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 she received the Best Brief Award in the Hale…
Valerie Fontaine
Valerie A. Fontaine earned her JD from UC Hastings College of Law and her BA, Phi Beta Kappa and magna…
Randy Beckwith
Randy Beckwith is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UCLA where she earned her BA and Ed.D degrees. She also…
Roberta Kass
Roberta Kass has over 20 years of legal recruiting experience. She received her BA, Phi Beta Kappa, from UCLA and…
Amber Handman
Amber Handman spent 10 years at one of Washington, D.C.’s largest law firms, Arent Fox PLLC, as the Attorney Recruitment…
Celeste Reeder
Celeste Reeder has been in the business of legal recruiting since 2000. After graduating from law school, she traveled and lived…
Michael Carr
Michael Carr moved from London and worked in legal search and recruiting for six and a half years before joining…
Our latest blog posts
Be Camera Ready: Virtual Interview Tips
Virtual job interviews became the norm following the nationwide business shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Legal industry employers learned, by necessity, that virtual working…
7 Ways for Lateral Lawyers to Build Rapport with New Colleagues Remotely
Remote working for lawyers became the norm when COVID-19 hit the U.S. in mid-March 2020 and businesses closed to comply with local stay-at-home orders. Quite…
Your Job Search is Really a Sales Job
The word “sales” makes many lawyers uncomfortable, but you’re in sales every day whether you realize it or not. You sell yourself and your expertise…
Watch for Red Flags When Hiring Lateral Partners!
One key to lateral hiring success is understanding and mitigating any red flags that crop up throughout the recruiting process. These warning signs can differ…
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.
Bankruptcy Partner/Counsel Prestigious Westside LA law firm seeks attorney with experience in transactional advice, litigation, pre-petition planning through reorganization and restructuring, Chapter 11, or asset sale. Debtor, creditor, trustee representation.
Compensation
Benefits
- Cannabis Lawyers National and California firms seek partners and groups with self-sufficient client base of cultivators, retailers, manufacturers, distributors, investors. Advise on real estate, tax, regulation, corporate planning, M&A and intellectual property.
- In-House Corporate Finance Global holding company seeks 5-6 year corporate finance/M&A/leveraged lending (borrower) attorney. Invests in healthcare, technology, financial services, media companies. Virtual office; pref L.A.
Corporate- Tax & Equity
TESTIMONIALS
Christopher Cianci, senior associate at Andrews Lagasse Branch + Bell LLP
Valerie is a dedicated, hard-working, thorough, kind, and understanding professional. I was so impressed with the amount of time she devoted to her clients and to assisting prospective candidates. As a recruiter,…
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, executive director for the legal industry
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, attorney at Sandra L. Lepson, Esq.
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, senior counsel
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, ceo at Naomi Beard & Associates, Inc.
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, manager of lateral recruiting at Bryan Cave
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, partner at Spolin Cohen Mainzer LLP
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…
Amazon Book Reviewer of The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers
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, managing counsel at Toyota Financial Services
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, partner at Goodstein & Berman LLP
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, associate at Latham & Watkins
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, counsel at Goodwin Procter
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.…
Amazon Book Reviewer of The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers
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, senior advisor
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, vice president of compliance and policy for Minds + Machines
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, partner at Baker Hostelter LLP
Randy is not only exceptionally gifted at what she does, she also brings energy and sense of humanity to her work.
Leo Martinez, professor at University of California Hastings College of the Law
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, partner at Landau Gottfried & Berger LLP
Randy is a trusted counselor and advisor whether retained by the hiring firm or by the candidate looking for placement. Highly recommended.
Phyllis Hawkins, legal recruiter at Phyllis Hawkins & Associates, Inc
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, associate at Perkins Coie LLP
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…
Amazon Book Reviewer of The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers
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, assistant dean at Loyola Law School Los Angeles
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…
Amazon Book Reviewer of The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers
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, corporate Attorney and founder at Barbera Corporate Law, PC
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…
Amazon Book Reviewer of The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers
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, trial attorney
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, judge advocate at United States Marine Corps
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, associate legal editor at Daily Journal Corporation
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
- October 23, 2020 – Amber Handman will be a panelist on “Switching Sides: Real Life Advice/What You Thought You Knew from the Law Firm Side and from the Search Firm Side” at the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Virtual Fall Seminar.
- October 23, 2020 – Valerie Fontaine will co-lead an interactive break-out session, “LFQ Part II – An Insider’s Perspective on How Certain Questions are Being Received” at the NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Virtual Fall Seminar.
- October 15, 2020 – Valerie Fontaine was a panelist on "Virtual Interviewing and Making an Impact" presented by UC Hastings College of the Law.
- October 01, 2020 – 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. The following week they counseled individual students via Zoom to address the students' questions about law firm interviews and career planning.
- Summer/Fall 2020 – Madeleine Seltzer will be conducting one-on-one career counseling sessions with Harvard Law School students.
- September 3, 2020 – Valerie Fontaine presented an analysis of the current legal job market to the UC Hastings College of the Law Career Development Office.
- August 14, 2020 – Roberta Kass consulted with the UC Berkeley School of Law Career Development Office regarding the current state of the Southern 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