Reflections From A Headhunter and Hiring Partner: Why You Must Know a Little About Football
By Franklyn Kimball • July 09, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Editor's Note: As part of Ms. JD's 5th Birthday celebration, we'll be looking back at our favorite posts over the years.One of the best sessions at the Ms JD Third Annual Conference on Women in the Law last November was “Bring on the Rain,” moderated by Deborah Knupp, the inspiring and managing partner of Akina. Other panelists included the remarkable Kelly Hoey, the President of 85 Broads (if you’re not a member, you should be). A law student asked “Why do women lawyers have to learn about football?” She described meeting senior male lawyers and how the conversation inevitably turned…
Reflections from a Headhunter & Hiring Parter: Practical Advice for 2Ls Preparing for Fall
By Franklyn Kimball • June 28, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Second year law students are developing strategies for on-campus interviews and outreach to employers who do not to come to campus. This month’s column offers some practical advice about this process - including selecting firms, analyzing practice areas, strategies beyond OCI, and working to improve your GPA. Law firms nationally are likely to remain very conservative about their plans for the summer of 2011. Prudent students will study the market, firms, and hiring patterns with care.Selecting Firms for Campus InterviewsStudents often mis-analyze their marketability and make errors in selecting firms for OCI. Many law schools maintain records about the average…
Reflections From A Headhunter and Hiring Partner: From Recession to Recovery
By Franklyn Kimball • May 13, 2010 •Writers in Residence
As the economy moves from the depths of an extraordinary recession to a recovery of uncertain dimensions, many questions confront law students and lawyers in the early years in their careers. This month’s post addresses three areas of interest - changing hiring patterns in litigation, the ‘training’ model for new associates, and associate compensation. Litigation - For thirty-five years litigation has been a key driving force in the growth of the profession. That era is over. Large, mid-size and boutique firms accustomed to working at 110% or more of budget year-in and year-out are experiencing a significant slow down in…
Reflections From A Headhunter and Hiring Partner: Beware the Administrative Dungeon
By Franklyn Kimball • April 01, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Women partners are often given administrative committee assignments with little professional upside — hiring, marketing, women’s issues and initiatives, technology, assignments, associate evaluations, training, etc. And their tenure on these committees tends to be longer than their male colleagues. Accept these assignments with caution - and with an exit strategy. What seems appealing and worthwhile may actually derail your career at a time when it is essential to stay on course. The firm can trumpet to the media giving women ‘leadership roles’ even though the core operating committees which run the firm remain overwhelmingly male. The same fate can…