Helpful, if somewhat obvious, restatement of advice to law firms from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly:
"We’ve emphasized before that even the smallest practices benefit from hiring the right administrative help to free up attorney time for practicing law and winning new clients.
"However, the hiring process in itself is complex and time consuming. That’s why it makes sense for most small and mid-sized law firms to use employment agencies in filling staff positions.
"Lawyers consider themselves great judges of character, but the hiring process requires far more specialized resources to be done effectively. Employment agencies have the knowledge and skills at interviewing, psychological evaluation and employment discrimination law to handle the recruiting, evaluation and hiring process effectively.
"They also have the time and investigative skills to verify a potential hire’s credentials and experience — a vital task that’s increasingly difficult to do because of privacy laws."
Author Edward Poll, J.D., M.B.A., CMC, is a speaker, author and board-approved coach to the legal profession.