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Flexibility In The Legal Sector

Having a good work-life balance is really important for many of us nowadays. Being able to work from home or leave the office early to beat the rush-hour traffic, get to a dentist appointment or do the school pick-up is extremely attractive. Increasingly solicitors are looking to work for firms that offer flexible working over those that continue to observe the traditional models of working.

This is particularly the case for lawyers with young children, many of whom would jump at the chance to be able to adapt their working hours to fit in with the school run, sports days and other commitments. As a mum to two young children myself, I understand the struggle working parents experience when trying to balance their professional and personal commitment and how flexible working can make a huge difference.

While traditionally, law firms have stringently stuck to 8+ hour days and office-based working, in recent years, things have begun to change. Law firms are realising the benefits of offering flexi-time, home working or part-time contracts, not only in terms of attracting new recruits, but also to retain existing staff. Firms are focusing more on the results their solicitors produce rather than on the hours they work and whereabouts they work those hours.

This is particularly true in private client law (the area of the market I specialise in), where many solicitors are settled at their current firms and not actively looking to make a move. Because private client solicitors are passive candidates, law firms have to think outside the box in order to pique the interest of potential employees. One way in which they are doing this is by introducing flexible working.

Even at many larger, national firms, traditionally known to be more rigid in the way they work, home-working and flexible hours are becoming more common. Law firms who refuse to adapt their working patterns or offer flexible working risk losing out on top talent.

Most lawyers know about this move towards agile working, but many are unaware of just how widespread flexibility is within the legal profession. Even if they are unhappy at their current firm, those who already work at home or part-time may be put off looking for a new role, simply because they think they wouldn’t be able to get the same flexibility at another firm. Equally, those who have not moved in a number of years might not think about exploring other opportunities because they are unaware that they might be able to work from home or reduce their hours at another firm.

I recently spoke to a solicitor who currently works until 2pm to allow her to pick up her children from school. She had been at her current firm for several years and didn’t realise that other firms might also be willing to accommodate these hours. When I initially explained her situation to the law firm she was applying to, they hadn’t thought about taking on someone with this working pattern, but because of her extensive experience and skill set, they are now seriously considering her.

It’s true that at some firms, flexi-time or home-working is limited to parents or more senior solicitors, but at many other firms, flexible working policies are company-wide. Where policies do not apply across the board, many firms work on a case-by-case basis and are open to considering reduced hours or agile working at the recruitment stage for the right person.

For example, at the end of last year, I placed a private client solicitor who was looking to work flexibly after returning from maternity leave. While she is still at a relatively early stage of her career at 2 years’ PQE, the national firm she has moved to have agreed to her working a 4-day- week until her child starts nursery, giving her an extra day a week with her daughter.

For Legal & Finance Jobs in Manchester and Law recruitment agency in Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Contact Klein Hamilton one of the best Legal & Finance recruitment agencies in Manchester. For more info, visit www.kleinhamilton.co.uk

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Legal Sector Among Best Industries For Hiring In 2020

The latest report from CV-Library reveals that job applications in the legal sector have increased by 14.5% in the last year.

The report from CV-Library analysed job market data throughout 2019 and compared it with statistics from 2018. It reveals that the legal industry saw the sixth biggest jump in applications year-on-year.

A key driving factor behind the jump in applications may well be the fact that average pay in the legal sector jumped up by 1.5% in 2019.

Lee Biggins, CEO, and founder of CV-Library commented: “Despite severe political and economic uncertainty over the last year, it’s positive to see that the legal industry has continued to grow. We’ve noticed that this is an ongoing trend across several sectors, which should instill confidence in employers who may have put their recruitment plans on pause in the run-up to the election; especially as January is consistently one of the best times to hire.”  

The report also shows that businesses in the legal industry were advertising more roles in 2019, with the number of job adverts increasing by 8.4%. This could mean more competition for employers, as organisations battle it out to secure top talent.

Lee Biggins continues: “While the competition for jobs may be higher in some sectors, this increase in job applications is great news for businesses looking for new talent. Don’t wait to take advantage of this growth and start advertising your latest job roles now.

“If you’re worried about attracting the best candidates in highly competitive industries, don’t panic. You can still make the most of this influx of applications by posting your vacancies to job boards and working with suppliers to ensure your roles stand out. Start searching for your new hire now.”

Submit your C.V. and allow Legal Recruitment Agency to take the stress of job hunting away from you. Klein Hamilton is a Legal recruitment agency based in Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Leeds for Legal Recruitment in Manchester. Stay Connected for More Updates: www.kleinhamilton.co.uk

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How To Find The Perfect Role For You In 2020!

Have a look at our tips and hints to help you kick-start the new year!

Over the festive period and a couple of weeks away from the office, you might well have had a chance to reflect on whereabouts you are in your career. After evaluating the last 12 months and your current situation, you might decide that you’re not satisfied with your job and are ready to embark upon a new opportunity. If you’ve returned to work feeling motivated for a fresh start in 2020, but are unsure where to begin, our top tips below should help you to get the ball rolling.

Think about what you want

Before you even begin looking for a new position, it’s important to sit down and consider what you’re looking for. As we explored in a previous blog, if you’re thinking about moving on, there will usually be one key motivator. Are you unhappy with your current salary? Tired of your lengthy commute? Looking for more responsibility?

Once you’ve worked out exactly what’s wrong with your current role and what you’d like from your next one, you can then begin to browse jobs online or reach out to a recruiter.

Be prepared to invest time in your job search

From updating your CV and speaking with recruiters to attending interviews, hunting for a new job can be time-consuming. From the very beginning, you need to be willing to sacrifice some of your time in the evening, weekends or on your lunch-hour to hunt for a new position.

Refresh your CV and ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date

If you’ve been at your current firm for a number of years, it’s likely that your CV hasn’t been touched in a while. Reviewing and tidying up your CV is the very first thing you should do if you’re considering making a move.

With more than three-quarters of recruiters using LinkedIn for sourcing candidates, it’s also important that your LinkedIn profile is up to scratch. Make sure that you’ve got a recent profile picture and your profile includes information about your latest roles and achievements. In your LinkedIn settings, you can also let recruiters who are looking for professional talent within your sector know that you’re open to opportunities.

Contact a specialist recruitment consultant

Because they have the in-depth market knowledge and relationships with the law firms they work with, speaking to a specialist recruiter can be invaluable if you are looking for a new role.

Get networking

Most lawyers are no strangers to networking, but getting yourself out there is particularly beneficial if you’re considering taking your next step. Not only will networking help you to meet new contacts but attending events is a great way of keeping on top of developments within your niche of the legal profession. When you come to interview for roles, you may be able to use what you’ve learned as an interesting point of discussion.

Make sure you have some annual leave left

At some point in your search, you will, of course, need to attend an interview. At the start of your search, check that you have some holiday remaining at work so you can book time off to meet with prospective employers.

Be patient

Most people won’t find a new job straight away. It might take a while to find your perfect position, but it’s important to stay patient and positive about your search. Make sure you have someone you trust to talk to in times of frustration, whether that’s a friend, family member or even your recruitment consultant. If you don’t come across something suitable immediately, don’t worry! Persevere and stay committed to your job search and eventually, you will find a role that ticks the boxes for you and your career.

For Legal & Finance Jobs in Manchester and Law recruitment agency in Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Contact Klein Hamilton one of the best Legal & Finance recruitment agencies in Manchester.

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How To Decide Between Job Offers!

It might sound like the dream but having two job offers on the table can make for a hard decision. Our experts share some crucial things to consider if you’re struggling to decide.

Think long-term

One of the key reasons people change roles is to develop their career, so when deciding on your next move your long-term career ambitions should be a vital consideration. Every career decision a candidate makes will ultimately impact on their long-term career ambitions, which means it’s all the more important to make the right choices. Long-term ambitions should act as an end goal, and whichever job choice you make now, it should move you further down the road towards that end goal.

Be careful of ‘push’ factors

When considering each role, ask yourself whether it would fulfil the reasons you decided to look for a new job in the first place. Any candidate will likely experience ‘push factors’ driving them away from their current role, but if the new job on offer doesn’t address these issues you could be left feeling unfulfilled and wondering if it was all worth it. Don’t end up jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire by choosing the wrong role.

When considering each role, ask yourself whether it would fulfil the reasons you decided to look for a new job in the first place.

Assess the work/life balance

The work/life balance of any job means different things to different people, so consider what impact each role will have on your own needs and requirements. If candidates have young families or other responsibilities, then the ability to work from home or work flexibly may be a more pressing concern, she says. Also consider each role’s location and commute as this could significantly impact on your day-to-day life, although some companies may offer perks like childcare or gym membership that could offset these issues.

Consider the culture fit

A company’s culture is critically important when deciding which offer to accept because you need to be sure you’ll enjoy going into work every day. What constitutes a good culture fit largely depends on the individual, she explains, so candidates should take clues and insight wherever they can to assess if the workplace is right for them, such as asking friends or ex-employees who know the business, and checking social media channels such as Glassdoor and Instagram. Think about the types of roles you’ve enjoyed in the past, and which of the roles on offer comes closest to replicating that environment.

Reflect on the interview

The interview process is where the magic happens, offering you the best chance to gain a good understanding of how the company operates on a personal level. However, while candidates might not be able to build a completely accurate picture of the job through an interview, it should give them an idea of what to expect. From a good interview, you’ll be able to imagine what a regular working day would be like and be able to gauge the company’s workplace culture which will help your decision-making process.

Don’t get blinded by salary

While salary is obviously an important consideration in any job offer and should fairly reflect the level of work expected, it shouldn’t be the only factor determining whether you accept or reject an offer. A role could offer other, non-monetary career benefits such as increased responsibility or greater exposure. If you want to make a decision unbiased by salary, ignore the financial package and focus instead on what excites you about the two offers.

Trust your gut

If you’ve asked the right questions in the interview and researched both the companies and the specific roles on offer, you should be well-placed to make a sensible, informed decision on which job you should take. However, he notes that taking on a new role is never without its risks regardless of how much thought has gone into the move. Being risk-averse isn’t a bad quality when looking to change jobs, but at some point, you may just have to trust your gut and take that leap of faith!

Looking for a job?

Post Your CV. Build Your Career

Submit your C.V. and allow us to take the stress of job hunting away from you. Due to our extensive relationships within the Legal & Finance Sector, we will proactively locate suitable positions based on your experience, location and remuneration.

For Legal Jobs in Manchester and Law Recruitment Agency in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Leeds. Contact Klein Hamilton one of the best Legal & Finance recruitment agencies in manchester.

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AI Revolution Could Cost 35,000 UK Legal Jobs - Law Society Research

Law’s 30-year employment boom could go into sharp reverse over the next decade, according to a study commissioned by the Law Society of England and Wales. But lawyers are unlikely to be the main casualties - legal secretaries and support staff are set to bear the brunt of any contraction.

These are among the ‘scenarios’ envisaged in a study on strategic workforce planning commissioned by Chancery Lane from the Institute for Employment Studies and published today. Using employment data from 2017, the report analyses how the market will need to adapt to a more deregulated environment, tougher commercial pressures and increasing adoption of technology in the years to 2027.

Overall, the report predicts a fall in employment of 13,000 (4%) on the 321,000 employed in the law in 2017. The number of legal professionals and associates is projected to continue rising, by around 2% a year. But the number of legal secretaries - a role headed for extinction - will slump by two-thirds, while the numbers of other office support staff will fall by a quarter.

In 1998 one secretary, on average, was employed for every two legal professionals. By 2027 it is predicted there will be one for every 20.

Since 1993, the number of legal professionals has risen at just under 2% a year, from 61,000 to 150,000. But the future appears bleaker under an alternative forecast based on high takeup of technology, in particular artificial intelligence. That would cost a further 22,000 jobs, a net reduction in total employment of 35,000 jobs - more than one in 10 of the current total.

The legal professional category would also suffer attrition under this 'extreme AI' scenario, with 7,000 fewer workers. But most of the roles to go would be secretarial and support staff in larger firms, which are more likely to deploy artificial intelligence.

The report also considers the impact of different Brexit scenarios, though the institute said it would be 'very difficult or impossible' to model a cumulative total reflecting both Brexit and high adoption of technology. Under a World Trade Organization-type Brexit trade relationship, a further 3.5% reduction in cut in total employment is predicted on the central forecast.

Another theme of the report is the changing skill set demanded by employers, based on interviews with private practice firms, in-house legal teams and individual solicitors.  Communication and team-working are increasingly viewed as important, in addition to technical skills. The most prevalent skills gaps identified concerned problem-solving, client-handling, and planning and organisation.

Post Your CV. Build Your Career

Submit your C.V. and allow us to take the stress of job hunting away from you. Due to our extensive relationships within the Legal & Finance Sector, we will proactively locate suitable positions based on your experience, location, and remuneration. Klein Hamilton is a Legal & Finance recruitment specialists in Manchester offering legal recruitment services in Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Find your job here www.kleinhamilton.co.uk

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Future Of The Legal Workforce

The legal services market will need to adapt to a more deregulated environment and stronger commercial pressures!

The legal services market will need to adapt to a more deregulated environment, stronger commercial pressures and increasing adoption of technology, the Law Society of England and Wales said as it released research to inform strategic workforce planning for the sector to 2027.

“Our analysis anticipates the shape of the future legal workforce, identifying trends and skills gaps based on a range of alternative scenarios, from technology adoption and Brexit to competition,” Law Society president Simon Davis said.

“Developments identified here will help define the roles and skills required for solicitor firms to perform successfully, while the Law Society will continue to refer to these findings to plan and develop relevant support for our members.”

Since 1993 the number of legal professionals has increased steadily, at an average rate of just under two per cent per year, from 61,329 to around 150,000 in 2017. Total employment in the legal services sector was estimated at 321,000 in 2017.

Key findings of Law Society’s Strategic Workforce Planning reports are that by 2027:

Employment in the legal services sector is projected to fall by 13,000 (4%)

Legal professionals are projected to comprise 57% of the workforce, and legal associate professionals (such as compliance officers) 15% (compared with 47% and 11% respectively in 2017)

Numbers of legal secretaries are projected to decline by nearly two thirds, other office support staff by a quarter - to account for 3% and 9% of the workforce respectively.

There will be around 20 legal professionals per legal secretary, and five legal professionals for every secretary or other office support worker

Staff with degrees or other higher qualifications will account for more than 99% of the legal professionals workforce, 76% of the legal associate professionals workforce, and 80% of the senior support staff workforce.

The sector will need to recruit around 100,000 employees from 2017-2027, or around 10,000 per year, of which around 7,000 will be legal professionals and around 2,800 legal associate professionals.

At present around 3,100 graduates and 3,300 returners enter legal professional roles each year.

Simon Davis said: “Employers may need to engage even more with higher education providers to encourage talent into the sector and profession.

“The most prevalent skills gaps (although these gaps are decreasing) are likely to be around problem solving, client handling, and planning and organisation.

“Worryingly, this report also suggests the numbers of recruits exhibiting skills gaps in literacy and numeracy will be higher.

“For anyone aiming for a career in the law, it is worth noting that a common theme from employers was that firms were paying more attention in recruitment to people skills, such as communication and team working, whereas in the past they had only looked at technical legal skills. Commercial awareness and management skills were also seen as important.

“A core issue our research over many years has repeatedly alerted us to is a lag in diversity at the top of the profession.

“We believe one of the tools to address this is greater clarity and transparency about career pathways, including the skills and experience required to reach leadership positions.”

Stay Connected for More Updates: www.kleinhamilton.co.uk | Klein Hamilton is a Legal recruitment agency based in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Leeds for Legal Recruitment in Manchester.

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Five Questions To Ask Yourself Before Going Freelance

The option of becoming a freelance solicitor makes it cheaper and easier to set up and practise alone than ever before.

The option of becoming a freelance solicitor makes it cheaper and easier to set up and practise alone than ever before. Unlike the process of establishing as a sole practitioner – it can take months to get a new firm authorised – if you have a practising certificate and want to become a freelance solicitor, you could be up and running in less than a week.

To get going, you simply need to notify the Solicitors Regulation Authority and ensure that you have a letter of engagement and terms of business which meet the notification requirements set out by the regulator. If you want to offer reserved legal services, you will also need three years’ post-qualification experience and ‘adequate and appropriate’ professional indemnity insurance. It really is that simple.

Except, of course, nothing is quite that simple. The low upfront costs and promise of reduced bureaucracy make the prospect of becoming a freelance solicitor attractive to many, but this new model of practice is not without its challenges. Some of these may be worked out over time, as freelance solicitors bed in to the profession, while others may be longer-term, and could perhaps shape your entire career. So, before you leap into the exciting new world of the freelance solicitor, you might want to ask yourself some serious questions.

Is it the right time for you to become a freelance solicitor?

This is not about whether you should wait to see how things work out for the first wave of freelance solicitors (although you may want to do so), rather it is about whether you are at a stage in your career where it makes sense to go freelance. Until now, solicitors setting out on their own have generally gained some experience in practising the law and business management, and sole practitioners have been able to employ staff to help them with administrative work, anti-money laundering and other tasks. But under the SRA’s new Standards and Regulations, newly qualifieds will be able to set up as freelance solicitors almost immediately.

For newer solicitors, even if you are confident that you have a foolproof business plan, it might be overly ambitious to assume the responsibility of running your own business at a time when your legal skills are untested, your reputation and client base are unestablished, and your income is far from secure. You could find yourself competing on price against large firms for high-volume, low-value work, and unable to earn what you need.

For established solicitors with a loyal group of clients, starting capital, a steady turnover, and ample experience in business and the law, becoming a freelance solicitor may prove a better option. For employed solicitors the new way of working can offer welcome independence, and for partners it could reduce overheads and mean that you no longer need to share fee income.

Will the freelance model allow you to do the kinds of work you want to do?

At this stage, we do not know whether freelance solicitors will be able to offer most of the services currently provided by solicitors in regulated entities, or if practical considerations will mean they will end up working in areas that are fairly narrowly defined. For instance, it remains to be seen if mortgage lender panels will accept freelance solicitors, or whether the Court of Protection will allow freelance solicitors to operate as professional deputies. It will take some time for these, and innumerable other decisions, to be worked through.

Freelance solicitors will not be able to hire locums, which may create difficulties if they are ill or simply want to take a holiday, and it may limit their ability to take on work which is time-sensitive.

Even basic considerations, such as where freelancers choose to work, can have serious implications. Would you want clients knowing your home address? Does a shared office space provide sufficiently secure facilities to meet your data protection obligations and the SRA requirements regarding client confidentiality?

Have you sorted out your paperwork?

In addition to notifying the SRA that you intend to serve clients as a freelance solicitor, you will also need to establish terms of business, and an engagement letter that sets out the restrictions on how you can practise and the impact these could have on your clients.

The most significant restriction is that preventing freelancers holding money in a client account (they can hold their own fees and funds for disbursements in a business account, but this cannot be a client account). There are no restrictions on the use of a third-party managed account (TPMA), but that will require additional work engaging a TPMA provider, selecting the right type of TPMA, ensuring that your engagement letter explains how your clients’ money will be handled in a way that makes it easy to understand, and informing the SRA that you will be using a TPMA.

Can you get ‘adequate and appropriate’ insurance?

Freelance solicitors are sole proprietors, and as such they have unlimited liability, meaning they can be held personally accountable for any of the businesses’ debts.

The SRA only requires freelance solicitors to get ‘adequate and appropriate’ PII if they are offering reserved legal activities. But, aside from the danger of some ostensibly non-reserved services straying over the line, it would be foolhardy for solicitors to work in private practice without securing insurance protections for themselves and their clients, whatever work they are doing.

The chief complaint about purchasing PII on the SRA’s minimum terms and conditions (MTCs) is that it is expensive – and it is – but the cover it provides is comprehensive (not even failure to pay your final premium is sufficient to void your insurance), and freelance solicitors are unlikely to find anything equivalent on the open market. Underwriters have been reluctant to offer similar terms to anyone unless it is specifically required by the regulator, but the market could develop quickly, so it is worth looking around to find the best deal you can.

The SRA has produced guidance on what it means by ‘adequate and appropriate’ insurance (although it fails to address important issues such as aggregation clauses and run-off cover). If a solicitor can demonstrate that they made an assessment – including factors such as their number and type of clients, the value of their work, their likely maximum losses, and claims history – and reached a reasonable decision as to the appropriate level of cover, the SRA will not take action against them. We have not yet seen insurance products for freelance solicitors emerging, even to meet these minimal requirements, but if there is demand then the market may adapt.

The prospects may be better for established solicitors with good claims histories, working in low-risk areas, but early indications are that the insurance that will be available to freelance solicitors will be standard miscellaneous PII policies, with broad exclusion clauses, so it may be difficult to know with certainty whether particular kinds of claim will be covered until they have been made.

The low value of the policies means that it will not be economical for brokers to provide advice, and doing so may put their own errors and omissions insurance at risk. This uncertainty may deter prospective clients, if it is properly explained, and – especially after the decision in Dreamvar –solicitors in regulated entities may be unwilling to interact with freelance solicitors who cannot establish that they have PII at or very near the level of the SRA’s MTCs.

The ability of freelance solicitors to find run-off cover when they close their businesses is as yet undetermined, but without this possibility, many freelance solicitors could be vulnerable to potential uninsured claims for years to come.

How might working as a freelance solicitor affect your career options? In the fullness of time it may be that freelance solicitors come to be viewed as wholly unexceptional, but initially at least they raise unique questions for firms that might otherwise want to take them on as employees or partners.

Becoming a freelancer could well have an impact on your ability to join a traditional law firm or alternative business structure in the future. Law firms may ask you to show them the PII policy you have in place, and may insist through your contract of employment that you either purchase six years of run-off cover or maintain your policy for six years after you cease to practise as a freelance solicitor. This is because insurance is generally on a ‘date of claim’ basis, which means that if a claim arises five years after you did the work as a freelancer, you still need to have a policy in place to cover the claim.

This is especially likely to be the case if your freelance clients follow you to a new firm, as the firm might fear reputational damage if they say they are not responsible for a claim which happened before you joined them, and you have not secured the proper insurance to cover your earlier work. Risk-averse firms may decide not to employ former freelance solicitors at all until the whole regulatory and insurance position becomes clear.

It may be more straightforward for freelance solicitors intending to move in-house.

To conclude, while the practical steps to becoming a freelance solicitor may be quite simple, anyone considering this significant step in their career should take the time to think through the wider implications and make sure they have identified the best route and model for them.

Post Your CV. Build Your Career

Submit your C.V. and allow us to take the stress of job hunting away from you. Due to our extensive relationships within the Legal & Finance Sector, we will proactively locate suitable positions based on your experience, location, and remuneration. Klein Hamilton is a Legal recruitment specialists in Manchester offering legal recruitment services in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds. For more info, visit www.kleinhamilton.co.uk

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A Few Tips To Help You Get Ready For A New Job

Although coming to the decision that you’re ready to change jobs is a big step, translating that decision into the reality of finding a new role with a new employer can still seem a frustratingly long way off. But to give you the reassurance that things are moving in the right direction, there are actually lots of things you can be doing – starting from now... Write your ideal job description You know you want to move on… but move on to what? Have a go at drafting a job description for your ideal role. Factor in your strengths and areas of interest, and think about the areas you like or dislike about your current role. Use this ideal description to inform your job search. Draw up a timetable Break down your job search into a series of manageable phases – such as Research, Selection, Applications, Interview Preparation – with a realistic timeframe against each phase. Work out what you need to do at each phase – e.g. for the Application phase, you’ll need your CV ready, for the Interview stage, you’ll need to have done a wardrobe review. Pin this timetable up somewhere at home to help you stay on track. Put out feelers in your network Ask around among trusted contacts about interesting employers, valuable information sources and the most effective recruiters. This will give you ideas for companies to research online and follow socially, and recruiters you may want to contact. It may even turn up some interesting opportunities. Sign up for alerts and newsletters Think about the best sources of new job information in your industry, and make sure you’re signed up for all relevant alerts and newsletters. Many sites allow you to tailor a search by relevant criteria such as travel distance and salary band, and receive notifications of new relevant opportunities. Talk to some recruiters With their in-depth knowledge of your market and of recruitment trends, a good recruiter can be a mine of useful information, about everything from salary expectations to skills requirements to job hunting tips. Set up a few informal exploratory calls with recruiters that look like a good fit. If you’re a top-notch candidate then a really good recruiter may offer to look after your job search exclusively. Exclusivity means you’ve got a dedicated resource working hard to find you the perfect role. You may prefer this option as it saves you having to liaise with lots of different recruitment agencies. Start updating your knowledge Now is also a good time to make sure you’re on top of trends in your industry, regulatory developments, technological changes and so on. Identify a few key publications that you can trust to keep you really informed, and make a point of looking at them regularly. Now is also a good time to start paying more attention to current affairs too, so you can be as well-informed as possible come interview time. Think especially about the impact of key news stories on your industry. Set aside some daily search time Set aside a small amount of time each day to dedicate to your new job search, and draw up a list of things you want to do every day. This will typically include looking at LinkedIn, checking key job sites, and reading the latest news from key industry publications. Maximise your LinkedIn presence The greater your engagement on LinkedIn, the more visible your digital presence. Follow companies and connect with recruiters in sectors and industries that interest you, and use the Alumni search tool to reach out to valuable connections. Also, look to update your LinkedIn status frequently with engaging insights and links, and post relevant articles to boost your profile views.

In addition, spend time ensuring your profile is up to date and worded to maximise your appeal to potential new employers, complete with a recent photo and details of all your latest experience and expertise. You can also ask contacts to endorse you for skills and leave testimonials. Take up opportunities at your current job that will boost your appeal to a new employer There are lots of things you can do in your current job that could also stand you in good stead in your job search. To boost your personal brand online, for example, offer to write blogs and other thought leadership content on behalf of your company. To enhance your skill set, look to take up any suitable training or development opportunities on offer. And be ready to take on new responsibilities or new areas of work that you can add to your profile. Widen your skill set Learning something new to add to your CV is always a good idea, particularly if you’re looking for a job that’s slightly different to what you do now, or if you’re worried about a potential gap in your skill set. There’s a wealth of online courses, tutorials and evening classes out there, much of them free. Find out what might be relevant to the job you’re looking for and start learning… Refresh your CV If you’ve been working in the same role for years, there’s a chance you haven’t opened your CV file too recently. Make sure to update it before applying for new jobs. Add in all your relevant experience, extra courses you’ve undertaken and other skills you might have developed recently. Refresh your wardrobe A smart professional outfit makes a great first impression and inspires confidence in the wearer. Have a look at your wardrobe and see if you’ve got a killer outfit, or whether now might be a good time to invest in a new look. You may have several interviews or meetings to attend, of course, so think about updating essentials as well. Klein Hamilton Best Legal Recruitment Consultants offers Legal Recruitment Services in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. Stay updated with our blog... www.kleinhamilton.co.uk 

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10 Tips For Networking Events

Here are ten points to bear in mind in order to excel when attending networking events.

Do your research

Before attending a networking event, you should not only make yourself aware of the focus of it, but also take the opportunity to consider the attendance list, if there’s one available. Peruse any online profiles of the people with whom you’ll be networking, while bearing in mind the next tip.

Don’t stay glued to your phone

It’s acceptable to take it out to check the contact details of someone who doesn’t have a business card, but not to talk, text or check messages. By focusing on your phone, you’ll seem too busy to engage with and may be considered disrespectful.

Do remain subtle

Don’t come on too strong. Whether you’re discussing legal matters or simply chatting on a personal level, avoid going overboard on what or how much you know. Avoid forcing your opinions on anyone, even if you hear something you don’t agree with.

Don’t be late

It’s likely that many attendees will actually arrive early, and you’ll be left out of any connections made if you arrive after them.

Do come prepared

Be ready to converse on topics that don’t necessarily relate to work, as engaging someone in their interests is a great way to start a conversation or fill an awkward silence. This is an effective networking technique that will enable you to connect with other attendees on another level, so you're more likely to be remembered.

There may be information that you need to take down, so if you use your phone for this purpose, make sure it’s fully charged. Have a pen and small note pad with you as back-up.

Don’t binge on the refreshments

There may be an impressive spread of finger food, but you don’t want to spray crumbs on someone you’re speaking to. Similarly, if there’s alcohol available, limit yourself or just say no.

Do dress smart

This tip not only applies to the appropriateness of the clothes you wear, but also being clever about what you wear so you’re comfortable. You’ll find it difficult to make a good impression while fiddling with cuffs or adjusting your waistband. A blazer, for example, can easily be removed if you get hot and will allow you to remain looking smart.

Don’t make assumptions

Don’t go in with a fixed mindset about who you’re going to see or what you are going to talk about, as things can change. Be ready for a number of different scenarios so that you can avoid saying the wrong thing.

Do follow up

Whether you connect via an appropriate social-media platform or directly call or email, follow up and stay in contact with those you meet.

Don’t stay in one place

It’s easy to get comfortable when you’re having a nice conversation, but remember that you need to mingle. So gradually work the room and talk to as many people as possible.

The first time you may need to use your networking skills is when you’re seeking your first role, but it’ll remain useful throughout your career – and you never know what could result!

KLEIN HAMILTON LEGAL & FINANCE

Submit your C.V. and allow Legal Recruitment Agency to take the stress of job hunting away from you. Klein Hamilton is a Legal & Finance recruitment specialists in Manchester offering legal recruitment services in Manchester, London, Birmingham, and Leeds. To know more, visit www.kleinhamilton.co.uk

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A Few Tips To Help You Get Ready For A New Job!

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