4 Ways to Tell if a Lawyer is a Star

I have met with thousands of candidates, and employers rely on my judgment to send them good people to fill their roles. What are 4 signs someone is a star?

1. Track record of success. I look at where they worked and how they did. Did they advise top clients on key business deals? Receive awards and promotions? I look at patterns in their career, e.g., if they are referred to each job by a former manager (that’s the best compliment for someone to know your work and want to work with you again) and how their responsibilities grew. Finally, I assess if candidates are articulate about their successes and if they seem collaborative.
2. Their motivation. Candidates need to explain what they are looking for and why. What areas of law or technology excites them? What motivates them — is it money, growth, collaboration? If they do a bad job explaining to me, their employers will not persuaded either. Conversely, if they are positive people who want to provide the best service they can, I am wowed.
3. Ease to work with. Do they treat me with respect? If they don’t, I doubt they know how to work with others. Do they know what I need and respond quickly and accurately? If they have a hard time communicating with me, I wonder how they listen to their clients and what kind of work product they are providing! I have noticed when I work with very successful attorneys, their humility and on-point responsiveness really stand out.
4. Their reputation precedes them. I usually have heard of stars already by their peers, managers, and clients, long before they are looking for another job.