Importance of Social Networking Sites in Recruiting
Posted: April 22nd, 2008
By: Zach Heller
Category: Career Corner, Law Firms, Opinion Corner

Lawyers are notoriously slow adapting to change.  Changes in the way we do business, in the way we hire new employees, in the way we reach out to the public, are never headed up by the legal community.  It is a profession marked by long standing traditions and a very specific set of values and standards.  But now, as new technologies continue to open up doors for all businesses every single day, it is important that even lawyers and law firms try to keep up.

I recently read this blog, which addressed the issue of banning certain websites in large law firms.  Citing a survey, it was argued that banning social networking sites can hurt recruiting efforts for new hires because today’s young professionals have grown up with these online communities.

I would take this a step further and say that smaller law firms can use social networking sites and blogs to help their recruiting effort against large firms.  The big law firms have always had an advantage when it comes to recruiting the best talent out of law school for the simple fact that they can pay more.  But recruiting talent is as important as ever, so why not look for new ways to do it?  Treat your potential employees as if they are potential clients.  Actively go after their “business”.

Speaking directly to law students and young lawyers via blogs, online communities, and other web formats allows employers to tap into a whole new world, one that is inhabited almost entirely by the next generation of workers.  Already many other businesses are starting to see the potential in taking advantage of these new online communication platforms, and it is time for the law to take notice.
Instead of banning such websites, use them to their fullest extent.  

Don’t hide from the future, embrace it.  The next generation of lawyers are out there looking for a place to work.  Go and find them.

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