Valerie A. Fontaine earned her JD from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and her BA, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, from UCLA. She was on the Editorial Board of COMM/ENT, a Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law. Valerie practiced law with a prominent Los Angeles law firm and entered the legal search profession in 1981. Valerie is past Secretary to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC) and former Chair of its Newsletter Committee. She currently serves as a consultant to NALSC headquarters.
What do candidates want from their legal recruiter? The bottom line is that candidates want their recruiter to care, listen, streamline the process, and guide them throughout the career transition. They want their recruiter to push for the best fit for both the candidate and the firm, not just to make a deal. They want…
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Pursuing a passion outside of law might be the best thing you can do for your legal career. In a recent series of articles in Law360, lawyers explored why their hobbies and extracurricular activities made them better lawyers. Their message: Taking time away from law practice to follow your heart is not distraction; rather, if…
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If you’re going to spend the time and money attending a conference, you want to get the most out of it. “Be present in the moment and really immerse yourself in the experience,” recommends Stefanie Marrone, Law Firm Business Development and Marketing Director. But, to do that, you must invest a little thought and planning.…
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Is your legal career in that awkward in-between stage? You’re no longer a junior-to-mid level associate and you’re not yet a partner with a solid book of business. Is a career move out of the question for you? Legal employers generally like to hire 2-5-year associates laterally because they have some experience yet are trainable…
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