EPISODE 16: How to Vet a Legal Recruiter: Questions Every Attorney Should Ask

The legal recruiting industry is not uniformly excellent. While a great recruiter is a strategic advisor who provides deep market intelligence, a poor one is merely transactional—focused on a placement fee rather than your long-term career health.

In this episode, Andrew Wilcox—legal recruiter since 2003—does something unusual: he tells you exactly how to evaluate him and his peers. Your career is too consequential to leave in the hands of someone who doesn't understand the nuances of your practice or the specific politics of the legal market.

1. "How long have you been doing this specifically in the legal space?"

   Legal economics and partnership politics are unique. A generalist recruiter who recently switched from executive search cannot offer the same depth as a twenty-year veteran of the legal market.

2. "Who is your primary client—the attorney or the firm?"

   Since firms pay the fees, there is an inherent structural tension. Ask how they balance the firm’s needs with your long-term best interest. Listen for honesty and nuance, not a "clean" sales pitch.

3. "What does your process look like?"

   Are they a "volume" recruiter who blasts your resume to dozens of firms, or do they take a calibrated approach? If they want to move before they truly understand your practice, walk away.

4. "What is your knowledge of my specific market and practice area?"

   Test them. Ask who is growing, who just lost a key partner, and which firms are pivoting. A recruiter with genuine intelligence will tell you things you don’t already know.

5. "What happens if a placement doesn’t work out?"

   This reveals if they view the relationship as a one-time transaction or a long-term advisory role. A serious recruiter has a plan for when fits don't go as expected.

6. "How do you handle confidentiality?"

   In an industry where a leaked move can have professional consequences, this is the most critical question. They should have a clear, rigorous protocol for when and how your name is shared.

"A good recruiter is a genuine asset who extends your market reach and brings intelligence you can't get elsewhere. But you have to know the difference. Don't be afraid to ask the questions that reveal who is actually sitting across the table from you." — Andrew Wilcox

If you want to put these questions to the test or need a high-level assessment of your current position in the market, let’s start a conversation.

• Email: [e-mail]

• LinkedIn: Connect with Andrew Wilcox