Legal Expert Available
Law firms now require business plans from many associate candidates

Topic:
Law firms require business plans from associate candidates

Expert:
Ronald E. Quirk Jr., Esq. Attorney Search Director, Special Counsel

Commentary:
“In this economic climate, many firms are understandably reluctant to hire mid-level or senior associates, unless they have a substantial book of business,” said Ron Quirk, attorney search director for Special Counsel. “But, firms searching for additional revenue sources would do well to consider hiring candidates who, though currently lacking portables, have a viable plan for business development. Candidates who have developed sound, creative business plans for tapping business development contacts can be a significant source of future revenue for law firms.”

Expert bio:
Ronald E. Quirk Jr. is an attorney search director at the Washington, D.C., office of Special Counsel. Prior to joining Special Counsel, Quirk was Of Counsel at several large Washington area law firms, specializing in federal regulatory law. For more information, reach Ron at (202) 478-4344 or ronald.quirk@specialcounsel.com.

• You need to think and act differently. Blending and similarity aren’t going to get you where you need to be during this economy.
• Interested in learning more about the risks you should take in order to succeed in 2009? Do you want a team behind you that will challenge you and put you on a path to success? Then call us. We can help you get there – faster than ever.

• Lists play an important role in your company’s marketing efforts by educating people about the value of your product. Do you have a list of the top ten characteristics that set your company apart?
• Having a top ten list gives you and your staff the ability to easily verbalize how your company stands out from the others, especially if you’re in a business sector that’s full of similarity.

• The popularity of Twitter (twitter.com) as a social media platform continues to zoom. Up to 10,000 people join Twitter each day, and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon, using Twitter as a micro-blogging conversational tool for their customers.
• We urge you to claim your Twitter ID, whether you decide to participate in Twitter or not. A Twitter ID is like a URL. It’s part of your personal brand. Once someone else takes it, you’ve lost it forever.

• Each January, we suggest a theme on which to focus your business activities for the coming months. This year’s theme is “the year to risk.”
• We urge you to take risks and do things differently. Risk introducing a new service or product. Risk trying new online marketing efforts within the arena of social media. Risk changing your Web site.
• Risk trying new offline sales and marketing efforts such as networking or speaking – efforts that improve your image as a leader and an authority in your business category.