Samantha Simmons, J.D.’s Post

Junior attorneys, are you currently contemplating a significant career move? The decision to switch roles or firms can be daunting, but it might just be the perfect time to explore new opportunities and advance your career! 🧑⚖️🔄 This comprehensive article will help you weigh the pros and cons, understand the signals that indicate it's time for a change, and provide valuable insights into making a strategic move. Whether you’re seeking better work-life balance, more challenging cases, or a more supportive work environment, this resource is designed to guide you through the decision-making process. Don’t let uncertainty hold you back from achieving professional growth and fulfillment. Take the first step towards a potentially transformative career move today! Learn more! https://lnkd.in/g55zbpPK #CareerAdvice #LegalCareers #JuniorAttorneys #JobChange #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #LegalIndustry #AttorneyLife

Will they or won’t they? It’s not a given that your clients, even longstanding ones, will automatically move with you if you make a career move. It’s wise to take a critical look at the move from your clients’ point of view before making the leap. In addition to the factors discussed in this week’s earlier posts, your client may choose to stay with your old firm for any of a number of reasons, such as: ·       Your new firm is not on its panel of approved counsel; ·       Company policy; ·       Relationships with other lawyers at your previous firm, including those handling their matters perhaps in other geographic or practice areas; ·       The reputations of both your new and old firms; ·       Whether someone in the company ever had an unpleasant experience with your new firm or a lawyer there; ·       It’s easier to keep doing what they’ve always done; and ·       Some clients simply won’t care enough about you to make the move. Your clients may choose to use both your old and new law firms for a while on various matters, to see which they like best. They will keep the comparison in mind when deciding where to send future business, so be sure you deliver the improved value and performance that you promised! Have you been surprised by your clients’ decisions about continuing to give you work? #lawjobs #legaljobs #jobsearchtips #lateralpartner #legalrecruiting For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.

Will they or won’t they? It’s not a given that your clients, even longstanding ones, will automatically move with you if you make a career move. It’s wise to take a critical look at the move from your clients’ point of view before making the leap. In addition to the factors discussed in this week’s earlier posts, your client may choose to stay with your old firm for any of a number of reasons, such as: ·       Your new firm is not on its panel of approved counsel; ·       Company policy; ·       Relationships with other lawyers at your previous firm, including those handling their matters perhaps in other geographic or practice areas; ·       The reputations of both your new and old firms; ·       Whether someone in the company ever had an unpleasant experience with your new firm or a lawyer there; ·       It’s easier to keep doing what they’ve always done; and ·       Some clients simply won’t care enough about you to make the move. Your clients may choose to use both your old and new law firms for a while on various matters, to see which they like best. They will keep the comparison in mind when deciding where to send future business, so be sure you deliver the improved value and performance that you promised! Have you been surprised by your clients’ decisions about continuing to give you work? #lawjobs #legaljobs #jobsearchtips #lateralpartner #legalrecruiting For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.

People ask me all the time how I got my first in-house counsel job. My path was more challenging than most since I was primarily a commercial litigator, but here is a list of five things that I did: 1. I tended to bring in a good amount of corporate transactional work to the firm. When that happened, I either did it myself if it was something that I could do competently (a huge no-no in biglaw) or I would send it to one of my corporate partners and made sure they let me work on it with them—even if I didn’t charge for my time. Litigating a contract is great experience, but learning to draft and negotiate a contract is better if you want to go in-house. 2. I networked like crazy. I attended ACC events. Became friends with in-house counsel in my community and let them know that I was interested in learning about how they got their first in-house role. When they understood I was genuinely interested in their career paths as opposed to hitting them up for business, they opened up a lot more. 3. I checked job boards daily to see what in-house counsel jobs were out there. I’ve noticed that attorneyjobsintheusa is better for local opportunities, than LinkedIn. 4. I wrote articles and spoke at CLEs in niche areas that made me stand out from the crowd as a subject matter expert. I’m not sure if it ever really helped, but that’s what biglaw brain washed me to do. 5. I continued to do exceptional work for my existing clients and maintained great, personal relationships with them. When an in-house counsel role opened up for one of my clients, they offered it to me. Sometimes the opportunity finds you. Just be patient. #lawyer #community #inhousecounsel

Hey, lawyers, go out and have some fun NOT practicing law—and become a better lawyer in the process! A huge benefit of nurturing interests outside of law is the opportunity to overcome challenges, which sharpens your instincts and builds resilience and determination. Many competitive hobbies, just like law practice, require you to be flexible and nimble, ready to adjust to changing circumstances on the fly. You learn to anticipate how an opponent may act and then have a reasoned, calm, and egoless—but quick—response. You learn to persevere and find ways to come back and win when your opponent has an advantage, and even when you think all hope is lost. These high pressure situations call for creative problem-solving in the heat of the moment and teach you to face adversity with composure and grace. The ability to assess risks and make informed decisions under uncertainty can only enhance your success as a lawyer, as well. Nurturing outside interests also teaches you the value of preparation and focus. Most hobbies require special equipment and skills that must be developed and maintained. Some even involve risk, so unwavering mental presence, careful attention to detail while not losing sight of the full environment, and preparing for opportunities and obstacles all are essential to avoid disaster. Similarly, lawyers are trained to anticipate and plan for the worst-case scenario but, with proper preparation, strive to be a steady voice of reason in difficult circumstances. Intense outside activities can provide important lessons on how to slow down and live in the moment. When you know you’re prepared, you can roll with the punches and have fun. Have you been able to translate skills and attributes honed through “extracurricular” interests back into career success? How? #lawjobs #legaljobs #legalrecruiting #lawpractice #worklifebalance For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.

#Litigators, if you want to go #inhouse, read over these tips from Min Cho. I get asked this quite often and my answer is similar but learning from someone who actually did it, is always helpful! #legalrecruiting #inhouserecruiting

The major reason why In-House counsel is the most preferred option is because it still provides opportunities to someone even without any connections in the industry to excel! Yes, referrals are there, but that is the fruit of networking, which again still does not guarantee job even after being shortlisted! With more and more law graduates, especially those recently graduated more inclined towards corporate sector, In-House counsel is the most sought after and preferred career choice lately! However, the major issue encounter is lack of skills; the major investment you can make after your law school is in upskilling, to actually tailor made path towards corporate sector! Still, majority does not know what skills are required, if you are one of them, we are here to rescue you! Want to learn contract vetting and negotiations to actually become In-House counsel, reach out to me or Adv. Achal Aggarwal to know more! #law #legal #inhousecounsel #inhouselawyer #corporatelaw

The familiar pattern of senior lawyers moving in-house is well-established at this point; less often discussed is the reverse situation, that of the general counsel who makes a career move back into a law firm. Explore the complex considerations and dynamics of legal professionals transitioning from in-house roles to private practice in our latest article by our Senior Manager Anne Pichon. 💼👩⚖️ What are the benefits, challenges, and key success factors for a seamless integration? And how can this shift redefine your career trajectory? Read more at the link below to uncover the insights. 📝✨ Are you a general counsel considering your next career move? Or perhaps a law firm looking to enhance its expertise? Get in touch with one of our expert consultants for a confidential conversation about market opportunities. 🔍 #LegalCareer #LawFirm #CareerTransition #LegalRecruitment #GeneralCounsel

Attorneys need relationship-building skills from day one. What’s required for running a successful law practice can be quite different from legal practice capabilities, requiring more highly developed people skills. To succeed, you must get along with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. You need to gain the respect and confidence of everyone, including firm colleagues, clients, potential clients, other lawyers, staff and judges. Generally, as lawyers progress in their careers, they have more lawyers and other professionals working for them. Diligence and competence are givens, but personal qualities such as leadership, listening and communication skills, as well as organizational skills, are essential, as well, to get ahead. It’s relatively easy to determine whether you have a grasp of basic legal and business concepts, but you need to be brutally honest with yourself about your interpersonal and management capabilities. You may not naturally develop management and leadership skills along the way and they don’t teach them in law school. You might need to affirmatively work to develop the tools you need to build successful practices, and have happy clients, nurture a supportive and engaged staff, and establish a collegial relationship with your peers. Remember acquiring and demonstrating these “soft skills,” as opposed to hard legal and business knowledge, doesn’t make you a softie; it makes you a savvy and more successful lawyer. #lawjobs #legaljobs #legalrecruiting #careeradvice #softskills For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.

Lawyers, you can do well by doing good.   Some of the career development benefits of pro bono and community service work include the opportunities to: ·       Give back and make a real difference in the community. ·       Follow your passion and maintain a sense of who you are. ·       Meet people of influence in the legal and larger community and enlarge your sphere of contacts for possible mentoring or business development, or even friendships. ·       Become known as one who cares, which helps current and potential clients think highly of you. ·       Achieve balance and perspective, become more well-rounded, gain new perspectives, and develop interests outside of law. ·       Give your employer another avenue to review and evaluate you. ·       Learn management skills and see how other organizations work. ·       Gain visibility in a wider arena and demonstrate your leadership skills in a setting outside of law practice. ·       Energize yourself, build your enthusiasm and self-confidence, all of which spills over into your work in the private arena. ·       Nourish your soul.   Public interest work is even more valuable in terms of career development if it is in support of a cause that your firm or company, or—even better— one your clients, support.   Ideally, you should devote your pro bono or public interest time to issues for which you have a passion. You will be more effective and fulfilled.   What other benefits have you gained from your public service?   #lawjobs #legaljobs #probono #publicinterestlaw #legalrecruiting For more insights into job search strategies, the legal industry, and the California legal job market, follow SeltzerFontaine LLC, and connect with me and ring the 🔔 at Valerie Fontaine.