Top Ten Questions to Ask a Headhunter When the Call Comes

With mergers all the rage now in the legal community, and downsizing a possibility at many merged firms, lawyers at all class levels are keeping an eye out for opportunities. The legal economy is also strong and mobility between law firms is more generally accepted. All of which is keeping legal recruiters, a/k/a "headhunters," very busy.

For lawyers dealing with headhunters, we recommend Dan Binstock's article appearing today on Law.com entitled Ten Questions to Ask The Headhunter. Binstock is the managing director of the Washington, D.C., office of BCG Attorney Search (a major national recruiter) where he handles lateral associate and partner placements. So he clearly knows his stuff.

Here are Binstock's top ten questions (jump to the article here for more detailed explanations of the rationale behind each question and the responses you'll want to hear):

• Do you work exclusively in my market, or do you work in multiple markets?
• How long have you been recruiting?
• Will you be writing a cover letter to the employer on my behalf?
• Can you share what you will be communicating in my cover letter?
• Are there any firms that you do not work with, but that still could be a good match for me?
• What role do you play in the recruiting process?
• Am I obligated to work with you exclusively?
• Does your company divide employers between its different recruiters?
• Are you a member of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants?
• Can I meet with you in person?

Binstock cautions that goal of these questions is not to scare off a potential recruiter but to clarify the terms of the relationship and to determine whether that recruiter is the best person to help you with your transition. That is, to become an educated consumer.

Read the full article here.