Legal Recruitment News - Candidate Newsletter April 2011http://www.legal-recruitment.co.uk/Sponsored by Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment   - supplying permanent and temporary lawyers & legal support staff since April 2000.  

Contents:

Interview Question & Suggested Answers x 4   -   New Series for April 2011 Bizarre Vacancy - Law Firm in London seek a MagicianLegal Job Market Report 9th April 2011 Vacancies Registered March 1st - April 12th

Salary Reviews Available Online Legal Career Coaching -   Wednesday 11th May, central London Interview Training Online -   new for April 2011

Can you do Magic? A London Law Firm are looking for a Magician

Online Interview Training Pack for LawyersTen-Percent Legal Careers have released a new Legal Interview Training Pack. Available immediately, this pack includes 105 minutes of online video, over 25 interview questions with sample answers and feedback/advice, 3 pre-interview written exercises and 300+ sample interview questions to practice. Suitable for law graduates, paralegals, solicitors, barristers, executives, in house legal staff and support staff attending interviews with law firms, in house legal departments and other employers. 

Particularly suitable for training contract interviews, pupillage interviews, work & vacation placement interviews and qualified lawyer interviews. The Course includes 13 short films covering a range of different interview questions including: Questions about academic grades, personal questions, competency based interview questions, questions to ask at the end of the interview and legal problem questions. There are over 25 interview questions with sample answers/feedback and 3 written exercises with sample responses and feedback. For further details please click the link below. http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/careersshop/product.php?id_product=33  Legal Career Coaching, London 11th MayWe still have a couple of appointments available on the above date. You can get advice on changing careers, changing fields of law, advancing your careers, interview practice, career assessments, advice on progression, training contract applications, starting out in law, and many more. We have been providing this service since 2001. You can get further information about our career coaching at www.ten-percent.co.uk/careersshop. We offer a special hourly rate on this date or alternatively you can order the full package. For further details please visit our Legal Careers Shop, email cv@ten-percent.co.uk or go to www.ten-percent.co.uk/career.htm   

A firm in South West London are interested in employing a solicitor who is an experienced magician. This may sound a little bizarre, but the firm have had the idea of someone doing magic tricks whilst pitching to clients. Is this a wind up? We dont think so - the firm sounded deadly serious. They mentioned possibly hiring someone who had done quite a bit of work on stage as an alternative.  If you think you can stand on your head whilst balancing an apple on your chin, juggle three chain saws with your feet and at the same time do a presentation on recent changes to employment legislation, please get in touch. VAC 14295.

 Interview Questions and Suggested Answers - New Series We are due to be publishing a new guide to over 250 interview questions with suggested answers and guidance. As we work towards completion of this project we will include sample questions here.

Interview Question – Why haven’t you had many interviews?

This question will have followed a previous one discussing the number of interview applications you have made. You will probably have given an answer to say that you have applied to lots of places. The best way of giving you advice on this is to take a step back and go to the previous question which in all likelihood you have probably answered incorrectly by giving away that you have applied to lots or places.

However, if you find yourself in this situation the best way of answering it is probably to dig yourself out of the hole and concentrate on something positive about the interviews you have had or if not to get the conversation back to the interview you are currently having. For example “I have a number of applications outstanding at present and anticipate a response in the next few weeks. However I am very keen to progress my application with your company and hope that you think I am a good fit.”

Or;

“It is a difficult market at present and I am very grateful for you giving me the opportunity to be interviewed here. I think that my skills and experience fit the job description you have and I hope you see this as well.”

There is no right or wrong approach to this question as it is one asked when you have gone down the wrong route by revealing the number of interviews you have had. Try to deflect any attention away from the number of interviews you may or may not have had and onto the present interview. 

Interview Question – Are you going to take the job? (in response to previous question about being offered jobs elsewhere).

This interview question is again one that has followed on from a previous route that you probably were not best advised going down by revealing that you have been offered jobs elsewhere informing companies that you have been offered positions can be a double edged sword. on the one hand it demonstrates to a company that you are someone who is going to be in demand, yet on the other hand it almost makes it look as if you are really not bothered whether the current company offer you a job or not. Be very careful how you word this. An example would be;

“I want to consider all options before making a final decision.   I feel it important to have all the cards on the table so to speak before I come to a final decision, and I am very keen to progress my application with your company.”

Or;

“I think it is important to have something in reserve in case I am not successful with your company. I am obviously very keen to progress my application with you in the first instance.”

Interview Question – Why do you think you haven’t been offered a job as yet? (in response to a question about the number of interviews you have had already).

This is a presumptuous question and it is important not to get taken down the route the interviewer is obviously wanting you to go down. Think like a politician – you do not need to give a completely honest answer and you can deflect the question away to a certain extent. A potential response could be;

“I am waiting on a number of interviews and it will be nice to think that I will have a couple of offers on the table to consider, although obviously I am extremely keen on your firm or company as a first choice.”

If you have had a number of interviews and were rejected then before you go for your next interview it is worthwhile making an application somewhere else and hoping that this is not considered before you attend your next interview. It means that you are able to give a response to this question or similar ones to say that you currently have applications or matters outstanding and that you are awaiting a response from them. This means that you do not need to deliberately mislead the interviewer and can be completely honest when you give this answer.

Another response would be;

“I am waiting to hear from a couple of applications but I have been very targeted and tried to apply to companies specifically dealing with x. I think it is important to have back up options but I am very keen to join your company as my first choice.” Interview Question – Are you a leader?

This is a very difficult question to respond to if you have not prepared thoroughly and researched the role you are applying for. Too many people tend to assume that everyone is looking to recruit leaders or future potential leaders when very often this is completely untrue. Most companies are looking for somebody to fill specific roles and if that role involves management or leadership then you need to give a positive response to this question. If however you are applying for a team player position or a role at a junior level, you need to avoid giving a fully positive response. After all, if you were a manager looking to recruit members of our team would you really want someone who claimed to be a natural leader working for you? It is highly unlikely that in this scenario you would be asked this question with the expectation that you gave an affirmative response. So your answer has to depend very much on the job you are applying for. Typical answers are;

“Yes. If I need to be a leader I have demonstrated my capability on numerous occasions in various roles. These include (e.g.) managing a team of five with responsibility for a budget of x and receiving leadership and management training to enable me to do this over a 5 year period, culminating in an MBA.”

“If a role demanded it I am capable of providing good leadership, as demonstrated by x, but similarly I work well as a team member under a manager and am quite willing and able to perform tasks delegated to me.”

“No and I do not expect to be in the future. I have always worked well as a member of a team under the guidance of a manager and my managers have always appreciated the input that I am able to give them working at that level.”

Legal Job Market Report 9th April 2011 from Ten-Percent Legal RecruitmentWe are now extremely busy after a slow start. The recruitment market is a little like the housing market - it follows world events and the weather fairly closely. When the Japanese earthquake hit, recruitment stopped. The nuclear leak similarly slowed us down, together with the initial uprisings in Libya. The same happened back in 2003 when the Gulf War started, despite it being a boom

period and lots of interviews arranged etc..

The outlook for 2011 remains positive. The recent Report on Jobs from the REC and KPMG indicates that salaries are now at an 8 month high and availability of candidates has declined. Certainly we are seeing a good number of candidates who have been looking for over 2-3 months for posts are starting to get back to us and say that they have now found something.

We got a number of new sign ups for the Ten Percent Unlimited service (fixed fee recruitment services for 12 months) and think this is a good indicator for activity in the legal job sector over the next 3 to 6 months. 

In March we had 48 vacancies registered (nearly a 100% increase on February), 10 interviews and 144 candidate registrations (solicitors, fee earners and legal support staff candidates).

This month will see the duty solicitor rota deadlines in April impacting on our business. In quite a large number of areas there is plenty of activity for solicitors between 1 and 10 years PQE, and most of our business is still from our candidate updates and firms making speculative enquiries about these or by searching our candidate database. 

Jonathan Fagan, MD Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment.  Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment maintains a database of over 8,000 solicitors, legal executives, fee earners, legal cashiers and office managers - available to search online. 

Links: Search our VacanciesRegister Vacancies OnlineAbout Ten-Percent Legal RecruitmentTen-Percent Foundation - Charitable Trust

 The Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Will Writers Firm - UpdateAn update on our article last month. The will writing firm in question have now responded - http://www.legalrecruitment.blogspot.com/ - please visit for further details.   Salary Review UpdateThe Ten-Percent Legal Salary Survey is available online - Click the link below to view the surveys, which are broken down into geographical areas:   http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/salary-reviews-for-lawyers-ten-percent-legal-recruitment.html Our most recent Crime Solicitor salary list is available on our blog at http://www.legalrecruitment.blogspot.com/

The Training Contract PackSave over £100. The Training Contract Pack includes training and advice on making job applications, preparing a CV, completing application forms, attending interviews and assessment days. The pack includes our Interview Training Pack, CV Writing Pack, Assessment Day Training Pack & Application Form Advice. http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/careersshop/product.php?id_product=36

About Ten-Percent Legal RecruitmentFormed in April 2000, Ten-Percent is an innovative recruitment service run online for law firms and employers across the UK and offshore. Over 1,300 law firms and companies have used our services, and we have over 8,000 solicitors & legal executives registered for opportunities, as well

as other fee earners and support staff. We donate 10% of our annual profits to charity. http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/  Please email us details of any vacancies to cv@ten-percent.co.uk or register the vacancy online by clicking this link - http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/registerer.htm 

Legal Recruitment NewsFor older editions of the Legal Recruitment News, and free articles on recruitment, legal careers, training, SEO & Web Marketing, please visit http://www.legal-recruitment.co.uk/ . You can also visit the http://www.legalrecruitment.blogspot.com/ for over 200 articles on Legal Recruitment including advice for candidates.  

Our Tweet "TenPercentLegal" regularly carries instant updates of vacancies and news from Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment.

Legal Recruitment News and Ten-Percent Legal RecruitmentEmail: cv@ten-percent.co.ukWebsite: http://www.ten-percent.co.uk/ : http://www.legal-recruitment.co.uk/ Tel: 0207 127 4343    Vacancies registered from 1st March to 12th April - email any enquiries through to cv@ten-percent.co.uk  

Job Ref

Job Title Industry Discipline

Location Description

14300 Insurance Litigation Solicitor Bristol

Insurance Solicitor Bristol Insurance Litigation Solicitor sought by Bristol firm. The firm is a specialist insurance practice and focuses on the Lloyd’s and Companies’ insurance market and manufacturing industry. The firm are specialists in domestic and international litigation, arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution and have particular expertise in helping insurers develop new products and in drafting wordings. They routinely deal with insurance and reinsurance policy wording disputes addressing validity and coverage. They defend personal injury claims and group litigation actions.   Most of the solicitors have a city background or large regional commercial pedigree.

14299 Wills & Probate Lawyer

Wills & Probate Fee Earner - all

Peterborough Wills & Probate Lawyer sought to join branch office of North Norfolk firm - will be based within about 20 miles of Norwich. Wanting someone able to handle their own caseload.

14298 Duty Solicitor Crime

Crime Duty Solicitor

South East London

Medium sized South East London firm are looking for a duty solicitor to start ASAP. All levels considered and will consider freelance or salaried solicitors.

14296 Crime Fee Earner with Crown Court Experience

Crime Fee Earner - all

West London Crown Court fee earner sought by West London firm of larger size. You must have crown court preparation experience to be considered for this role.

14295 Solicitor and Magician - all fields

Commercial Property Solicitor

South West London

A firm in South West London are interested in employing a solicitor who is a qualified magician. This may sound a little bizarre, but they have had the idea of someone doing magic tricks whilst pitching to clients. Is this a wind up? We dont think so - the firm sounded deadly serious. If there are any qualified solicitors who are magicians in any field of law or lawyers who are not qualified but also can turn their hand at magic, please get in touch.

14294 Employment Solicitor

Employment Law Solicitor

Harrow Specialist health care sector firm are looking to recruit an employment solicitor to join their small practice and develop a department servicing their corporate and business clients. Any own networks welcomed but work will come from their existing clients as well. Salary levels negotiable. Will be undertaking both contentious and non-contentious matters.

14293 Licensed Conveyancer Manager

Conveyancing Licensed Conveyancer

West London Licensed conveyancer sought immediately to take over management of a central London conveyancing

operation. Will be responsible for managing the team and the work coming in together with the regulatory side. Immediate start.

14292 Legal Cashier Office Support Legal Cashier

Canterbury Legal cashier sought by Canterbury firm. Further details to be provided.

14291 Crime Solicitor Crime Solicitor South West London

South West London firm seek a crime solicitor to join a medium sized team in a firm undertaking a mix of work including crime but also a general practice. Medium sized firm. Duty Solicitor preferred. Part time welcome.

14290 Crime Solicitor Norwich Duty Status Required

Crime Duty Solicitor

Norwich Duty solicitor sought by Norwich firm looking to expand their team. May consider other levels as well. Medium sized practice with two offices.

14289 Crime Solicitor Crime Solicitor Reading Solicitors sought to join new central Reading office of large expanding practice. Crime solicitors sought, particularly with experience in other fields as well.

14288 Personal Injury Solicitor

Personal Injury Solicitor

Bradford Personal Injury Solicitor sought for 2-3 month locum post in Bingley dealing with an EL and PL caseload. May become permanent if wanted.

14286 Residential Conveyancing Solicitor

Conveyancing Solicitor

Stockton-on-Tees

Conveyancing solicitor sought by entrepenneurial estate agency in the Teesside area to handle all their conveyancing for them. Various discussions required, but good opportunity to progress career and income!

14285 Property Solicitor with Development experience

Commercial Property Solicitor

Bromley Property Solicitor sought with experience in development work and Housing Association matters if possible. Following is particularly welcomed. High calibre candidates particularly welcome and encouraged to

apply. If you are well known in the field of law this would be of great benefit.

14284 Commercial Property Solicitor

Commercial Property Solicitor

Bristol Commercial property solicitor sought by Bristol firm to join a team dealing with a mix of business property work, mainly leasehold. May also be doing some high value residential property and complex matters.

14283 Insolvency Solicitor

Insolvency Solicitor St Albans Insolvency Solicitor sought by medium sized firm in St Albans. Ideally looking for someone with a good level of experience but will consider a range of levels provided UK based experience.

14282 Family Solicitor Family/Matrimonial Solicitor

Cardiff Family Solicitor sought by larger sized LSC funded law firm in Cardiff. Considering all options from 2 years PQE and upwards.

14281 Family Solicitor and Mediator

Family/Matrimonial Solicitor

St Albans Family Solicitor and qualified Mediator sought by St Albans firm of larger size. Salary levels negotiable. This is a firm with a mix of private and commercial clients and deal with some LSC funded work (mainly care proceedings). The majority of their work is however privately funded. PQE levels for salary - 3 years and above.

14280 Senior Civil Litigation Solicitor

Civil Litigation Solicitor

Derby Firm with branches in London and the East Midlands are looking for a senior civil litigation solicitor, initially as a locum with view to long term. Candidates must have experience of cross-border cases. Candidates will be working form home, attending the offices as necessary. A client following would be particulary welcomed.

14278 Crime Solicitors

Crime Solicitor Milton Keynes

Crime Solicitors sought. Salary level dependant upon

experience and additional skills but minimum start will be £30k. Skills such as Prison Law supervisor, Immigration lawyer, Team leader/manager etc. or other facets that make the candidates multi skilled solicitors will be an advantage. Existing duty solicitors on the Reading rotas will also be considered advantagous and may attract a higher salary.

Salary incentive schemes considered. This vacancy is with a 'top 20' criminal defence firm that is has established a strategy for growth and diversification as their business develops. They need enthusiastic and highly motivated multi skilled (or people prepared to become multi skilled) staff to help drive our business forward. We are keen to talk to advocates and litigators who believe that they have something special that we may be currently missing - even if you don't believe that we reaslise it. Be persuasive but be prepared to back up your self proclamation of excellence with hard evidence.

14277 Employment solicitor with a following

Employment Law Solicitor

North London North London firm seek an experienced employment solicitor with a following to join the firm. This firm have indicated that they will pay a salary.

14276 Family solicitor with a following

Family/Matrimonial Solicitor

North London North London firm seek an experienced family solicitor with a following to join the firm. This firm have indicated that they will pay a salary.

14275 Civil Litigation Solicitor with a following

Civil Litigation Solicitor

North London North London firm seek an experienced civil litigation solicitor with a following. This firm have indicated that they

will pay a salary.

14274 Solicitors with a following

Conveyancing Solicitor

Birmingham West Midlands firm are looking for consultants with a following in the areas of: residential and commercial property, family law, civil and commercial litigation and employment law. Firm offers flexible working conditions.

14273 Crime Duty Solicitor Freelance

Crime Solicitor South West London

Freelance duty solicitors sought by firm in SW17. Rates to be discussed.

14270 Property Solicitor with Following

Conveyancing Solicitor

Enfield Property Solicitor sought by Enfield firm of medium size WITH OWN FOLLOWING AND LOCALLY BASED.

14269 Junior Accounts Administrator

Office Support Office Junior

Cardiff Junior accounts administrator sought by Cardiff solicitors firm. Salary c.£14,000. Previous experience in a legal setting required and accounts experience of some sort essential. Medium sized practice.

14268 Locum Immigration Solicitor

Immigration Solicitor

Derby Derby firm are looking for an immigration solicitor for a short term locum placement involving a high net worth client. Candidate would mostly be working from home and renumeration would be dependent on experience.

14267 Duty Solicitor Crime Duty Solicitor

North London North London firm are looking for a duty solicitor on a split fee basis. More details available.

14266 Mental Health Law Supervisor

Mental Health Solicitor

North London North London firm are looking for a senior mental health solicitor/executive. You would be based in London but with visits to their Harlow office. You must hold supervisor status to be eligible for this post. Firm will pay a retainer plus a fee share of up to 70% for exceptional billing.

14264 Planning Law Consultant

Planning Solicitor Derby Planning law consultant required by small corporate practice in the East Midlands - likely to be working from home on ad hoc projects arising.

14263 Freelance Duty Solicitors

Crime Solicitor North London Small firm with 3 partners looking to recruit freelance Duty solicitors willing to transfer their duty slots to the firm.

Percentage remuneration to be agreed. Offices in Tottenham and Brixton.

14261 Personal Injury Solicitor

Personal Injury Solicitor

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Personal Injury Solicitor or Executive sought by Newcastle firm.

14260 Conveyancing Solicitor

Conveyancing Solicitor

Sheffield Conveyancing Solicitor, legal executive or licensed conveyancer sought by Chesterfield firm of medium size. Looking for someone to take over from the head of department in the short to medium term. 3-6 years experience minimum required.

14256 Commercial Property Solicitor

Commercial Property Solicitor

York Commercial Property Solicitor sought able to deal also with Company Commercial work, preferably 5 years PQE and over. York firm with good reputation and medium sized.

14255 Clinical Negligence Solicitor

Clinical Negligence Solicitor

Ilford Essex firm are seeking a clinical negligence solicitor. Ideal candidate must hold AVMA or clinical negligence panel membership.

14254 Commercial Property Solicitor

Commercial Property Solicitor

Guildford Commercial Property Solicitor with company commercial experience sought by Guildford firm. Looking for someone to deal with the sale and purchase of businesses in the medical sector. 3 years PQE minimum (ie supervisor level or above). Medium sized

14251 Wills & Probate Wills & Probate Plymouth Legal

Executive Legal Executive executive/paralegal/accountant needed to do mainly wills & probate work but with additonal accountancy experience. Would suit non-charted acountant with probate experience.

14250 Personal Injury Solicitor

Personal Injury Solicitor

Chester Personal injury solicitor sought by Ellesmere Port firm, looking for solicitor to join smaller sized practice handling claimant RTA PI claims and EL/PL,with good sources of work. Must be experienced in this area (EL/PL as well if possible) and have worked on the MOJ portal and Pt 7 litigation. Ideally you will have used Pro Claim case management software and be self sufficient. Looking for someone 3 years PQE or thereabouts and up.

Subject to performance genuine long term prospects but must have a can do attitude and initiative and be prepared to handle claims to settlement both pre and post issue. Office is paperless and the firm have long term contracts in place for guaranteed levels of quality work. Free on site parking.Paralegal support will be provided but must have strong billing and client care skills. The firm will also consider 1-2 year and non-qualifieds with good experience levels.

14249 Commercial Property Solicitor

Commercial Property Solicitor

Enfield Commercial Property Solicitor sought at senior level by Barnet firm of medium size. The firm are looking specifically for someone with property development and property finance experience. The partners have one eye on succession with this appointment. Will need to be 3

years PQE and upwards, although may consider someone close to this.

14248 Company Commercial Solicitor with following

Company Commercial Solicitor

Harrow Solicitors with following sought by Edgware firm. Company commercial and commercial property.

14247 Personal Injury Claimant Executive

Personal Injury Legal Executive

Bolton Claimant Personal Injury Executive sought by Bolton firm of smaller size. Looking for someone with 1-2 years experience of RTA work. Salary levels 18-28k.

14246 Crime Solicitor Crime Solicitor East London Duty solicitor sought to join medium sized practice in East London. Near tube station, well established practice with reasonable sized department. Ideally would like someone with higher court rights, but also keen to talk to all duty solicitors.

14245 Family Solicitor Family/Matrimonial Solicitor

East London Family Solicitor with panel membership sought by East London firm near a tube station. Medium sized practice and well established. Would be working within a well regarded team. LSC and privately funded work.

14243 Family Solicitor Family/Matrimonial Solicitor

Salisbury Family Solicitor sought by Dorset firm. Medium sized practice with good reputation.

14242 Employment and Litigation Solicitor

Employment Law Solicitor

Peterborough Employment Solicitor with Civil & Commercial Litigation experience if possible sought by North Norfolk firm. This is a relatively senior post at 3 years PQE and upwards. Salary levels negotiable. Expansion rather than replacement.

14240 Prison Law Representative

Prison Law Solicitor

Dartford Kent firm looking for a self employed accredited prison law representative to work at their very busy Sidcup office. Income based on one thrid of the standard fee per job. Must be fully accredited and have good

computer skills and letter writing skills and understand the standard fee concept.

14239 Commercial/IP Solicitor

Intellectual Property Solicitor

Oxford Oxford legal 500 firm require a commercial/IP solicitor for their corporate commercial department. Candidate must have 3 years PQE and a broad commercial experience including IP.

14238 Prison Lawyer Prison Law Fee Earner - all

Tunbridge Wells

Prison Law advisor required on freelance basis to cover increased work load in the South East. Flexible working conditions and good remuneration. Firm are based in Ashford but working across the region.

14237 Crime Solicitor Duty

Crime Solicitor St Albans A new vacancy has arisen with a small firm based in Hatfield - looking for a duty solicitor to join them in July 2011. Fairly well established practice with senior partner formerly with a Legal 500 practice.

14236 Company Commercial Solicitor

Company Commercial Solicitor

Bournemouth A new vacancy has arisen with a medium sized multi ofifce practice in Dorset, looking for a full-time Company Commercial Assistant Lawyer. Ideally candidates will be located in and around this area. The candidate will have 3+ years PQE ideally and experience including; Company and commercial general including general commercial advice, Health & Safety, Employment, Partnership, capable of small to medium Mergers & Acquisitions and general company law work. They will have sufficient experience to work on their own but under Commercial Partners supervision.