I'm not sure if there are any members of the legal community in this forum, but my partner is currently looking for jobs and not seeing many postings. He has questioned whether it's an unhealthy legal market in Cleveland or if they have different ways of recruiting talent, etc. Any insights would be appreciated.

We have a bajillion lawyers here, there are not enough jobs for them, basically. And hiring tends to decline in the fall when firms are getting their budgets together for the new year and not wanting to incur any significant spending before the year is out.

 

That being said, good firms are always looking for laterals that bring a good book of business and are an attractive candidate, either a good fit with their experience and one of the top PGs or if they are of a minority that could strengthen the diversity of the firm (which includes LGBT, though I don't know that there's a good way to "identify" that way on a bio, unless there is an organization or community activity that might indicate that way, such as being on the board of an LGBT-friendly org.). I would not go based on posted openings, but would send my bio to heads of various practice groups at firms I am interested in working with and suggest they are new to the market (assuming partner is new to Cleveland based on your post) and ask them out for coffee to discuss the area of practice in the region. Look for networking events to attend, etc.

Thank you! Yes, he's licensed in NJ, FL and VA and still has to sit for the OH bar and has no ties to the Cleveland area. It sounds very similar to the South Florida market, so not the greatest of news haha. I will definitely pass that along though! He's worked with a few recruiters and headhunters as well.

well, obvs would be a good idea to target firms that have locations in states in which he is licensed, so he could hit the ground running on open cases for clients in those states while waiting for OH bar. Would make him a more attractive candidate than, say, for a firm with no locations in those states. But I'm sure he already knows that. I would expect more jobs closer to be around closer to December or January when they are doing some hiring for the new year (if any).

 

That being said, good firms are always looking for laterals that bring a good book of business and are an attractive candidate, either a good fit with their experience and one of the top PGs or if they are of a minority that could strengthen the diversity of the firm (which includes LGBT, though I don't know that there's a good way to "identify" that way on a bio, unless there is an organization or community activity that might indicate that way, such as being on the board of an LGBT-friendly org.). I would not go based on posted openings, but would send my bio to heads of various practice groups at firms I am interested in working with and suggest they are new to the market (assuming partner is new to Cleveland based on your post) and ask them out for coffee to discuss the area of practice in the region. Look for networking events to attend, etc.

While we're still in Florida, it makes it more difficult to network, but I know from past experience that there are a lot of young lawyers involved with DCA and other downtown groups. I passed along the piece of the bio and he is a member of BALSA (Black American Law Student Society) and was the former president of LAMBDA (Legal Gay Straight Alliances), but he's afraid to list those not knowing how conservative the higher-ups may be and not really knowing the Cleveland area. Down here in South Florida, it's very accepting in nearly every profession.

I will PM you.