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PARALEGAL JOBS AND THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON THE LAW OFFICE

Tech saavy parelegals have job security

Tech-savvy paralegals have more employment opportunities.

Most paralegals had no reason to question their job security six months ago. The economy was booming and there were paralegal jobs for the entry-level as well as the experienced paralegal. However, the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) brought a lot of change to the traditional law firm.

The good news is that there are still plenty of great career opportunities for experienced paralegals. Especially for those that have technological skills. The better news is that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the paralegal profession will continue to grow 12 percent annually through 2028.

The New Law Office?

Legal consultant Mark A. Cohen summed up the future of the law office succinctly in his article, “COVID-19 Will Turbocharge Legal Industry Transformation”.  He said the coronavirus “will propel law into the digital age and reshape its landscape”.

According to Cohen, remote work and distance learning are just the tip of the iceberg. He predicts that we should expect more inter-office collaboration as well as more collaboration with other law offices. In addition, there will be more digital hearings and trials. Most importantly, he stressed that the key to survival is upskilling (learning new skills).

Paralegals Poised and Ready

According, to a 2019 study by Legal 2 Legal Solutions and Ari Kaplan Advisors, paralegals have what is takes to meet the challenges of a post-COVID-19 law office. Many paralegals regularly participate in virtual team meetings and are comfortable using a variety of digital tools and applications. Finally, paralegals excel at learning new skills and keeping up with the latest trends in eDiscovery.

The survey of 35 paralegals and paralegal managers in the AmLaw 200, revealed:

  • 71 percent of paralegals believe that collaboration is extremely important to their day-to-day work;
  • 63 percent said they receive periodic training; and
  • 49 percent of paralegals described their level of autonomy as significant.

In addition, 63 percent of the survey participants provide litigation support and 60 percent have some responsibility for eDiscovery. These trends reflect the growing impact of those fields in law firms and how paralegals are ready to accept the challenge.

Paralegal Collaborate

The impact of COVID-19 will be minimal if paralegals remain tech-savvy and able to collaborate digitally.  Paralegals understand that teamwork is essential to make operations run smoothly and effectively. Working well as a team not only saves time, it also increases output.

Autonomy is Essential

The coronavirus brought many workplace firsts, from having to work from home while kids were out of school to attending virtual hearings from your living room. As work and home life became more intertwined, paralegals continued to show that they have the ability to efficiently utilize their time and prioritize tasks. Paralegals, already known for their skills at autonomy, will continue to prove that they have this discipline post-COVID-19.

Paralegals and Technology

Technology allows paralegals to work more efficiently with the automation of routinized tasks. One key component that will certainly increase in the law office post-COVID-19 is eDiscovery. Paralegals who are working with e-discovery will also act as a conduit between the IT department, attorneys, and clients.

The biggest challenge with eDiscovery is how to store and protect valuable data properly. Paralegals will aid in ensuring that the proper steps are taking to keep the data organized and secure.

In conclusion, it is the right time for paralegals to show how they have the right skills to do the job.

For more than a decade, SRS has been helping job seekers find their ideal opportunity. If you are a top performer in the Legal Industry or Informational Technology, submit your resume.  Exceptional talent is in high demand at the top-performing companies. Ready to make a career move?  Contact SRS today!

 

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BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS – How to Prepare Your Responses

Tips on answering behavioral interview questions
Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions.

Have a stellar resume? Years of technical experience? These are all impressive, but for most jobs, fitting into a culture and demonstrating adaptability and responding to pressure is just as important as technical skills. Likely, you will be asked behavioral questions at your next interview.

WHAT IS A BEHAVIORAL QUESTION?

Behavioral Interview Questions are situational questions designed to uncover your skills and talents (competencies). They are questions that make you think and reveal qualities about yourself indirectly. They may make you uncomfortable because they require that you “think on your feet.” There is no right or wrong answer. However, there is a correct way to prepare your response to reveal the personality trait/work habit the interviewer is seeking.

Some of these questions are in the category of “When did you stop beating your wife?” They have an underlying assumption that you did something wrong. For example, “Tell me about a time you did not properly handle a disagreement with a co-worker.” If you can not think of an answer immediately, ask for clarification. This will give you some time to figure out the underlying purpose of the question so that you can prepare your response.

Employers are not trying to trick you. They ask behavioral questions so that they can hire the right person for the job.  The questions they ask are to determine if you have qualities such as integrity, decisiveness, adaptability, sensitivity, tenacity, and diplomacy. They want to know if you are a self-starter and if you feel comfortable in a leadership role.

Here are some common behavioral questions:

How did you handle conflict with a co-worker?

Describe a time when a co-worker approached you and criticized your work. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?

Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone to see your point of view. What tactics did you use?

What was the outcome?

Tell me about a time you failed. How did you deal with it?

THE STAR METHOD

Apply the Star Method to any behavioral interview question. STAR stands for:
Situational: Tell the interviewer the context or setting of your answer.
Task: What was your role in the situation?
Action: What action did you take to address the situation?
Result: What was the result of your action?

Results are the most crucial element of this equation. What did you learn? The details of what exactly happened in the proposed situation are not as important as your result.

Preparation and practice are the keys to your successful behavioral interview. Find out as much as you can about the company culture before you arrive at your interview. Review the company website, their social media platforms, and ask your colleagues. Then, practice responding to the most common behavioral interview questions. Discuss your possible answers with someone you trust, someone who has had success in your field, or your recruiter. Ask for help with specific questions that may be difficult to answer. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we can help you prepare in advance. Being prepared will not only reduce your anxiety, but it will also demonstrate your confidence and competence.

For more than a decade, SRS has been helping job seekers find their ideal opportunity. If you are a top performer in the Legal Industry or Informational Technology, submit your resume.  Exceptional talent is in high demand at the top-performing companies. Ready to make a career move?  Contact SRS today!

 

 

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ATTENDING OFFICE PARTIES, FOOTBALL GATHERINGS, ETC? HOW TO HELP, NOT HURT, YOUR CAREER!

with plenty of football games, parades and festivals in Louisiana, learn how to spend time with office colleagues without losing your job
Attending a football game, parade or festival with your office colleagues? Learn how to do it right!

Attending an event with office colleagues?Although Christmas office parties are in the rear-view mirror, in Louisiana, there are many events still to come.  The New Orleans Saints host their first NFL playoff game on Sunday, January 5 and LSU is in the 2020 National Championship Game  on Monday, January 13, 2020. After that, there will be Mardi Gras parties followed by St. Patrick and St. Joseph day parades as well as numerous music festivals.

Attending any of these events with colleagues from your office can be fun but dangerous. If someone takes a photo or video tapes you being inappropriate, this could cost you your job. It can be easy to forget that you are socializing with people you work with, especially when in a party atmosphere.

Here are five helpful hints on how to present yourself while having fun at your next office sponsored event:

1. Dress appropriately.

The way you present yourself to your superiors and colleagues  can significantly affect your work life and environment. You don’t want  their image of you to suffer for what you choose to wear to the event. If  you are confused as to what is appropriate attire, consult the party  planner or colleagues who have attended the party before.

2. Make sure you and your guest remain respectful.

If you decide to bring a plus one to the party, make sure that  they conduct themselves respectfully. It’s best to avoid any situation  where you would get into trouble for somebody else’s actions. You will be  judged by the quality of people you surround yourself with, and you want  to make sure that whoever you may bring makes a good impression.

 3.  Remember you are with office colleagues so don’t overdrink.

This tip should be a given. Enjoy yourself, but  don’t get to the point where you can’t control yourself. Drink in  moderation. If you decide that you are going to drink, make sure that you  eat beforehand to avoid getting sick.

4. Talk about more than office gossip.

Use the party as a way to network within your company. It’s  also the perfect time to get closer to your work family and to make a good  impression with your superiors. Stay on topics that are lighthearted and  friendly. Avoid gossip and bringing up issues like sex, religion, or politics.

5. Be sure to thank the host of the party or event.

The host of the party will remember you thanked them and it will make a good impression.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), we specialize in Legal and IT Recruiting. Our professional recruiters provide candidates with knowledge and insight based on our years of experience in the Legal and IT fields. At SRS, our ultimate goal is to match top companies with top talent. We are focused on matching you to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company. Call us today to see for yourself how easy finding your dream job can be!

 

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SRS OFFERS NEW LOCATION IN BATON ROUGE

SRS knows how to grab the attention of top employers in the Gulf Region
Specializing in helping IT & Legal Professionals

For Immediate Release
Contact Amy Shanks at (504) 261-1611
[email protected]

New Orleans, December 6, 2019

Strategic Recruitment Solutions (‘SRS”) offers the same great service with two Louisiana locations to better serve you! The new location for its Baton Rouge office is 6555 Government Street, Baton Rouge, 70806.

SRS Experience Counts

For over a decade, SRS has been a leader in executive search solutions. Specializing in the Legal and Information Technology fields, SRS offers unparalleled senior-level executive searches, management assessments, and succession planning services to its client partners.

SRS sources highly qualified candidates and top-tier professionals in multiple fields. Finance, Business Operations, Information Technology, Legal, Sales, and Engineering, to name a few. Furthermore, while specializing in finding industry-specific talent, SRS has earned its stellar reputation as a top-notch legal and IT recruiter.

“We take time to understand our clients’ goals so we can find the right match. Although we check a candidate’s required skill set, we also make sure job seeker’s personality will match hiring objectives,” Executive Recruiter, Amy Shanks said. “All of our candidates are highly qualified and have gone through a comprehensive screening process. Furthermore, each candidate is evaluated based on their legal and computer software skills and checked references. Our goal is to make hiring your next employee worry-free.” 

Focused on matching the RIGHT person to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company, SRS recruiters know you are hiring more than just a set of skills. “By getting to know our candidates’ experience and goals as thoroughly as we get to know your company’s, we are confident that we will find the ideal employee for your firm,” Shanks said.

Job Seekers Trust SRS Recruiters

By confidently networking with candidates who are interested in a career move or want to know about job opportunities, SRS remains in contact with those who want career advancement.  “We have access to top talent and specialize in finding passive, hard-to-reach candidates,” Shanks added.  Moreover, SRS finds the best potential hires through direct sourcing, advanced online searches, its relationships with local and national experts, community involvement and affiliations with local and national associations.

Two Locations to Serve You

SRS, headquartered in New Orleans, has an affiliate office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge location, at 6555 Government St. Baton Rouge La. 70806, offers a larger space for SRS’s booming business. “SRS’ Legal and IT Recruiting are responsible for many successful hires for top firms in the region. Our expert legal recruiters know the market. They are ready to partner with job seekers and employers to meet their needs throughout the Southeast region,” Shanks said.

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JOB SEEKER ALERT – MAKE SURE YOUR LEGAL OR IT RECRUITER HAS THESE SKILLS

SRS specializes in Legal and IT recruiting
Finding the right job starts with finding the right recruiter!

Recruiters are not all created equal. That’s why you need to make sure you choose the right one. After all, you want the best chance of helping you land your dream job.

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), our recruiters are unmatched in skill and reputation! Whether it’s assisting top-tier Legal and IT professionals find the right opportunity, or working with progressive companies to help identify and recruit the highest quality talent, we seek to thoroughly understand the needs of both employers and job seekers and become a reliable partner in the process.

Because your time and energy are precious, and doing some background research before choosing a recruiter is crucial. Knowing a little about your recruiter’s background, experience, and success rate will help you make the right choice. Finally, to ensure career success look for these skills in your recruiter:

1) Confidence is key

Working as a recruiter requires a lot of networking and great people skills. Confidence is key when it comes to your recruiter’s ability to articulate why you are the best candidate for the job.

2) Effective communication skills

Recruitment relies heavily on effective communication, so the recruiter needs to be good at communicating both face-to-face, as well as via phone/email. It is also essential that your recruiter has a reputation for returning phone calls or emails promptly.

3) Likeable demeanor

Your recruiter needs to be likeable. You want someone who will make you and your future employer feel comfortable. Good recruiters know how to build a good rapport and build up trust. A good recruiter knows that being approachable translates into future business.

4) Great listener

Recruiters must be great listeners! It’s essential that they know how to listen to your needs as well as the client’s.

5) Strong sales skills

Your recruiter should be good at selling. Think about it. First,  he must “sell” why you are the best candidate for the job to the client. Next, your recruiter must “sell” you on why you should accept the opportunity.

6) Motivated

Recruitment is an incredibly competitive industry. You want a recruiter that is motivated and can work well under pressure.

7) Good at multi-tasking

Recruiters must be good at multi-tasking because they are working for several clients simultaneously and for each client, there will be multiple applicants vying for the position. You will want a recruiter that knows how to prioritize and manage their time effectively.

8) Patience

Because things don’t often go as planned, you want a recruiter who has patience and who is in it for the long haul. Sometimes interviews need to be rescheduled or there may be several interviews with key decision makers. You will want some one who can be patient yet firm on your behalf.

Remember before you choose, make sure you spend some time interviewing the recruiter. Find out how much experience he or she has in the legal or IT industry. Inquire about the process. How will your resume be marketed and how will it be presented it to potential employers.

Finally, ask your recruiter for references and check them. If you were referred by a colleague or association, ask about your recruiter’s reputation. Would the person who referred you use the recruiter again?

At Strategic Recruitment Solutions (“SRS”), we specialize in Legal and IT Recruiting. Our professional recruiters provide candidates with knowledge and insight based on our years of experience in the Legal and IT fields. At SRS, our ultimate goal is to match top companies with top talent. We are focused on matching you to the RIGHT position at the RIGHT company. Call us today to see for yourself how easy finding your dream job can be!