At a time when many large firms are delaying the hiring of new associates and many large firm attorneys are getting the pink slip big opportunities are still available at smaller firms.  But how does an attorney tailor his job candidate pitch to the smaller market?  Below are a few tips:

1. Do your research.  Small firms are different from larger firms in that they offer many unique opportunities to talented attorneys without many of the barriers present in larger firms.  But they also require a lot more tangible investments from their hires—in other words many small firms have special needs and growth challenges.  Job candidates should find out what a small firm’s needs are and then tailor their pitch to those needs.  For example, if a small firm is thinking about expanding or adding immigration legal services, an attorney with immigration experience plus connections in immigrant communities could be especially helpful to that particular firm.
2. Don’t wait until the small firm posts their job opportunity.  Many small firms wait months after a need presents itself to post a position.  Get ahead of your competition by researching small firms in your area, identifying their needs and pitching your services to them before others get wind of the opportunity.
3. Business skills matter.  The ability of an attorney to get and keep business is invaluable to any small firm.  If an attorney wants to land a big opportunity at a small firm, expanding and then selling their business development skills and experience can give them a huge edge over the competition when applying for small firm jobs.