“Demanding” is an apt word to describe the lifestyle of an attorney. Their days are long, the issues they must address are complex, and the expectations placed upon them are high. For many, the grind leaves them disillusioned, de-energized, and in need of something different. For others, they are relatively content, yet their careers stagnate.
Making a change, however, is not easy, especially for attorneys seeking to improve their positions.
“Attorneys put a lot of time and effort into serving the clients they are representing or the partners they are working with,” says Michelle Foster, Managing Partner of The Foster Group, “but they invest a minuscule fraction of time in developing their own careers. Many believe their career will take care of itself if they just keep doing exceptional work, but unfortunately, in many instances, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Michelle has spent the last 25 years as one of the nation’s top legal recruiters, helping hundreds of attorneys make meaningful career changes and assisting firms in finding top talent by fully understanding their needs and delivering a streamlined search process. By leveraging the high-level connections and long-term relationships she and her team have fostered over the years, Michelle empowers attorneys to step into exciting, energizing, and rewarding opportunities.
“The words we hear all the time from attorneys when they get to their new firm — with virtually every candidate — is that they feel re-energized,” Michelle shares. “And often, they say they wish they had made the move sooner.”
Helping clients with a collaborative approach
Michelle knows firsthand the satisfaction attorneys can find when they pursue new opportunities. Before founding the Foster Group, she was a preeminent recruiter at one of the largest legal search firms in the world. A decade ago, she launched her own firm to build a company where people could collaborate collegially and collaboratively with less bureaucracy and greater creativity.
“At our company, we add a lot of value by giving our candidates and clients a team to work with, which is not the norm in the recruiting space,” says Drew Foster, Managing Director at The Foster Group. “While one of us coordinates interviews or prepares candidates for interviews, the other continues to identify and evaluate opportunities. Because we work in tandem, our candidates and clients benefit from multiple perspectives, broader insights, and additional experience.”
Helping clients with a career counseling approach
The Foster Group’s clients also benefit from what Michelle calls a career counseling approach. Before presenting new opportunities to candidates, Michelle and her team help them discern exactly what type of opportunity they seek.
“Because attorneys are driven and focused on their work, they can fail to realize how much their firms change over the years,” shares Drew. “As we take the time for career counseling, candidates often find that their firm doesn’t serve their practice in the same ways it did five years ago.”
Once candidates start to develop a vision, The Foster Group draws upon its extensive knowledge of the industry to show them what is available.
“The network of relationships we have built over decades gives us access to so many opportunities that attorneys can’t possibly know about,” Michelle explains. “They only know what they know. And considering how busy they are focusing on their work, their knowledge of career opportunities is very limited.”
Helping clients avoid career stagnation
One problem Michelle and her team often see is attorneys who are so focused on their work that they lose sight of their careers. Rather than developing a strategy for career growth, they hope things will develop organically. The actual result, however, is typically career stagnation.
“Complacency and fear of change, while natural human emotions, lead to career stagnation, which is deleterious to achieving your full potential — both financially and professionally,” Michelle explains. “You transform your career by making the right career moves. Seeking out and taking those moves is how you get significant raises, major promotions, new clients, new colleagues, new management, and new energy.”
The Foster Group helps attorneys to build their careers brick by brick. When candidates are ready to make a move, Michelle and her team help them find the best next step, eventually landing at the firm or company that will be their long-term professional home.
Helping candidates with a wealth of experience
Uncertainty and anxiety can easily enter the picture as attorneys consider career moves. After all, it can be difficult to know exactly what a new firm will be like and the opportunities it will offer. By turning to the Foster Group, however, attorneys gain invaluable insights that allow them to explore opportunities and make a move with confidence.
“We’ve seen many attorneys succeed at the firms we suggest,” Michelle shares. “We’ve seen attorneys get leadership roles at the firms we suggest. We’ve seen attorneys double or triple their practices at the firms we suggest. We’ve seen it be transformational to someone’s career again and again.”
The current legal landscape is brimming with opportunities for attorneys who feel de-energized and ready to make a move. Recent reports show that AmLaw 200 firms have begun looking for talent outside of their standard hiring channels, meaning that attorneys may find new doors opening. In addition, many firms are revamping their compensation systems, offering better benefits to attract talented attorneys.
For attorneys looking to benefit from these opportunities, the Foster Group can provide the insights and expertise needed to connect with the firms that can take your career to the next level.
