Applying to lateral through recruiter if you know partner Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just wanted to get some feedback on how to handle this situation. I’ve been working with a recruiter on lateral opportunities in a major market. One firm popped up that I am interested in, the chair of the group I’d be applying to is a partner I had worked with at my first firm as a first and second year. While I generally think I did decent work for them as a junior associate haven’t really kept in touch so would feel a bit odd to blindly reach out, but also wasn’t sure if it would be odd to go through a recruiter. It is an unposted position so cannot apply directly. Any input would be appreciated.

[nealric]

Just wanted to get some feedback on how to handle this situation. I’ve been working with a recruiter on lateral opportunities in a major market. One firm popped up that I am interested in, the chair of the group I’d be applying to is a partner I had worked with at my first firm as a first and second year. While I generally think I did decent work for them as a junior associate haven’t really kept in touch so would feel a bit odd to blindly reach out, but also wasn’t sure if it would be odd to go through a recruiter. It is an unposted position so cannot apply directly. Any input would be appreciated.

As long as the partner knows you and have some sense of your work, it would be better to reach out directly. I don't think it's odd at all to reach out. In general, they would prefer not to use a recruiter because that means paying recruiter fees. The reason they tend to work with recruiters is they help find candidates and the good ones will screen anybody who isn't a reasonable fit for the position (most biglaw firms will get hundreds of applications for an open position that aren't even in the ballpark of plausible candidates). But they can bypass all that if they have a candidate who is a known quantity.

How do you know this position is open if it is unposted and you haven't connected? You do need to be careful of the recruiter trying to make a fee claim if they had anything to do with informing you about this job.

[CanadianWolf]

Just wanted to get some feedback on how to handle this situation. I’ve been working with a recruiter on lateral opportunities in a major market. One firm popped up that I am interested in, the chair of the group I’d be applying to is a partner I had worked with at my first firm as a first and second year. While I generally think I did decent work for them as a junior associate haven’t really kept in touch so would feel a bit odd to blindly reach out, but also wasn’t sure if it would be odd to go through a recruiter. It is an unposted position so cannot apply directly. Any input would be appreciated.

As long as the partner knows you and have some sense of your work, it would be better to reach out directly. I don't think it's odd at all to reach out. In general, they would prefer not to use a recruiter because that means paying recruiter fees. The reason they tend to work with recruiters is they help find candidates and the good ones will screen anybody who isn't a reasonable fit for the position (most biglaw firms will get hundreds of applications for an open position that aren't even in the ballpark of plausible candidates). But they can bypass all that if they have a candidate who is a known quantity.

How do you know this position is open if it is unposted and you haven't connected? You do need to be careful of the recruiter trying to make a fee claim if they had anything to do with informing you about this job.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. The recruiter informed me about the position and has been working with the firm. That’s why I wasn’t sure if it would even be appropriate to reach out directly as I would have never known about the position otherwise.

[nealric]

OP here. The recruiter informed me about the position and has been working with the firm. That’s why I wasn’t sure if it would even be appropriate to reach out directly as I would have never known about the position otherwise.

It's fine to reach out to the partner, but you should let them know you are working with the recruiter (especially if it's a retained search where that specific recruiter has been hired by the firm).