Candidate FAQ
As a lawyer who is interested in making a lateral move, should I work with several legal recruiters or choose only one?

The answer to this question depends on the type of search that a candidate is conducting. As a general proposition, when searching for opportunities in law firms, it may be best to start by working with one very carefully chosen recruiter. This will help avoid any potential for a "double contact"; i.e. a double submission for the same opportunity by more than one source in a six-month period. When a double contact occurs, it may reflect badly on the candidate, who may be viewed as having lost control of the process or who may appear too desperate to find other employment.

Larger law firms tend to work with many recruiting companies, and small firms may work with a handful; however, an "exclusive" arrangement with a single legal recruiter is atypical in the law firm context. At PTO Legal Search, we work with virtually every high quality, large, mid-size and boutique law firm. We know the partners at many of the firms and have direct contact with them. In short, we believe that law firm candidates working with PTO Legal do not need to work with other recruiting firms.

For candidates searching in the in-house arena, our advice differs slightly. In-house searches, unlike law firm searches, are sometimes exclusive to a single search firm. For that reason, it can be important to contact a select number of top search firms to inform them that you are looking for a certain type of in-house position. At PTO Legal Search, we have in-house searches for companies ranging from small private companies to large publicly traded firms. Again, it is important to ensure that you are working with a reputable recruiting firm prior to actually sending your resume to the firm.