Law firms are missing out on an untapped opportunity to recruit legal business talent from an unexpected resource: paralegals.

I had worked as a paralegal in BigLaw for eight years when I decided to pivot to marketing and business development.

However, as a nontraditional applicant for legal marketing and business development jobs, I was not always greeted with open arms by recruiters. In fact, I was once told "it will be difficult to place you" by a headhunter, who struggled to see how my skills could apply to these roles.

Now that I am the chief marketing and business development officer at Lowenstein Sandler, I realize that a nontraditional background actually brings many benefits to the business of law. As a paralegal, one learns how to effectively manage multiple time-sensitive priorities, how to navigate complex and matrixed organizations, and how to manage a broad range of personalities. As importantly, a skilled paralegal learns how to roll with the punches, adapt quickly to shifting situations, and stay focused on key objectives in the midst of moving timelines and targets.

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