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…
Kristin Dion
Kristin S. Dion earned her JD from NYU Law School and…
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…
Our latest blog posts
Show Me the Money!
Money shouldn’t be the primary motive for a career move, but it’s an important factor. In a down market, lawyers have little bargaining power; but…
New Bar Exam Shorter but Not Easier
With the adoption of the UBE, or Unified Bar Exam, the test in many U.S. jurisdictions is shorter but, most likely, not any easier. Even…
Keeping Your Former Lawyers Happy Helps Your Law Firm Grow
Law firm recruiting and retention efforts benefit from treating your former attorneys like valued alumni rather than disloyal deserters. Gone are the days when lawyers…
The Best Interview Question Yet—For the Candidate to Ask
One of the wonderful things about being a legal search consultant is that, even after over 30 years in the trenches, I learn something new…
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.
Boutique L&E AssociateThe San Francisco office of a boutique California firm seeks a Labor & Employment Associate with 2-5 years' experience. Only 1750 hours requirement!
Corporate
Intellectual Property
- VP Chief Compliance OfficerFast growing medical holding company with hospitals and affiliated medical groups in multiple states seeks an experienced Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer.
Litigation
Finance & Tax
- Trial AttorneyA top California boutique firm seeks a trial lawyer to lead their employment practice group. Can be based in LA, SF or SD.
Employment
Real Estate
TESTIMONIALS
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…
Rosanna Marrero Neagle
Rose has vision, perseverance, and integrity. She also has the ability to lead others to help realize the goals of the company she runs and the clients she serves. At the end…
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…
Holly Roth
Rose Ors is an extremely gifted and balanced business development strategist. I have known Rose for a number of years and her insights have always proven valuable. She is, in a word,…
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…
Peter Zeughauser
Rose has a proven track-record and is terrific at building lasting relationships with decision makers who buy legal services. She has built many long-lasting relationships based on her perceptive insights into what…
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.…
Jennifer Hinshaw
Rose is a creative talent with tireless commitment and drive, and lots of raw intelligence. She has a singular ability to communicate her vision and passion for an idea in a way…
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…
Michael Streefland
I met Rose in a coffee shop and within ten minutes was sucked into her passion, drive, and amazing intelligence. I knew that this was the kind of client one dreams about,…
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.
Robert G. van Schoonenberg
Rose Ors is both a highly talented business attorney and proven builder and grower of businesses. She is creative, innovative, entrepreneurial and continuously thinking outside the box. She is incredibly motivated, goal…
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…
David Henri
Rose is smart, charismatic and genuine. I met Rose at a corporate counsel roundtable and was immediately taken with her energy. When I became a client of her firm, she and her…
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
- July 11, 2017 - 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.
- June-July, 2017 - Madeleine Seltzer and Randy Beckwith conducted one-on-one career counseling sessions with Harvard Law School students.
- June 9, 2017 - Valerie Fontaine moderated and participated in "Holding Search Firms to a Higher Standard" at NALP's (National Association for Law Placement) Second Annual Lateral Recruiting Conference in Chicago, IL.
- April 20, 2017 - Valerie Fontaine moderated "Are Your Lateral Partner Hires Profitable?", a panel at the NALP (National Association for Law Placement) Annual Education Conference in San Francisco, CA.
- April 17-20, 2017 - Amber Handman spoke to students about the California legal job market at Columbia University, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Georgetown University.
- April 8, 2017 - Valerie Fontaine moderated the Town Hall session at the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Annual Conference in Marina Del Rey, CA.
- March 14, 2017 - Roberta Kass spoke to law students at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law regarding the Los Angeles Legal 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