Law Careers Guides?

lawcareers.net (lcn) is the beginning, end and middle of this sort of thing.

Thanks for the pointers. Will definitely hop over to LC.net

Do you think the fact that some firms choose not to list themselves in the print directories has any bearing on their position in the graduate marketplace? I note that Fraser Brown mentioned above aren't on LC.net but doesn't mean to say they shouldn't be a serious consideration. Would you treat a firms inclusion or omission from the print directories with a pinch of salt? I imagine there's a hefty advertising fee to be included which many companies will want to cut out of their budgets given the tightening of marketing purse strings.

I think the print directories are dying.

You have to remember that the probability is that the really big boys are getting free entries. If you don't have Clifford Chance, your directory lacks credibility. Therefore it is unlikely the publisher will be able to force them to pay.

Recruitment clients of the publishers are likely to get an entry as part of their package.

I wonder how many others are culled the first time the finance manager reviews subscriptions

My firm haven't appeared in print directories for years and it doesn't stop us getting enough applications to paper the walls of the offices.

Obtaining a TC is a competitive game. Finding a vacancy few others know about is like finding a parking space that no-one has spotted.

See, I disagree. I suspect that the big boys do pay...

See, I disagree. I suspect that the big boys do pay...

a) because most of the large law firms are deeply unimaginative and tend to want to keep pace with their peers are doing (just look at how bonus announcements work over in America). Clifford Chance will ask 'Are Linklaters in?' and if the answer is yes, they won't dare not follow suit.

b) because the smart firms realise they are helping fund independent publications that benefit everybody.

If the print directories are facing a squeeze, it'll be from the smaller regional firms not having cash to splash.

I right in deducing from your experiences that they're worth a flick through but you would be daft to solely rely on these as a source of information. As mentioned earlier, just because a firm is not present doesn't mean that they're not worth considering.

I notice that Clifford Chance and Linklaters have been mentioned a number of times. Out of interest... if they weren't present in any of the directories next year, would that affect whether you considered them or not? Do you think newer graduates would overlook them when it comes to making applications?

I think the print directories are dying.

You have to remember that the probability is that the really big boys are getting free entries. If you don't have Clifford Chance, your directory lacks credibility. Therefore it is unlikely the publisher will be able to force them to pay.

Recruitment clients of the publishers are likely to get an entry as part of their package.

I wonder how many others are culled the first time the finance manager reviews subscriptions

My firm haven't appeared in print directories for years and it doesn't stop us getting enough applications to paper the walls of the offices.

Obtaining a TC is a competitive game. Finding a vacancy few others know about is like finding a parking space that no-one has spotted.

LawCareers.Net and The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook are pretty straight up about how they work. All organisations are offered a free basic listing in the directory and if they chose to pay they can expand their content to provide additional information, logos, links etc. The aim is to give readers an introduction to the full range of options and a starting point for deciding which organisatons to target. The key skill is identify a relatively small number of firms to actually apply to –you can’t make dozens of applications that are good and focussed enough to net a job, there isn’t time. LC.N and TCPH are designed to help readers ask the right questions of themselves and organisations for this distillation process to done efficiently. Firms not appearing in these directories have spurned the offer of a free listing – often because they do not have the systems in place to deal with the volume of applications generated by the entries.

As for the point about directories dying – not true – even very well resourced firms cannot visit and build links with every campus and the directories ensure their core information is available to all candidates in an accessible format. A directory entry will never provide enough information fro a candidate to move straight to applying, nor should it. As I say above, a successful application will be the result of detailed and determined research of which the directory is the starting point of introduction to a firm. There is plenty of evidence of the value of directories available. A recent, detailed survey of candidates by LawCareers.Net last month (sample 1104 replies) revealed that 88% of respondents had used directories and 68% rated them ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Only firms’ own websites were more highly used or rated (93% & 74%) which is unsurprising – but how do you think people find their way to firms’ own sites?

The secret to using directories is to understand that they are tools contributing to wider research. The information within is both factual – here is a place where you can find and compare a lot of information, and promotional –firm X realises lots of people use this resource so they have invested in being prominent within it. Information about how to approach the job in hand, finding a training contract, is impartial and well worth heeding. The same mistakes stymie those not getting through year after year.

My firm haven't appeared in print directories for years and it doesn't stop us getting enough applications to paper the walls of the offices.