Job Seekers Sending Cold Emails to Practice Group Heads? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I've seen people suggest job seekers email practice group heads, especially if they are trying to lateral into a niche group.

Does this work for people? Does it matter how junior you are? I don't want to make a fool of myself if it isn't a standard practice.

[Anonymous User]

I think you'd look like a fool if you have zero ties to that niche practice or no relevant prior experience. Otherwise, I am in a sort of niche corporate practice and people reach out with a short but thoughtful email to partners in my group, one of whom is the practice head, and they almost always take a call with said associate reaching out to see if they are a fit. Attach your resume of course. Not much too lose really.

Again, only time my partners thought it was foolish was when the person was a complete re-tool from a prior practice (think litigation to transactional) and didn't have a story for why and how they planned to overcome the later development.

[Anonymous User]

I say shoot your shot. Who cares if you look foolish to some partner at a firm if they're not going to hire you?

In this market, everyone has a chance and you wont know until you try. Like the poster above said, make it a brief but compelling email that will make the partner want to open your resume and give you a call.

[Anonymous User]

I got the majority of my callbacks for summer associate positions at DC biglaw firms this way, although I had a pretty strong pitch for why I would be a good fit for the particular practice group. I doubt it would have been (at least as) successful without one.

[Anonymous User]

If I'm interested in a firm's niche practice in a particular office and the firm's practice group leader is based out of a different office (but the firm does have some attorneys in the niche practice in my office of interest), should I reach out to the practice group leader or to someone in my office of interest? If the latter, should I reach out to an attorney in my practice and office of interest (even if that attorney is an associate?) or the office managing partner?

[Wild Card]

I've done this twice and got a callback once and a rejection from HR the other time.

It's certainly ballsy.

You obviously need to have a connection with the attorney (same college and same law school, when I did it), and a demonstrated interest in the niche.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a comp/benefits person. This is how I did most of my lateral applying before the market was as hot as it is now. Almost every practice chair either called or told me to call to discuss. I want to caveat that I had the credentials to work at these firms.

It feels weird doing it, but after a while, you just stop caring what they think on the other end.

[Anonymous User]

I’m a comp/benefits person. This is how I did most of my lateral applying before the market was as hot as it is now. Almost every practice chair either called or told me to call to discuss. I want to caveat that I had the credentials to work at these firms.

It feels weird doing it, but after a while, you just stop caring what they think on the other end.

Did you make an ask to chat on the phone in your email? Or is that just how they responded to, e.g., “do you have any openings?”

[Anonymous User]

I’m a comp/benefits person. This is how I did most of my lateral applying before the market was as hot as it is now. Almost every practice chair either called or told me to call to discuss. I want to caveat that I had the credentials to work at these firms.

It feels weird doing it, but after a while, you just stop caring what they think on the other end.

Did you make an ask to chat on the phone in your email? Or is that just how they responded to, e.g., “do you have any openings?”

I didn’t ask to chat on the phone. I just attached my resume and said that I like that they do [insert obscure comp/benefits sub-practice] and that I’m looking to transition into that narrower area (for example, Title I work for PE funds).

[Anonymous User]

I recently lateraled to K&E and had a lunch interview with my practice head. We got onto the topic of recruiters and applications in general, and he made a comment about how much he hates cold emails from people looking for jobs. He actively does not have his openings listed because it can get so bad. Just two cents to consider.

[Anonymous User]

I recently lateraled to K&E and had a lunch interview with my practice head. We got onto the topic of recruiters and applications in general, and he made a comment about how much he hates cold emails from people looking for jobs. He actively does not have his openings listed because it can get so bad. Just two cents to consider.

How does he get hires if he doesn't list job openings?

[Anonymous User]

I recently lateraled to K&E and had a lunch interview with my practice head. We got onto the topic of recruiters and applications in general, and he made a comment about how much he hates cold emails from people looking for jobs. He actively does not have his openings listed because it can get so bad. Just two cents to consider.

How does he get hires if he doesn't list job openings?

Only works with preferred recruiters is my understanding. Process took a few months for me and the listing was never listed on their site (I reglarly checked once things got quiet).