Where was this book when I was in law school?  As I read, The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers. I could not help but think of my days as a second-year law student.  It seems like just yesterday – O.K., admittedly, it was not that long ago – that my classmates and I were engrossed in what is known as, “recruiting season.”  It was a time of mailing out resumes by the truckload, on-campus interviews and 48-hour jaunts around the country for call-backs, all the while, attending classes and studying long hours.  Needless to say, the stress was consuming and the tension among many of the students palpable.  “Can you believe SHE got an interview there?”  Or “My GPA is much higher than his!  Why didn’t I get a call-back?”  And who can forget the rejection letters?  Or even worse, receiving a post card that said little more than, “Are you kidding?”  So goes the job search, a cruel, but inevitable process for nearly every law student and increasingly, every lawyer.

Unfortunately, the job search does not end with law school graduation or landing that first job.  According to the book, The Right Moves, more than 75% of lawyers change jobs within the first five years of practice.  Likewise, more and more senior level attorneys are changing jobs or making lateral moves to new firms.  These statistics emphasize the importance of every practicing attorney having a book like The Right Moves on his or her bookshelf.  

Ms. Fontaine, the author, is a former practicing attorney and a founding partner of the legal search firm Seltzer Fontaine Beckwith in Los Angeles, California.  In her twenty-plus years as a career consultant, she has assisted hundreds of attorneys in their quest for the ultimate in job satisfaction—and to our benefit, she has decided to share some of her secrets, strategies and tips for success, in this well-written, practical, and enjoyable read.   

The first step in achieving career success, writes Ms. Fontaine, is to conduct an honest self-assessment.  Such a task may prove daunting for some.  After all, are we not our own worst critics?  To complete an effective self-assessment, the author suggests identifying the pros and cons of a particular job: job preferences, values, life goals and dreams.  She stresses the importance of the details by urging consideration of factors such as the physical environment of the office, the commute, the culture and of course, the clients.  Her advice is insightful and thorough. 

Ms. Fontaine cautions her readers against being too shortsighted when developing a career plan, which is the next step in crafting a career development strategy.  Instead, you should identify and define your “ultimate career destination.”  In doing so, look at life as a whole.  Where do a family or plans to have a family fit in?  Is your career goal to make partner?  Start a firm?  Become a judge?  And perhaps, most fundamentally, why on earth did you choose to practice law? 

Getting down to the more practical aspects of looking for a job—where should you begin?  There is the Internet, and a comprehensive list of Web sites is included in the book; there are the classified ads in newspapers and law journals—and legal recruiters.  She encourages job seekers to network, network—and network some more!  She suggests participating in bar functions, alumni gatherings and civic or charitable associations and speaking with as many people as possible about the legal job market.  Less than thrilled with the prospect of diving headfirst into a conversation about the job market with a stranger?  The book also includes a selection of questions to break the ice.

There is good advice concerning resumes, what to include and what not to include, cover letters and of course, the dreaded interview.  In the chapter titled, “Interviewing for Optimum Impact,” Ms. Fontaine devotes nearly thirty pages to acing what many consider the worst part of looking for a job.  Her advice exceeds the obvious warnings—do not smoke or use profanity and please, iron your suit and comb your hair— which seem to dominate so many other books on this topic.  She notes that it is, “…paramount to demonstrate your responsiveness, intelligence and personality…” during the interview.  Better yet, she equips the reader with a number of tools to do just that.  For example, she instructs the reader on how to best answer what she calls, “Dangerous Interview Questions,” such as, “Tell me about yourself” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”  As an added bonus, she includes a list of questions for the interviewer to answer as well that go far beyond the expected, “How many billable hours?” or “What is the culture of the firm?” 

The section following guidance about resumes and interviews proceeds on the assumption that the newly tailored resume was well received, the interview was a success and the applicant received an offer, or even better, multiple offers and it is time, as Ms. Fontaine puts it, “to talk turkey.”  The issue of compensation is a delicate one and according to the author, should be delayed as long as possible—ideally, until a potential employer has extended an offer or indicated that an offer is forthcoming.  Chapter 11, “Keeping Your Eye on the Prize,” breaks down an offer into various components, i.e. salary, bonus, benefits and “perks,” then identifies which of these components are negotiable and the author provides an invaluable set of negotiating tips to the reader. There are also lengthy discussions on compensation considerations for partners, bonuses and where allowed, stock options. 

Partners, senior-level associates and other seasoned members of the legal profession in need of career guidance will be pleased to know that Ms. Fontaine includes career development strategies for attorneys at all stages of their careers.  Topics such as business development, client service and the economic advantages and disadvantages of a potential move are all discussed in the section entitled, “Greener Pastures: Evaluating a Move at the Senior Level.” 

The last section of the book is dedicated to career development.  Here, Ms. Fontaine counsels the reader on how to make the most of his or her professional environment while simultaneously preparing for the next career stage.  She offers insight on how to survive a down market, change practice areas, deal with diversity in the workforce and give back to the community by volunteering.  The book also includes an informative section on making partner.   

My favorite section of the book is included in its final pages.  The very first sentence of the section, “What They Didn’t Teach You in Law School,” caused me to laugh out loud.  It reads, “Law schools don’t teach you everything you need to know in order to succeed in today’s legal marketplace.”  What?  Since when? 

The Right Moves is a valuable guide, a smooth read and highly recommended for every law student and any lawyer, no matter what level of experience, whether seeking to begin or to further develop a legal career.  

Leigh S. Ambrose-Willey is an attorney with Wesctott Millham & Dyer in Laconia.  She has been a member of the NH Bar since 2004.       

For more information about The Right Moves, contact Director of Publications Janet Smith at the National Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP), (jsmith@nalp.org). Retail cost of the book is $45 and may be ordered through www.nalp.org.

Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store
Lawyer Referral Service | Law-Related Education | NHBA•CLE | NHBA Insurance Agency | NHMCLE
Search | Calendar

New Hampshire Bar Association
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301
phone: (603) 224-6942 fax: (603) 224-2910
email: NHBAinfo@nhbar.org
© NH Bar Association Disclaimer