Examining 3 main areas that every Recruiting Coordinator needs to be strong in to be successful in Legal Recruiting.

The field of legal recruiting is great for people who enjoy helping others reach their goals. Assisting law students through the hiring process of a firm, the coordinator’s role is integral in shaping a decision that will have a lasting impact on their career path.

Additionally, the legal recruiting coordinator’s role isn’t just scheduling interviews and setting up travel arrangements/reimbursements for candidates, although that is a large part of it. Planning and running the summer program and on campus interviews in the fall, as well as coordinating sponsorship efforts with law schools throughout the year are significant moving pieces that the legal recruiting coordinator will assist in managing.

Recruiting Coordinator Strengths

This multifaceted and constantly shifting role requires the legal recruiting coordinator to be strong in three main areas: communication, time management, and organization skills.

1. Communication: Whether at a small, medium, or large firm, the coordinator will communicate at various times with partners, associates, law students, legal professionals, legal staff, facilities staff, vendors, caterers, career services professionals, and even family members. The broad range of backgrounds and expectations makes it essential for the coordinator to be comfortable as well as efficient with their communication style and practices.

2. Time Management: Managing time on a daily basis is standard for everyone who expects to be successful at their job, but the legal recruiting coordinator must think bigger. Conceptualizing time by the year should be a strength of the legal coordinator, as many of the most essential programs have major pieces that must be put in place far in advance, and cycle yearly. Not to mention the firm is likely competing for the best spots, and being on top of early registration dates, or the first to inquire about a particular venue, can have a significant impact on the outcome of programming later in the year.

3. Organizational Skills: Being a legal recruiting coordinator can feel a lot like juggling, which is why it is imperative to have the organizational skills to keep everything moving in the right direction. An organized coordinator will approach daily tasks with a specific methodology, and have a system to keep track of everything that needs to be done. They’ll know where everything is, and how to prioritize the most important tasks – such as hiring partner requests or a candidate’s arrival.

Legal recruiting can be a rewarding career path with these skills, and a great place to showcase the mastery of them. Let us me know your thoughts in the comments below!