What Is Headhunting?
The original meaning of headhunting/legal search was very literal, and followed several prescribed steps: 1. An intermediary – a legal search firm/consultant/headhunter – was given a “job order” by a client (usually a major law firm) and asked to find an attorney to fit the client’s specified criteria. The relationship between client and headhunter was usually spelled out by a written contingent agreement or memorandum of understanding, and covered such points as: * the fee to be paid to the headhunter if a successful placement was made (typically ranging from 20-30 percent of the first year’s salary or overall compensation); * what constituted a successful placement (typically that the attorney would remain with the employing organization for at least six months to one year); * the headhunter’s obligations in the event the attorney did not “work out” (i.e., left of his or her own volition; was fired or terminated for other reasons; etc.). Headhunters traditionally were obligated to fi
