Uncertainty feels like it’s everywhere right now. It’s in our extreme weather, our polarized political environment, and for those in the legal industry, it’s the jarring shift of law student recruiting moving to January, which has forced major career decisions after just one semester of law school.
On a personal level, my Jan/Feb have been filled with uncertainty. As many of you well know, the weeks following a home move are discombobulating. It’s exhausting to do basic tasks like packing for a business trip because nothing is where it used to be.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the uncertainty we are all facing and how destabilizing it can be.
Since January, I have conducted Interviewer Training for four law firms across the country. My core message has been that every interview is a branding opportunity. Your attorneys need to communicate what your firm values and what makes your culture unique.
Your interviewers must go beyond the generic “we have great people and great work” that candidates hear everywhere and share personal stories that resonate on a values-level with the candidates you want to hire.
Unfortunately, I’m hearing from many law firm recruiters that this season has been exceptionally challenging, with offers being declined in record numbers. When students are overwhelmed by external uncertainty, they often “grab” offers from the biggest name firms, believing those firms will provide more certainty or future options.
This is why I believe that knowing your values provides the essential inner compass we all need to navigate these uncertain times.
When we lose track of our values, it is easy to make decisions based on external drivers that may “feel” more certain in the moment but may not be right for us long term.
Uncertainty is hard, but knowing and living our values helps us to stop reacting to the chaos and start navigating through it.
For me, leaning into my relationships has been a source of stability and comfort in these uncertain times. As I travel for work to Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Philly I make sure to connect with clients I have known for years. Spending time with them supports my value of investing in trusted relationships and feels very grounding.
In a world where nothing is where it used to be, our values can provide the internal certainty we all need.