I researched the background of over 100 legal ops professionals globally and summarized the results of my findings in this map. The truth is, "All roads lead to R̶o̶m̶e̶ Legal Ops" because there isn't a traditional career path to legal ops. The diversity of backgrounds, profiles, and skills of legal ops professionals is exactly what makes the legal ops industry and community powerful, vibrant, and rich: Also, keep in mind that what might be a strict requirement for one hiring employer could be considered an additional bonus or extra qualification by another. It all depends on the specific needs and preferences of each organization. So, don’t: ❌ Look too far. ❌ Think you need a specific route. ❌ Underestimate the value you bring. Instead: ✅ Embrace your skills and strengths. ✅ Be open-minded and patient. ✅ Target the right opportunities that value your unique experience and background. Your unique background could be exactly what a hiring team is looking for to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the table. Do you have a story to tell me about this? I'm all ears👂Please feel free to drop a comment or leave me a DM!

How to spot Red Flags🚩🚩🚩 in Legal Ops job posts Legal Ops is an exciting, fast evolving field filled with promising careers. Sadly, not everyone looking to hire fully understands the role. If you are looking to make a move, here are a few things that can help you filter out jobs that probably aren’t setting you up for success: 🎯 Strategy 🧠 is missing: A legal ops professional *needs* to think strategically. If the post doesn’t highlight or at least imply that the role will impact the organization’s strategy, present or future, it’s likely that the company doesn’t value the strategic impact a legal ops professional can bring. Steer clear. Lack of Understanding of Verticals:🏛️ A robust legal ops role involves managing outside counsel and legal spend, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLMs), legal technology, and data hygiene. If these elements are missing, the role might be undervalued or misunderstood. Administrative Overload:🏋🏽 Be cautious if there’s a lot of overlap with administrative tasks. Legal ops isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about optimizing processes and enhancing efficiency. While some administrative work is inevitable, a legal ops role should primarily focus on strategic improvements, not clerical duties. If the job post is indicative of these 3 factors, it might be a warning sign that the organization doesn’t have a clear understanding of the Legal Ops role. You need to ensure that your next move aligns with your skills and ambitions. Don’t settle for less than what you’re worth.🥇 #LegalOps #CareerGrowth #JobSearch #StrategicThinking #LegalTechnology #LegalAI #Efficiency #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerAdvice #CareerGoals

If you're on the hunt for a #legalops position but struggle with dissecting job descriptions, here are 🚩7 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐬 🚩𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. I have a genuine passion for meticulously analyzing job descriptions, and even after venturing into legal operations, I continue to stay deeply engaged with the global #legalops job market, consistently seeking insights and staying attuned to industry developments. This is why I wanted to share with you the 7 killer warning signs to keep in mind while scrolling through a #legalops job description: (in no particular order) 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Such as a Legal Operations Lawyer (👀) 2️⃣ 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Such as mandatory law degree, licence to practice law, extensive years of experience in legal operations... 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡-𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞: Responsibilities going beyond the 'commonly known' legal operations sphere. 4️⃣ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Lacking coherence and harmony between the job description different sections. 5️⃣ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: Outside of legal leadership (CFO, COO, CIT...) 6️⃣ 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡: A #legalops job opening appearing, disappearing, and then resurfacing after a few months is not a good sign. 7️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: A legal ops job opening with a job scope outside of legal ops? Steer clear! You might assume that these red flags are applicable across various roles or industries, but in the #legalops space, the intricacies intensify. The ongoing evolution of job scope and functions within #legalops adds an extra layer of complexity. The dynamic nature of the #legalops field makes it crucial to scrutinize job descriptions carefully, ensuring alignment with the evolving landscape of responsibilities in this specialized domain 😉 Spot any red flags in your job search? Share your thoughts or add your warning signs below!👇

The in-house legal market is warming up! Over the past 12 months, we saw a slow down in hiring. But, it seems that the market is starting to gain strength. Talking with GCs at VCs, it sounds like their workload is picking up and we're seeing the knock on effect with hiring in the tech space. Businesses focusing on profitability have increased the sizes of their sales teams and the demand for commercial counsels is high. I'm hiring for a few roles currently that are worth mentioning: - Head of Commercial Law (Berlin) - Commercial Counsel (Berlin or remote) - Legal Counsel - Commercial, IP, IT, Privacy (Berlin) DM for more info. #Legal #LegalJobs #InHouseCounsel

Legal ops people, what are your thoughts on this? In particular.. - Are the current definition(s) of legal ops inclusive of everyone that works in the space?; and - Should there be a punchier easier to digest definition for it? Let us know by commenting or message this page if you want to keep anon! #legalops

If you are looking for a legal operations role; but unsure of the specific terminology to search for, consider these 10 keywords ⬇️ for a wider range of opportunities: Legal operations roles may not always be advertised as such. As the field of legal operations continues to evolve, employers might use different terms to describe similar roles. This is why when looking for a #legalops job, it is very important to broaden your job search and look beyond job titles to increase your chances of finding relevant opportunities. 1️⃣ Legal Operations & Technology 2️⃣ Legal Operations & Strategy 3️⃣ Legal & Business Affairs 4️⃣ Legal Affairs Operations (My previous job’s formal title was “Operational Specialist, Legal Affairs) 5️⃣ Legal Administration 6️⃣ Legal Operational Excellence 7️⃣ Legal Operations Transformation Services 8️⃣ Legal Operations and Innovation 9️⃣ Legal Business Operations 🔟 Legal Management Consulting This list - of real life legal ops job titles - will help you expand your knowledge and options within the legal ops job market and enable you to approach your search with a more comprehensive and strategic mindset. Hope this helps - Please feel free to leave a comment or send me a direct message if it happened that you came across a legal operations job that may have a different job title. -------------------------------------------- Hi, there! I am Sara Ajmi, Legal Ops & Technology Manager. Passionate about job search and career development strategies, I'm seamlessly integrating these interests with my professional experience to offer valuable support in your career journey. 🔔𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧-𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. --------------------------------------------

Looking for ways to limit the cost of your legal tech hiring and the potential burnout of your law firm's technology team while you hire? Don't miss out on the smart, capable, and fast learning legal tech candidates right in front of you while you're waiting for your unicorn. Read ESP Legal's blog for more on this and other ways to mitigate the cost of legal IT hiring: https://loom.ly/eUUcQN0