Anne Heaviside, a managing director and legal recruiter with ELR in Houston, joins us on today's show. Anne talks about the lateral legal market, work from home policies, and top tips for candidates.  Her firm and role ELR Legal is in the Tanglewood area of Houston Specializes in 2-10 year lawyers in Texas law firms / mostly Houston / mostly Big Law (AmLaw 200) Got her start practicing law, including at McGlinchy Stafford. She then took over the recruiting role there before stepping out to work as a legal recruiter on the outside Legal Market Update 2019 was good as was the start of 2020 COVID put everything on hold until about November 2020 November things opened up, especially in the Big Law corporate world (Can you say SPACs?!) Capital Markets M&A Private Equity Debt Finance 2021 only got hotter Big signing bonuses ($10k-$50k) There are not enough corporate associates in Texas for the demand The need is new work. Clients have more demand from Big Law firms and there aren't enough 3-6 year associates with the necessary skills. Record number of lateral moves in Houston and Dallas Plus new Big Law firms opening up in Austin September hit and those associates have worked between 2000-2800 hours already in 2021 and are no longer taking recruiter calls; they are waiting for their year-end bonus before lateralling at the start of 2022. Real Estate an Executive Comp/Employee Benefits have gotten hot Big Law litigation is cool/slow Litigation boutiques are hiring but they are super picky (think Big Law requirements) Davis Polk raised the first year starting salaries from $190k to $205k and Cravath (the previous trend setter) matched (as have several others now). Has led to some mid/small firms rethink their comp. Big Law v. Small Law Corporate v. Litigation Hardly any small/mid corporate firms No sign of slowing down in 2022 In this market, small/mid associates and in-house lawyers CAN make a move to Big Law Work/Office Arrangements Flexibility is here to stay (in Big Law) How flexible is the question AmLaw 50 is still at home in Houston or back in the office by choice Multiple office firms across the county/internationally have a hard time making different policies for different offices AmLaw 200 will likely move to a 3/2 (three days in the office and two at home) Though new associates will likely be required to be in the office for the training/mentorship/culture/etc. Mid-levels and Senior associates will likely push for even more Small firms Will likely have more variety of policies More likely to be in the office than the Big Law firms Challenges to flex work Lack of integration within the firm What happens when promotion time comes or the work slows down and layoffs are required? Will the person who has been at home be disadvantaged versus the one who has been in the office? How can we replicate the in-office benefits and experiences that we don't want to lose? Advice to Lawyers On The Lateral Market This is not OCI anymore Not tell me about yourself or what practice to you want to go in There is a specific need they are looking to fill So firm needs to understand exact experience If you have stellar academics (great grades at a great law school), list that first. Otherwise start with your law firm experience 3-6 bullets under each position communicating exactly what you do Your role in what types of deals/cases You can take out the bullets under internships or clerkships if you need space If you have been practicing for at least 3+ years you need a deal sheet Know as much about the job you are applying for as possible so you can tailor your experience to the need Litigators definitely need a writing sample GPA on...