While the current job market is rife with possibilities for legal professionals, hiring managers and human resources professionals face a challenge. How can we acquire and keep the best legal minds and administrative support for our firms?
Our firm has had success attracting, retaining, and engaging top people by offering extensive mentorship and training programs, valuable work, courtroom and client-facing experience under the oversight of premier trial attorneys, and an inclusive, professional environment that positions them for success and presents opportunities for growth within. While there is not one key to success, here, I outline the strategies legal practices should follow as best practices to keep their teams fully staffed and performing at their peak.
Today’s Legal Field Is a Competitive Market
According to staffing services company Robert Half, 91 percent of legal sector hiring managers report struggling to find the skilled talent they need. While the unemployment rate for attorneys and other legal workers has undergone shifts over the past year, all categories are still lower than the national rate.
For instance, in the first quarter of 2024, the national unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, while that for lawyers was only 1 percent. Significantly, the National Association for Law Placement recorded the highest percentage of employment for graduating lawyers ever in 2023 at 92.6 percent.
Unfortunately, the trouble has been finding highly skilled, driven talent. The client service industry, under which the legal professional falls, is hard work.
In addition, demographic patterns suggest these trends will not reverse anytime soon. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 35,600 job openings per year for lawyers — about 5 percent — from 2023 until 2033. Retirements and other turnover are to blame. Meanwhile, 50 percent of respondents to the aforementioned Robert Half survey say their firm plans to grow their teams.
No wonder hiring managers and HR professionals are in a race to attract top talent. So, how can your firm position itself best to hire the right people? The first step is to accept that today’s workers have different expectations than those of previous generations. Be willing to adapt.
Read the rest of Ms. Morales' article here.
Our team is available to discuss the topics written here and ready to provide additional information contained in this article. Contact us for more information.
