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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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HERE ARE FIVE TIPS TO HAVING YOUR VIRTUAL INTERVIEW WORK SEAMLESSLY

Strategic Recruitment Solutions offers five tips to land the video interview
Many companies are utilizing video conference to conduct the initial interview.

 Virtual job interviews?  Yes, they are becoming more common every day, especially since the coronavirus has put everything on hold. During the next months, employers will utilize video conferencing in lieu of face-to-face interviews. In addition, many companies find that they can narrow down their choice of job candidates through virtual interviews.

Here are five tips to ensure that your interview works seamlessly:

1. Conduct a Trial Run Interview 

Test your equipment prior to the actual interview. Make sure the audio and video are working and that you are familiar with all the added features. Conduct a sound and video quality test to ensure things are functioning correctly. The last thing you want is to discover that your audio is working improperly or that you don’t know how to share your screen once the interview begins. By avoiding technical difficulties, you can stay focused.     

 

2. Find a Quiet, Non-Distracting Space

Make it a priority to create a distraction-free space to conduct the interview.  If you are conducting the interview from home, make sure to inform your household members that you will be attending a virtual interview, and must have an hour of privacy. Finally, in order to ensure that your potential employer has your undivided attention, mute any notifications on your mobile phone and computer. It is essential that you treat your virtual interview with the same level of respect and professionalism that you would any other job interview. Remember, if you are multitasking during the interview, recruiters will be able to tell if your attention is elsewhere.

 

3. Be Honest  

Despite all of your preparation, technical glitches may still occur. If the video frame freezes or your audio skips out, you may need to ask your interviewer to repeat the question. It is better to be upfront and ensure that you have the information you need rather than missing something because you were too embarrassed to admit that you missed something. 

 

4. Be Aware of Your Body Language

Remember, this is a virtual interview, so your body language does matter. Sit up straight. Make sure you are looking directly at your camera. Make sure you have dressed appropriately. Treat any virtual meeting like a face-to-face meeting. Don’t let emails or social media notifications distract you from the interview.

 

 5. Prepare for Your Interview

As with anything, adequate preparation is critical. Prepare for your interview by rereading your resume and the job description. Have both documents handy for the call. Prior to the interview, find out who you will be speaking with, and check out his or her LinkedIn account.

Although thoughts of a job interview might conjure up visions of a bunch of candidates waiting in a stuffy office lobby, times have changed. More and more companies are using this tool to narrow down the potential list of candidates who deserve an in-person meeting. By conducting a professional and productive virtual interview, you will ensure that you have a shot at making the next round of interviews or, better yet, land 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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THANKS TO YOU, SRS CONTINUES TO GROW

With offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, SRS is strategically placed to serve you better.
SRS’s new location at 1555 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA

SRS Wants To Thank You For Helping Us Grow! 

At SRS,  our success is rooted in our executive recruiters. They offer industry insight and guidance to help companies and careers grow. Thanks to our clients and the job seekers who trust us with their future, our New Orleans office has expanded to a new location at 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 440.

Same great service, just larger office space to better serve you!

With a passion for the business, Executive Recruiter, Amy Shanks,  constantly strives to improve the level of service and innovation at SRS. For nearly a decade, SRS has specialized in the dedicated direct hire placement of attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries. In 2012, after adding a Information Technology Division, SRS has grown exponentially. “We believe in acquiring talent beyond our clients’ expectations which results in a stronger partnership with those we serve. We want our clients to be able to focus on what they do best and we’ll take care of the rest,” Shanks says.

With offices located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge , SRS is ready to help your business identify professional candidates. 

Headquartered in New Orleans with affiliate offices in Baton Rouge, SRS strategically identifies and places top-tier talent in the legal, professional fields. That includes attorneys, paralegals, administrative support staff and Information Technology Professionals. “Our Executive Recruiters have over 20 years combined specialized recruiting experience meeting the needs of a divergent, dynamic client base in the Southeast area and beyond,” says Shanks.

Getting To Know You

“We also source highly qualified candidates and top-tier professionals in Finance, Business Operations, Information Technology, Legal, Sales, and Engineering, including specialized, hard-to-find industry-specific talent,” says Executive Recruiter, Harold Wilbratte.”In addition, we continue to  confidentially network and connect with candidates who are interested in a career move or want to know about opportunities that will take their career to the next level.”

SRS works with a large variety of companies and industries. For example, in addition to the legal industry, our clients are IT outsourcing firms, chemical plants, financial institutions, and other companies across the United States.

“We get to know companies goals thoroughly so that we can find the candidate with the required skills as well as the personality to match hiring objectives. Our recruiters will find exactly what skills are required to fill our client’s needs,” Shanks says. “With SRS, finding your next hire becomes a smooth, worry-free process. Our candidates are screened and tested, with all references checked. Our goal is always to find the right employee for the right company.”

SRS Is Always Looking for Exceptional Talent

If you are ready to make a career move or simply want to investigate other employment opportunities, contact SRS. Our executive recruiters are not your classic headhunters looking to fill an open position. SRS takes a consultative approach in placing you in a direct-hire position which best matches your skills, talents, and career goals.

SRS continues to grow to serve you better!
SRS celebrates its new location in New Orleans, LA

Most importantly, we’ll work closely with you throughout the entire job search to provide support, insight, and successful strategies.

SRS Helps Talent Partners Find Their Ideal Career

Exceptional talent is in high demand at the top-performing companies. If you are ready to make a career move, make sure you contact SRS as soon as possible.
Whether you’re looking for new opportunities in the Gulf Region or want to expand your search nationwide, we can help. Our experienced recruiters can help you find a direct-hire position that best matches your skills, talents, and career goals.
At SRS, we work closely with you through the entire process to provide support, insight, and successful strategies. We partner with law firms and technology companies throughout the Gulf Coast region as well as the nation.

Finally, we can provide access to positions in the Legal and IT fields that may not be advertised on job boards or a company’s website.  Search our current opportunities or contact us directly!

SRS Helps Employers Stay Focused On Their Business

Our goal is to connect our Client Partners with the best active and passive candidates searching for a high-end career. That way our clients gain access to a deep talent pool of top-tier Legal and IT professionals. Many of which who are primed to make a career move.

In addition, our experts can help streamline your executive recruitment strategies and assist in managing the entire interviewing and hiring process. Let us help you find the right person for the job. 

We have offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and are ready to help your business identify professional candidates. Learn about all the professional recruiting services we provide to our Client Partners.