Extending Offers
by Michael Lord, Founder & Managing Director, Michael Lord & Company
Most attorneys will receive fewer than ten job offers in
a career. Think about it: fewer than ten. That’s not
very many. Extending offers should therefore be planned and
executed with care. Below are helpful guidelines:
An offer should be given by a partner in the law firm (or,
for in-house jobs, the GC or Deputy GC) who will have the
most active role in either supervising or assisting the incoming
candidate. In the best of circumstances, the offer should
be extended in person — over breakfast before work or
a drink at the conclusion of the day. If a particular restaurant
has come up during the interview process as a favorite of
the candidate, choose that restaurant.
The in-person offer should include the basic terms including
salary, potential bonus, and a takeaway sheet which includes
benefits. Just as important, the offer should be accompanied
by a pep talk — how this candidate will fit in, how
well the candidate impressed the firm, the type of work the
candidate will encounter in the first 3-6 months on the job,
the location of her new office, and the name of her secretary.
If an offer cannot be extended in person, it should be extended
over the telephone. As discussed above, it is important to
have the relevant partner initiate the phone call. Some firms
use hiring partners or recruiters to extend offers. While
I understand that it may be more time efficient for a hiring
partner or a recruiter to extend an offer, it lacks a personal
touch and may send an unintended negative message to the candidate.
Except in certain circumstances (for example, the key partner
is traveling or unavailable or where there has been contentious
salary negotiations), I would advise against using hiring
partners or recruiters to extend offers, at least in the context
of attorney placement.
Receiving a job offer is a very important milestone in a
lawyer’s career. Using a personal touch in the offer
process can help seal the deal.
 Michael Lord is a Managing Director with Michael Lord
& Company. Michael graduated from Syracuse Law School
and Emory University. He has over a decade of experience as
a legal recruiter and founded the firm in 2002. His direct
dial is 646.258.1761, and his email address is michael@mlordco.com.
© 2011 by
Michael Lord & Company, New York, NY and Wilton, CT. All
rights reserved.
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