Hiring an Associate Lawyer in Myrtle Beach
- Associate Straight out of School
- Associate with 2–3 years experience
- Journeyman attorney with 5–10 years experience that doesn’t want to be a partner
- Partner
I’m leaning towards hiring an associate. When settling a workers comp case last week, I was talking to a senior partner of a firm that had about 20 lawyers. I asked him what recommendations he had in hiring an associate. These were his thoughts:
- Grades – Didn’t have to be top notch, but you wanted someone with decent grades. You don’t want to hire someone at the bottom of their class or with terrible grades.
- Work Ethic – This is something that people have, or they don’t have and you don’t train them in or not. His recommendation was to hire two people to clerk for one permanent position and you’ll know relatively easy which on you want to work for you.
- Personality – Once they get their feet on the ground, you’ll want them to be able to bring in business. They won’t be able to do that without a personality. They need to be pleasant, decent to work with, nice people and able to talk to, shmooze and bring in business.
That’s a pretty good list and something I will be looking for towards. Does anyone else have any ideas or thoughts about hiring an associate?
Get someone with charisma.
Get a B or C student with drive.
Get someone who is deferential
towards you but driven.
Get someone who doesn't even
look like a lawyers.
Get a sleeper.
Perhaps this goes without saying, but I would ask at the interview about goals and dreams to get a sense of what motivates the candidate. And, how about a sense of humor? Important in your high stress environment.
One of the underrated, I guess I could say, characteristics would defiantly be the personality. It is my top priority on the list. Without a personality, an employee cannot do well. An entrepreneur is a different story.
Just one multiple choice question to ask them:
"If you only have one hour and have to watch 1) The Simpsons, or 2) Family Guy, or 3) The Bachelor, which show do you watch?"
The associate you hire knows that Number 3 is never the right answer, but is also smart enough to know Number 1 and Number 2 are only 30 minute shows. Thus, a trick question. . . Watching either 1 or 2 TWICE is the right answer. As long as the potential associate TiVo's the shows I think you have all of the aforementioned sentiments, including work ethic!
Whatever you do, don't listen to Tom From St. Louis. Drive,Driven,Sleeper and don't look like a lawyers. Nice post.
In my experience, most single attorney practices rarely find a partner via an associate. Advertise your position for what it is... an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to get established in a great part of the state. Too many attorneys dangle the partnership carrot in the interview process.
Also, you may want to consider hiring someone on a part-time basis. I don't understand why more firms don't do this.
