From: Staffmaze, Inc. Newsletter
Published: January 18th, 2022
Tailoring the Recruitment Process to Law Firm IT Operations
We recently worked with a law firm that went through the painful process of replacing six IT managers in the past two years. The first manager was recommended to them by their IT consulting company. The candidate had years of executive-level experience and worked with numerous attorneys. The others that followed all had similar executive, top-level backgrounds. However, none were experienced in or, to be fair, were warned about the competitive level of day-to-day IT operations in a top legal firm. This firm required more than just experience with legal tools, terms, and procedures. They needed someone who had some basic understanding of legal jargon and functions.
The Importance of Legal-Specific Experience in IT Recruitment
After carefully listening and studying the culture of our respected client’s firm, we narrowed down the choice to three strong candidates who had prior experience of dealing with cultures such as theirs. We found a candidate that had years of experience with our client’s legal documentation system. This included knowledge of the folder structure, billing/client codes, and document management systems integration capabilities with other systems at their firm.
My client stated that they had the toughest time finding someone with the educational background and legal experience required for the position. We run into scenarios like these very often. Our clients spend months and sometimes years looking for a candidate that can grow with their firm or help their firm to grow. Most employees will take the job based on a technical description. They have worked in fortune 500 companies before and we have all heard of software that we haven’t used, or seldom use. In a technician’s or engineer’s mindset, it is very easy to adapt and learn. Which, in most cases, is very true. However, it is extremely difficult to juggle twenty plates, establish and update guidelines, stay up to par with the latest security details, adapt to a new culture, and follow procedures all while trying to manage a team.
Trusting Recruiters with Relevant Field Experience: Why It Matters
At Staffmaze, we have jumped through the hoops for you. We still take on projects from our loyal clients and work with project managers, engineers, and technical support staff. You would not trust a mechanic who has not worked on a car for 20 years with your new hybrid, would you? So why trust recruiters who have not been in the field in ages. Our clients constantly praise us for finding candidates who not only understand their culture but love working in legal.
Putting an End to the Musical Chairs: Stabilizing IT Support and Management Teams
If you are tired of musical chairs and watching your IT support or management team jump ship, lean on us and put your mind at ease. You have enough to worry about. Legal IT is our niche. You focus on billing and we will find someone who can help your law firm grow and stay competitive in the fast-changing technical world.
Embrace expertise and rise above the challenges. In the realm of law firm IT, finding the right professionals is not just a task, but an opportunity to empower growth and foster success. Trust in tailored recruitment, seek those who understand your legal culture, and watch your firm thrive in the ever-changing technical world.