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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 N OV E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S L AW M aine law firms of all sizes are hiring, and ramping up recruiting of entry-level and seasoned attorneys. Strategies range from more net- working and outreach rather than just on-campus interviewing, and screening candidates for their "fit" into a firm's culture. Most have their own recruit- ing or hiring committees, but enlist external recruiters when seeking to fill specific senior positions. Bernstein Shur, Maine's largest law firm with 102 attorneys in Portland, 18 in Manchester, N.H., and one in Augusta, is leading the way with two in-house power recruiters in a new setup approved by the board in October. Joan Fortin, who has overseen attorney recruiting at the firm for the past 20 years and will succeed Pat Scully as CEO in January, will shift her recruiting focus to experienced, lateral hires, while senior associate Lindsay Leone will spearhead summer associ- ate and entry-level hiring. "If you think about what a law firm is," Fortin says, "we don't sell things or widgets. It's people, it's a relationship business, and so the quality of our hires is extremely important. As CEO I'm still going to be very involved in the hiring." Leone, who joined Bernstein Shur in early 2017 from Boston firm Mintz Levin, vets every summer applicant as she would for any staff attorney role. "When we think about how they would work within our firm," she says, "it's always with that long-term view of their potential to generate clients and business. at's something we look for right from the beginning." Of the firm's current attorneys, 26% were summer associates. Large firms are hiring As Maine's only law school, the University of Maine School of Law in Portland is fertile ground for recruiters from law firms and other employers. Ann Parrent, the new director of career services, says the school has had strong on-campus interview program over the past few years, with consistent participation by around 15 law firms as well as corporate legal departments and governmental and nonprofit employers. "We also regularly post opportunities and collect applications for law firms and other employers who do not participate in on-campus interviewing," she adds. at may become more chal- lenging for some firms now that the Washington, D.C.-based National Association for Law Placement has freed up law schools to set their own policies and procedures. While some Maine law firms saw fewer applications for summer 2020 associate positions, many have made their hires and are sticking to their tradi- tional class sizes. at includes Bernstein Shur with three associates signed on for next summer, Pierce Atwood with two hired for Portland and one for Providence, R.I; and Preti Flaherty with two summer associates for Portland. Pierce Atwood's Katy Rand, the partner who spearheads attorney recruit- ing, says about a third of the firm's attor- neys had been summer associates. Out of her summer 2002 class, all four were promoted to partner at the same time and are still with the firm. More recently, seven new associates joined Pierce Atwood in September — in the business, litigation, environ- mental, and real estate practice groups — including five laterals. Two former summer associates are also set to start in September 2020. Because the vast majority of Pierce Atwood summer associates end up get- ting job offers with the firm, Rand says it's important for them to get to know as many lawyers as possible early on. "We really respect each other's talents and opinions here, so the hope is that we will attract candidates that will help perpetuate that culture," she says. While on-campus interviewing used to be a bigger part of the recruit- ing, she says the firm now does so only at schools in the region, includ- ing Boston and Maine. It also gets applications from candidates across the country, mainly from individuals with a connection to Maine. SP ONSORED BY REGISTER AT MAINEBIZ.BIZ/5ON Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland January 7 7:30–10:00am A LOOK AT MAINE'S FUTURE ECONOMY FOR 2020 FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MB5on20 Join us for Five on the Future as we take a look at Maine's future economy with a panel of Maine CEOs and leaders who will discuss how they see the marketplace performing in the coming year. They will identify leading economic indicators, opportunities, and challenges for Maine's future. KEYNOTE & MODERATOR PA N E L I S T S S TAY T U N E D F O R U P DAT E S O N PA N E L I S T S ! Jeff Fuhrer Executive Vice President and Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Deirdre Wadsworth President of Hardypond Construction Justin Lamontagne Par tner and Designated Broker at NAI The Dunham Group If you think about what a law firm is, we don't sell things or widgets. It's people, it's a relationship business, and so the quality of our hires is extremely important. As CEO I'm still going to be very involved in the hiring." — Joan Fortin Bernstein Shur C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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