Top California legal search and recruiting
SeltzerFontaine is a legal search consulting firm specializing in the placement of lawyers with leading law firms, corporations, non-profits, and governmental entities in California and nationally. We conduct searches for associates, partners, and practice groups, as well as all levels of in-house attorneys, including general counsel.
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MEET OUR TEAM
Madeleine Seltzer
Madeleine E. Seltzer earned her JD from USC Law School where…
Valerie Fontaine
Valerie A. Fontaine earned her JD from UC Hastings College of…
Randy Beckwith
Randy Beckwith is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UCLA where…
Roberta Kass
Roberta Kass has over 20 years of legal recruiting experience. She…
Amber Handman
Amber Handman spent 10 years at one of Washington, D.C.’s largest…
Celeste Reeder
Celeste Reeder has been in the business of legal recruiting since 2000.…
Stephanie Nelson
Stephanie Nelson is our Director of Operations. As Client Liaison she…
Michael Carr
Michael Carr moved from London and worked in legal search and…
Our latest blog posts
Quantify Your Accomplishments for a “Can Do” Resume
Your value as a candidate must be readily apparent from a cursory glance at your resume. In practice, most resumes receive only 20 to 30…
Lateral Partner Movement from the Client’s Point of View
Clients are not always pleased when their outside lawyer moves to another law firm because it requires a change in the attorney-client relationship. Either the…
Are Those Clients Really Portable?
In most cases, the success of a lateral partner hire is greatly determined by the successful transition of his or her clients. A few years…
How to Identify, Hire, and Develop Star Rainmakers
The skills that make a great rainmaker are not necessarily the same skills that make a great law firm associate. In the first few years,…
HIGHLIGHTED JOB OPPORTUNITIES
From major law firms to boutiques, corporations, governmental entities, and non-profits, we have active job searches throughout California and affiliates in major markets nationwide. We offer a wide variety of opportunities for experienced attorneys at all stages of their careers, including high-level partner placement.
Many of our positions are exclusive or unlisted elsewhere.
Assistant General CounselIn-house opportunity in Los Angeles for an attorney with 5+ years of entertainment or secured finance experience. 
Corporate
Intellectual Property
- Corporate M&A PartnerHighly regarded mid-sized firm seeks an M&A Partner to run major deals in LA or OC. Only a small portable book required.
Litigation
Finance & Tax
- Chief Compliance OfficerGlobal tech company seeks a CCO for a cryptocurrency venture in San Francisco. Must have 15+ years of compliance experience; JD preferred.
Employment
Real Estate
TESTIMONIALS
Shawn Thomas, senior litigation associate
Valerie Fontaine is extraordinarily knowledgeable about the LA legal job market. Valerie is also just a kind, pleasant-to-deal-with person, which goes a long way and isn't always a given among recruiters.
IP Associate, Los Angeles
Roberta was an amazing resource and friend during my job search. Her knowledge of the industry, the LA market, and recent hiring trends was invaluable in helping me locate good fits for…
Law Firm Managing Partner
Madeleine is a rare headhunter...not trying to talk me into a job because it might benefit her, but truly looking out for my interests, as well as her client's.
Luci Hamilton
Valerie is a world-class, awe-inspiring professional. She is always able to deliver on-time and at great value. In addition, she has been an inspiration to all attorneys that have read her outstanding…
Sandra Lepson
Madeleine found me my "perfect fit" job. She listened to me and understood my needs as well as those of the employer. Her ability to understand what the employer is looking for…
Bashir Eustache
Randy is a peerless professional in legal placement in Los Angeles. She remains at the top of my list, both because of her integrity and her extraordinary attention to detail.
Naomi Beard Nelson
In a time when the legal market is tough and the role of the legal recruiter has changed, Roberta remains fully engaged, connected and responsive. She knows the market intimately. She is…
Lynne Traverse
Valerie is someone I think of first when I look to partner with a professional search firm. I have known her for many years and have come to expect integrity, consistent communication,…
David Mainzer
Madeleine helped me with a difficult job search that other recruiters had no success in pursuing. As a result of Madeleine's hard work, experience and contacts, I found a good position at…
It’s the best!
I was amazed to read such a comprehensive, detailed "how to" for any prospective or current lawyer in just one short volume! This book [The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development…
Lydia Hervatin
Randy came highly recommended to me for a very specialized attorney search. She is the best recruiter I've ever dealt with. Randy is not only extremely knowledgeable, professional and results oriented, she…
Gary Goodstein
Valerie is an exceptional legal recruiter. She has her finger on the pulse of the Los Angeles legal market. She has contacts at the best law firms in town and no one…
Megan Lorenz
Randy is an excellent recruiter. She is honest, committed, informed and responsive and will make every effort to get you into a position that will be a great fit. Randy is the…
Jeff Wutzke
Of many legal recruiters with whom I've worked, Madeleine stands out as someone who truly listens, who is objective, and who strikes the right balance of pragmatism and enthusiasm when discussing prospects.…
Awesome Book & Awesome Author
I am fortunate to have read the book [The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers] and have the privilege of knowing the author. Valerie, in a nutshell, is…
Randolph L. Tom
I was a candidate that Valerie had identified for a publicly traded client's General Counsel position. Although the position was not of significant interest to me, I was extremely impressed with Valerie's…
Reg Levy
Do you love your job? Do you see yourself doing it until you retire? If your answer is anything but “Yes!” to either of the above, Valerie A. Fontaine’s The Right Moves: Job Search…
Loura Alaverdi
Randy is not only exceptionally gifted at what she does, she also brings energy and sense of humanity to her work.
Leo Martinez
I hired Valerie Fontaine, who is a principal of the Seltzer Fontaine legal search firm, to conduct a search for a new Executive Director for a non-profit organization for which I serve…
Peter Gurfein
Randy is a trusted counselor and advisor whether retained by the hiring firm or by the candidate looking for placement. Highly recommended.
Phyllis Hawkins
Besides being a talented legal recruiter, Valerie's book "The Right Moves" should be a must read for attorneys looking to change jobs. I have known Valerie and her partners for many years…
Michael Song
Randy is extremely well connected, will scour the market to find any and all possible opportunities, and has the highest ethical standards. She is extremely responsive, and always keeps you in the…
Excellent Advice for Lawyers Seeking Career Change
No longer do lawyers join a law firm and remain through retirement. Because career change is so common, and so vital for lawyers to move up the career ladder, a book like…
Graham Sherr
I have known Randy for over 20 years. I was her competitor for ten years and developed the highest respect for her which continues to this day. There is no shortage of…
The Right Move
After purchasing and reviewing "The Right Moves", I found it to be completely engaging and informative. It is, among other things, intelligent, well organized, readable, comprehensive, multi-dimensional -- providing information for entry…
Francesco Barbera
Randy is an exceptional, high-integrity legal recruiter with deep contacts in and knowledge of the attorney job market. I used Randy for a couple of job searches and she was without fail…
Great read and advice
This book [The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers] was great right out of law school. I was pretty lost at what to do and this book had…
Brandon C. Fernald
I met Randy Beckwith in 2002, when I returned to Southern California looking for a firm job. It goes without saying that Randy knows the L.A. market well and is overall an…
Henry Bouchot
Valerie was instrumental in helping me obtain employment following my military career. She is truly dedicated to helping service members, taking time out of her busy schedule to meet with me and…
Pamela Peery
I've always been impressed by how knowledgeable Valerie is. Very few people understand the Los Angeles legal market as well as Valerie does.
NEWS AND EVENTS
- June-July, 2018 - Madeleine Seltzer and Amber Handman will conduct one-on-one career counseling sessions with Harvard Law School students.
- June 28, 2018 - Roberta Kass and Amber Handman presented a webinar about the state of the California legal market for Yale Law School students on behalf of the school's Career Development Office.
- April 25, 2018 - Valerie Fontaine moderated “Are Those Clients Really Portable?”, a panel at the NALP (National Association of Law Placement) Annual Education Conference in Hollywood, FL.
- April 14, 2018 - Valerie Fontaine moderated the Town Hall session at the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Annual Conference in Austin, TX.
- April 11, 2018 - Amber Handman spoke to the students at Georgetown University Law Center about the California legal job market.
- April 10, 2018 - Amber Handman spoke to students at Columbia University School of Law about the California legal job market.
- April 9, 2018 - Amber Handman talked to students at New York University School of Law regarding the California legal job market.
Over 25 years of legal search experience
We are a certified Women Owned Business
Our culture and philosophy
Our community involvement
Our commitment to diversity