Frequently Asked Questions

Question

How will working with a G&S recruiter help me?

Answer

All of G&S's principals are attorneys with extensive prior practice experience in law firms or corporations. With varied substantive practice backgrounds, we appreciate the importance of locating opportunities that are compatible with your interests, specialized expertise, and goals. Our Firm maintains a carefully cultivated network of professional, business and personal contacts that provides us the insight to ably advise you on how to make the most of your career options. Throughout your search, you will receive individualized attention from one of our experienced recruiters. As part of our service, we offer insight regarding resume preparation, assist you in refining interviewing techniques, provide essential background information on the employer(s) and position(s) of interest, help in evaluating employment offers, and provide advice on realistic compensation levels and entering status issues.

Question

What makes G&S different from other attorney search firms?

Answer

In its most recent survey, a leading global legal business journal ranked G&S among the top three attorney recruiting firms in the United States.

Charles W. Garrison and Martha Ann Sisson have been recognized as the best attorney search consultants in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area by a national survey on attorney recruiters.

Building strong personal relationships with the attorneys and clients with which we work and maintaining the highest standards of integrity are the hallmarks of G&S' dedication to the advancement of our attorney candidates' and clients' interests.

Our geographic base is the greater Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area, and what we do best and what distinguishes our services are the personal insight, access and knowledge we possess of the employers, practices and people comprising our local legal community.

It is a testament to the strength of the relationships we develop that the majority of new attorney candidates we place are referred through previously placed candidates with whom we have worked. Similarly, many of G&S' new client relationships (law firm and non-firm) are an outgrowth of an endorsement by a former attorney candidate now affiliated with a new employer. It is also common for a law firm client to endorse G&S to one of its corporate clients in connection with that company's search needs.

Question

Do I need to sign an exclusivity contract in order to work with G&S?

Answer

No. We encourage our candidates to explore every option when making a career transition. In fact, there are times when we recommend that our candidates contact other recruiting firms to fulfill their needs. Most of our candidates choose to use our services exclusively, however, because they recognize that we have a solid record of success in attorney placements and have an established, extensive and diverse client base.

Question

Will my contact with your firm be kept confidential?

Answer

Absolutely. We never share an attorney candidate's information with any of our clients unless we have explicit prior authorization from the attorney. Our highest priorities in serving you are discretion and honesty.

Question

Why are the names of G&S clients not listed under the representative clients section of your website?

Answer

Just as we strive to ensure the confidentiality of our contacts with attorneys with whom we work, we also safeguard the identity of our clients in order to shield them from uninvited inquiries. Once we have determined that you are a viable candidate for an available position, we happily will disclose our client's identity.

Question

How do I submit my resumé for a position posted on the G&S website?

Answer

E-mail is the preferred method of submission. You may also mail or fax us a copy of your materials for review. However, please be aware that, due to the volume of resumes we receive, we only are able to respond to those candidates whose qualifications directly match the current needs of our clients. Please click here to forward your materials to us.

Question

How long will it take before I hear back from a recruiter after submitting my resume?

Answer

Our recruiters do their best to respond to everyone who submits a resume; however, please be aware that, due to the volume of resumes we receive, we are only able to respond to those candidates whose qualifications directly match the current needs of our clients. We do maintain all resumes and related information received in our confidential database and will contact you if future opportunities arise that match your qualifications and interests.

Question

Can you help me to find a position outside of the Washington Metro area?

Answer

Yes. While our geographic base is the Baltimore-Washington-Richmond corridor, we occasionally represent employers in locations around the United States. We do this through direct client contacts or by working with affiliate recruiting firms in the New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas and Houston markets. If you are considering relocating, we will do our best to assist you in your search.

Question

Can G&S help me if I am a recent graduate?

Answer

Unfortunately, no. Our clients generally seek established attorneys with a minimum of one year of post-bar admission legal practice experience. Entry-level associates are hired directly through their law school recruiting programs. Recent law school graduates can often achieve employment success by contacting their law school career office, law school alumni, researching opportunities on the internet, networking, reading trade publications, and contacting their local bar association.

Question

Can G&S help me if I am a legal support professional or looking for a contract attorney position?

Answer

No. Our firm specializes in permanent attorney search placement. We do not assist in the recruitment of contract attorneys, paralegals or other legal professionals.

Question

Does G&S charge a fee for its recruiting services?

Answer

For attorney candidates: G&S's fees are paid entirely by the hiring organization upon the successful completion of an assignment. Lawyers incur no obligation to G&S for career planning consultation or for direct assistance in employment searches.

For employer clients: G&S accepts both contingency assignments and retainer searches. Fees reflect the standard of service provided and are competitive with other firms offering attorney recruiting counseling. Specific fees typically are established in letter agreements at the outset of a relationship or assignment.