Articles From the Team
How to identify if the grass is greener elsewhere when considering a move...
It would certainly be fair to say that the legal market has recovered strongly from the pandemic and in most cases, there are more opportunities now than ever before.
So what does this mean for Solicitors considering a new opportunity?
Depending on the practice area you’re considering, you might find yourself with a lot of options. Most areas are currently very competitive and with a lot of opportunities to choose from, you may well find yourself considering multiple firms. This is great for Solicitors as it could easily result in interviews and offers at multiple firms, but you might want to act swiftly.
If you’re on the fence about exploring opportunities generally or wondering if the grass really can be greener elsewhere, my best advice would be to engage with your Recruitment Consultant, as they will provide you with a wealth of information which they’re simply not able to communicate to you in initial communications about their opportunities. It’s also difficult to convey a firm’s culture in an advert, phone call or email. Many firms are more than happy to arrange an informal coffee meet with interested candidates, allowing them to really get a feel for the firm/environment, without the pressures of a formal interview scenario.
An important consideration is that firms are trying to fill roles as quickly as possible. We’re seeing firms arrange interviews on very short notice and in some cases, second interviews are no longer required. Fortunately, Teams and Zoom interviews take place more often than not, so things can progress as quickly as they need to. Just remember to move fast! If you’re on the fence about a role, go ahead and make the application, as it may no longer be available the following day.
Additionally, whilst it can be useful to gather opinions on firms from those you really trust in your network, we would always advise that different people click with different people, we're all unique with an array of different motivations and goals, hence the best way to decide for yourself if you’d be a good fit with a firm is to be open minded - form your own opinion. Don’t be swayed by the possibly outdated opinions of others!
With so many opportunities available, candidates are in a much better position to negotiate more lucrative and beneficial terms, but be wary as this can be a risky game to play in a market where firms are moving so quickly!
The market is without a doubt strong but completely different than it has been in recent years, with no signs of slowing down, which means that lawyers seeking a new opportunity are in a fantastic position to get the absolute best outcome from their job search.
BCL Legal work with the full spectrum of firms on opportunities in all disciplines. If you’re interested in finding out more about current opportunities, seeking salary advice or would like a confidential conversation about the market, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.