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Recruiting in a pandemic: opportunities & evolution

23 July 2021 / Seamus Hoar
Issue: 7942 / Categories: Features , Profession , Covid-19
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Lateral hires have continued remotely during the pandemic, with several advantages to the virtual process, writes legal search expert Seamus Hoar
  • Lateral moves are taking place in a new, online, context. Advantages include a speedier process and the ability to meet more partners at a time in virtual meetings.

As with any period of disruption, the pandemic has provided a catalyst for change. ‘Working from home’ as we had all traditionally viewed the term became a stark reality. For law firms, this new reality could have presented a catastrophic outcome. Instead, technology was embraced and business continued—flourishing, in many instances. Initial deep-seated nervousness about the potential negative impact on business gave way to levels of activity not seen since the pre-global financial crisis era. As such, many firms continued to hire aggressively using something called Zoom—heard of it?

Woeful predictions of markets collapsing in the wake of the pandemic have not materialised for some practice areas. In fact, at the top end of the legal market many practice

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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