Summary: Attorneys looking for a new job will have better luck relocating to a completely new market. Learn why in this article.
Read Why Every Attorney Should Look at Multiple Legal Markets When Doing a Job Search to learn more.
Relocation is not what anyone wants to do but sometimes it is necessary to find the best job possible. You may feel a commitment to your market but there are countless opportunities and possibly smarter options for your career. Harrison Barnes takes on the topic to educate attorneys about why they need to open up their search options.
When an attorney opens their doors to relocating, they increase their odds of getting a better position. Imagine if you are only looking in one market for a job, there may be only a few options whereas looking for positions across the country will produce more results. This rings especially true if you are in a narrow practice area or a market that is slowing down.
Read The Best Legal Recruiter Can Market Most Attorneys.
Law firms assume that attorneys open to relocation are better attorneys with fewer issues. This is because many attorneys relocate to move closer to home or for another good reason. They figure that if an attorney is relocating to be closer to someone then that attorney will likely stay there. When attorneys try to move firms within their city, law firms assume there is a negative reason.
See Law Firm Applicants Are Evaluated by These Three Questions.
Attorneys that try to move laterally in their own market have to provide a reason for moving firms and that reason will be negative. Things like the current firm not being a good cultural fit, not having enough work, partners with most of the business leaving, wanting to do more sophisticated work, not enough opportunities, low morale at the firm, a bad commute, and so forth. These kinds of reasons are valid reasons for relocating but not particularly appropriate for your current market.
Do you think attorneys should have to relocate to find a better job? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about what attorneys need to be successful, read Top 20 Common Mistakes Attorneys Make When on the Job Hunt.
Photo: brandcrowd.com
