Anne Heaviside, a managing director and legal recruiter with ELR in Houston, joins us on today's show. Anne talks about the lateral legal market, work from home policies, and top tips for candidates. 

Her firm and role

ELR Legal is in the Tanglewood area of Houston
Specializes in 2-10 year lawyers in Texas law firms / mostly Houston / mostly Big Law (AmLaw 200)
Got her start practicing law, including at McGlinchy Stafford. She then took over the recruiting role there before stepping out to work as a legal recruiter on the outside

Legal Market Update

2019 was good as was the start of 2020
COVID put everything on hold until about November 2020
November things opened up, especially in the Big Law corporate world (Can you say SPACs?!)
Capital Markets
M&A
Private Equity
Debt Finance
2021 only got hotter
Big signing bonuses ($10k-$50k)
There are not enough corporate associates in Texas for the demand
The need is new work. Clients have more demand from Big Law firms and there aren't enough 3-6 year associates with the necessary skills.
Record number of lateral moves in Houston and Dallas
Plus new Big Law firms opening up in Austin
September hit and those associates have worked between 2000-2800 hours already in 2021 and are no longer taking recruiter calls; they are waiting for their year-end bonus before lateralling at the start of 2022.
Real Estate an Executive Comp/Employee Benefits have gotten hot
Big Law litigation is cool/slow
Litigation boutiques are hiring but they are super picky (think Big Law requirements)
Davis Polk raised the first year starting salaries from $190k to $205k and Cravath (the previous trend setter) matched (as have several others now). Has led to some mid/small firms rethink their comp.
Big Law v. Small Law
Corporate v. Litigation
Hardly any small/mid corporate firms
No sign of slowing down in 2022
In this market, small/mid associates and in-house lawyers CAN make a move to Big Law
Work/Office Arrangements
Flexibility is here to stay (in Big Law)
How flexible is the question
AmLaw 50 is still at home in Houston or back in the office by choice
Multiple office firms across the county/internationally have a hard time making different policies for different offices
AmLaw 200 will likely move to a 3/2 (three days in the office and two at home)
Though new associates will likely be required to be in the office for the training/mentorship/culture/etc.
Mid-levels and Senior associates will likely push for even more
Small firms
Will likely have more variety of policies
More likely to be in the office than the Big Law firms
Challenges to flex work
Lack of integration within the firm
What happens when promotion time comes or the work slows down and layoffs are required? Will the person who has been at home be disadvantaged versus the one who has been in the office?
How can we replicate the in-office benefits and experiences that we don't want to lose?

Advice to Lawyers On The Lateral Market

This is not OCI anymore
Not tell me about yourself or what practice to you want to go in
There is a specific need they are looking to fill
So firm needs to understand exact experience
If you have stellar academics (great grades at a great law school), list that first. Otherwise start with your law firm experience
3-6 bullets under each position communicating exactly what you do
Your role in what types of deals/cases
You can take out the bullets under internships or clerkships if you need space
If you have been practicing for at least 3+ years you need a deal sheet
Know as much about the job you are applying for as possible so you can tailor your experience to the need
Litigators definitely need a writing sample
GPA on the resume if it was at least a 3.2 (Big Law still cares even for laterals)
Big Law resumes don't need interest sections, but small law firms will often like to see it
If you do have it, make the interests unique, specific

Final Thought

If you are going to use a recruiter, look for those who have contacts at the firms you are interested in
Recruiters can help navigate some tough conversations and issues that come up (conflicts, negotiating offers, etc.)
Once your resume gets submitted to a firm (whether directly or through a recruiter), another recruiter won't be able to help you for at least 6-12 months at that firm. So be mindful.
Pros/Cons about using one or multiple recruiters, but one tends to work better for the candidate.
Candidates should give thought to whether they want to use a recruiter BEFORE they start doing anything in the process; this allows for any recruiter to best help you.
Recruiters can give insight on comp, especially in smaller firms where there isn't a standard scale

Rapid Fire Questions

Name one trait/characteristic employers most want to see in an associate: smart
What habit has been key to your success: consistency
Favorite app/productivity tool: Linkedin
What would be listed first on the interest line of your resume: Food blogging / foodie
Favorite legal movie: Legally Blonde / Podcast

Thanks again to Anne Heaviside for joining us on today's show!