Hobbs Harding Search specialises in engaging with high-performing lawyers, predominantly at the Partner*, Special Counsel and Senior Associate levels nationally, in relation to our client firm briefs.
In line with our briefs, we most often tend to engage with lawyers having a global, national, local (capital city) or specialist law firm background. We also engage with in-house lawyers (corporate or government) who are open to private practice and who are either returning, having had previous law firm experience in their careers, or who are seeking a move to a law firm for the first time.
Common examples of the type of lawyers that we reach out to, or engage with when they reach out to us (including being referred to us), include:
Established Partners
Partners with a strong and reliable portable client base are always going to attract interest from some of our firm clients, whether to add further depth and seniority to an already established practice or to set up a new practice area. At any one time, we are working on briefs covering both of those examples, often in a range of practice areas. Many of the established Partners that we engage with are looking for a new challenge and/or are attracted to some of our client firms who are offering something quite different to what they have experienced to date.
Junior Partners
Beyond the honeymoon period that often comes after the significant promotion to Partner, many of the junior Partners we speak to are performing well though, taking a longer term view, are not necessarily excited about what they see, including the path to equity. We often speak to junior Partners who have two to four years of experience at that level and who are looking for a better long-term fit. Issues relating to firm leadership / culture (including attitude to innovation) often drive this interest in junior Partners speaking to us about their options.
Prospective Partners (those who can move directly into a Partner role at a new firm)
Many ambitious Special Counsel and Senior Associate level lawyers want to make Partner. Many need some further time at that level before making the transition though some are certainly ready and are being held back, and that can be for a number of reasons beyond their control. Often prospective Partners are unaware of the requirements (especially around portable client base) to make the transition to join a new firm as Partner when not already at that Partner level - it is worth noting that our client firms vary in terms of the specific requirements to join as a Partner. Increasingly, we are seeing a reluctance for prospective Partners to join as a Partner-elect (e.g. typically coming on as Special Counsel) with an understanding that partnership would follow in a 12-18 month period. Rather, and particularly for those who have had promises broken in the past around their promotion to partnership, the appeal of making a move is very much based around the promotion to Partner itself, rather than, for example, the level of autonomy they currently have - which is often complete (or near complete) autonomy in running matters in their current firm in any event.
Special Counsel
Perhaps the most interesting level in the law firm hierarchy and one that Hobbs Harding Search specialises in (the other being Partners more generally). Special Counsel, as noted above, and depending on the extent and quality of their experience, networks and business development skills, and even practice area, can hop from their current firm as Special Counsel to Partner in another firm. Apart from that specific example, we often engage with Special Counsel in one of two contexts.
Firstly, those with partnership aspirations though who are not interested in partnership in their current firm and who are wanting to position themselves for partnership in due course in a firm that they feel they are better suited to.
Secondly, those who have no intention of making Partner wherever they are and who are more than happy to remain at the Special Counsel level. Though capable of being paid very well without having to concern themselves with business development, lawyers in this situation can attract significant interest from our client firms for their relatively high-level technical expertise. Though often operating highly autonomously, Special Counsel here tend to consider a move if introduced to a particular practice or Partners that may have a better natural fit with their skillset, and/or for management / cultural reasons.
Senior Associates
Of all the lateral movement that takes place within a law firm, from our experience, Senior Associates (so generally those with around 5-9 years of post-admission experience) are probably the most in demand level of lawyer, excluding Partners. This is due to a blend of their technical skills, experience and potential leadership capabilities which are always attracting interest from our client firms, and usually in several practice areas. Most of the Senior Associates we speak to have a sense of what their ideal future career progression looks like though, depending on their respective practice areas, a move to the Bar or in-house (corporate or government) is not uncommonly considered at some point. Getting a good reading of the market at this level, and talking through a range of firms (including their leadership / culture / partnership structure etc) and the merits of remaining in private practice more generally, can often be an important step in coordinating a career plan for the next 2,5 and 10 years.
Senior in-house lawyers
In this current environment, we are also engaging with a number of experienced in-house (corporate and government) lawyers who may or may not have private practice experience though who will consider switching to a law firm if introduced to the right opportunity. Making the transition to private practice, particularly without any similar experience, is often an intimidating though exciting step. Firms are more attracted to the idea than in the past and so we are seeing it increasingly - certainly more so in relation to particular practice areas (e.g. banking & finance, financial services, construction / projects, insurance, tax, procurement / probity, administrative litigation and property). While it is quite rare to see in-house lawyers leave their role for a Partner level role, this does very occasionally. More commonly, we see senior in-house lawyers join firms at the Special Counsel or Senior Associate level.
Beyond discussing particular opportunities that we have been briefed on, in summary, we are able to advise on:
Recent developments, news and trends within the private practice market, both within Australia and internationally via our affiliates
Practice structures (through comprehensive market-mapping), partnership structures and firm leadership and likely opportunities for career progression (including requirements for equity)
Firm attitudes towards workplace flexibility, innovation, technology and their cultures more generally, as well as how they remunerate (including bonuses) and any related incentive programs
Customised CV preparation (see the Resources section on this website for a relevant CV template)
Customised business plan preparation for Partner-level opportunities
Tailored briefings prior to any interviews
Assistance prior to resigning
Preparation prior to reviews (particularly when addressing remuneration and any non-remuneration benefits).
Suggested business development initiatives and resources.
While we tend to focus on senior lawyers remaining within Australia, or either relocating or returning here, Hobbs Harding Search is well placed to assist those departing Australia with relationships extending into London, New York, the Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong and offshore markets (including the Cayman and Channel Islands).
*Any reference to Partners includes Principals and those at a similar level
To discuss how Hobbs Harding Search can assist you in your career, please call (03) 9225 5033 / 0414 142 422, or email thomas@hobbshardingsearch.com. Also, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.