It is essential to choose a highly-respected and experienced search firm to best represent you in such an important process. We have an extremely experienced group of search consultants who are former practicing attorneys and legal professionals who will provide knowledgeable advice and assistance.

Further, we operate under high standards of ethics and integrity, and provide candidates with detailed and candid information and assist at every stage of the process.

Finally, we regularly remind our employer clients of the importance of a candidate's confidentiality, and we do not submit your resume to an employer without your express prior permission.

No. As is standard in the industry, McCormack Schreiber is compensated by the employer and has no impact on your search process or the compensation that you will be offered by the employer.

The answer to this question depends on the type of search that a candidate is conducting, but as a general rule, when searching for opportunities at law firms it is typically best to work with one very carefully selected legal recruiting firm. An established relationship with one search firm will help avoid any potential for a "double contact"; (i.e., a double submission for the same opportunity by more than one source). 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 law firms may work with a handful of firms. At McCormack Schreiber, we work with virtually every high-quality large, mid-size and boutique law firm in the city.

For candidates searching for an in-house position, our advice differs slightly. In-house searches are often exclusive to a single search firm, and for that reason, it can be beneficial to contact a select number of top search firms to inform them that you are looking for a certain type of in-house position.

There is no "one size fits all" answer to this question. As an associate who is interested in moving to another law firm, you are typically most marketable with 2 or more years of legal experience. Generally, the more junior level candidates (less than 1 year of experience) are less attractive to a law firm because law firms have filled their ranks at these levels with recent law school graduates.

For partner-level attorneys, McCormack Schreiber has a full range of opportunities depending on the level of portable business and, in certain practice areas, for attorneys with strong legal experience and no current portable business.

The most marketable period for attorneys seeking in-house positions is less clear. Many in-house searches tend to fall within the range of 5 to 10 years of experience, though searches for more junior candidates and more senior candidates are very common as well.

As a general rule, a legal search firm will be an impediment to a recent law school graduate as law firms and corporations rarely are willing to pay a placement fee for candidates with less than 1 year of legal experience. Candidates who are completing federal clerkships are often exceptions to this rule.

We are extremely knowledgeable about the Chicago legal market and are particularly well-equipped to assist candidates who are moving to this area.

There are a few aspects of a relocation that may affect the interview process:

• It can be quite helpful to take the Bar exam, waive-in, or at least register for a state's bar prior to embarking on a search in that particular region.
• Prepare your resume in a way that demonstrates any connection to the area.
• If you are committed to staying in the area, it is important throughout the interview process to make potential employers aware of your commitment.

Yes. Although our focus is Chicago, we have facilitated placements throughout the country. Further, we have relationships with outstanding recruiting firms in virtually every major metropolitan area and can work closely with those recruiters to assist you to relocate to another part of the country.