Follow-up Questions on Lateral Hiring

An Epilogue to our interview with Jordan Ross about lateral hiring in the great state of Nevada:

22. In light of his answer to question # 16, what about going the other direction - from a prosecutor's office to a civil firm. Is courtroom experience likely to help get the job? Will they start you at a higher pay scale as a result of your jury experience?

No and no. Even if a firm will hire you at all expect to start as a first year with absolutely no seniority at all. You will also have to be completely retrained for an entirely different work culture. Your prosecutorial experience will not only not be an asset; it will most likely be considered a liability. This is due not only to the different work culture (public sector versus private profit making sector), but also because of the vast difference between criminal and civil law. Criminal law skills, to be blunt, are not held in high regard in civil litigation, especially in commercial firms.

23. How has the influx of new firms affected your practice? They must all want attorneys with top grades from top schools but there are only so many of them to go around in Vegas.

My personal practice obviously benefits from the attention of new clients entering an unfamiliar market. Many of these firms do want higher school and class rank than historically have been desired by domestic firms, but some of them are adjusting this to compensate for being in a secondary market. It’s one thing to demand 20/20 attorneys (top 20 law school, top 20% of the class) in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, but another entirely in Pittsburg, Baltimore, Las Vegas or Austin. Your question also is focused only on demand. The attorneys go where the work is. No one looks for associates first. They look for partners first because they have the work. And schools and grades are secondary when you have the book of business.

24. Do you find lesser firms on the losing end of the stick here, having to accept a lower quality candidate? Or is there more recruiting from outside of the local bar?

Again, think supply as well as demand. A local firm loses out mostly if they lose a partner. If they lose the partner, the associate doesn’t matter now does it? The firm no longer has the work to feed them.

25. Is this better/worse for the local practice of law?

It’s irrelevant. Does your question imply something should be done to stop new firms coming to town? We tried that for decades with the old State Supreme Court Rule 199 and it had to be repealed due to anti-trust laws. Better or worse, it’s happening, so learn to recruit new clients and sell as much as possible to existing clients. I predicted this when Rule 199 was repealed. Adapt or die. Firms must grow their business. They can acquire, be acquired, or get new clients. Suck it up.

If you have future questions or want to hire a legal recruiter, you can reach Jordan Ross at info@rosslegal.com.

[Thank you again to Mr. Ross for answering all of the questions submitted by readers].