Best Legal Recruiters - help and recommendations needed!

[SkinnedAlive]

I have been out of law for about four years now, and everything seems to have changed as regards recruitment. For all of my previous jobs I had one agent that pretty much did everything. Told me of new vacancies that would suit me, promoted me to firms etc. Now it seems looking on the various sites, many applications seem to be electronic, and some firms look like they have their own website listing jobs, again with electronic applications - so possibly not listed with the agencies and also not with the benefit of a good agent enthusiastically promoting you.

I would like to move into another area of law as to be honest I did not enjoy my past speciality, and in my time off I have picked up skills that although not legal, would be relevant to a different area and one which I think would enjoy more. However I am unsure how easy this will be, and whether given the ecconomic climate I will be able to get back into law at all. I have over 10 years PQE but am happy to come into a different area as NQ and also to work anywhere in the UK/Europe.

I think like lots of women returning to law after a break I am really lacking in confidence, although I know I learn very quickly. Any advice very gratefully received.

i would check with the Law Society first what courses you may need to do given that you have been out of it for so long, you may have to get more CPD points in your first year or work or something as i seem to remember my friend who is a solicitor went back to work after her maternity leave for 2 days a week rather than being off work whilst she had her three children so she didnt have to retrain.

what area of law were you in/thinking about going into? there have been a lot of cuts with public funding and more to come and so a lot of family law solicitors are retraining within their firms to do other areas of law.

what about local authority legal work? they advertise on their own websites for solicitors. you are right in that a lot of firms are now advertising on their own websites so perhaps pick an location, find out the solicitors in that area and then check out their websites, also you could just email your cv to firms. websites and emails are becoming the thing in firms now and eventually its heading to a paperless place.

Your other option could be to do locum work if all else fails to try and get your foot back in the door

Thanks for your reply :) I have worked in project finance/corporate/commercial before in the city - mainly big international projects. I have never done any general practice at all, but that's a good idea to look at the local authorities as I do have good corporate/commercial experience. It may be a bit out of date, but I think a smaller firm could get me really cheap and although I am lacking confidence at the moment, I know I am very good at what I do and it would not take long to get back into it. A friend does locum work but it seems to be very varied though I don't have her confidence.

I would like to get into life sciences/pharmacutical work as I have completed part of a medical degree so have studied pharmacology, bacteriology, virology, biochemistry etc etc. I need to speak to a few agents, but from what I can see it seems to be a growing field and my corporate/commercial experience should stand me in good stead.