There are so many legal recruiters to choose from that the task of finding a good match can seem daunting.  Despite the magnitude of the challenge, there are certain qualities you want to look for in a legal recruiter and certain standards any legal recruiter should meet.

1.    Make sure the legal recruiter you choose understands your professional goals and has the connections to help you find the position you desire.

2.    Evaluate the legal recruiter's knowledge of the legal market.  Does he or she understand the culture of the law firms that he/she will submit your resume to?  Is he/she an insider with information about legal jobs in the pipeline?

3.    Some recruiters may ask a legal professional to sign an "exclusive agreement." If so, you want to carefully consider the pros and cons of such an agreement before signing anything.  If the legal recruiter has "confirmed" contacts and relationships with quality law firms you're interested in, then an exclusive agreement may be just what you need.

4.    Make sure that the legal recruiter has a policy of submitting a candidate's resume to law firms only with their express permission.  Sending resumes out en masse is always a no-no.

5.    Good legal recruiters guarantee you complete confidentiality.