The Internet is an invaluable tool for sourcing and recruiting highly skilled legal professionals. The ease of posting employment openings, the relatively low cost of advertising and the speed of candidate response has legal administrators and managers recruiting online.

As with other tools, the Internet is not without its limitations as a means of attracting skilled candidates. For example, firms listing opportunities on major job boards may receive applications from a much wider geographic region – and sometimes less skilled applicants – requiring additional sorting and review. Firms are also noting that some candidates who post their resumes online may be more passive job seekers; they want to "test the waters" and wait for results, versus proactively applying for open positions. If you are using the Internet in your recruiting efforts, here are some tips for increasing your success in locating candidates:

Make Your Website Candidate-friendly
Are job opportunities at your office easy to find? Can candidates apply online? What message do applicants receive once they have submitted their resumes? All of these factors play a role in how many job seekers visit your site and the first impression your firm presents.

Answer the Question: What's Unique About the Position?
What exactly about this role is exciting and challenging? What type of person would be most likely to thrive in your firm? Does the firm represent certain clients or industries, or specialize in a specific practice area? And what innovative employee benefits do you provide? Be sure to highlight these areas to attract applicants who would be the best fit for the position.

“Sell” the Organization as Well as the Position
Unless your law firm or company is a household name, be sure to include a sentence or two describing your business. If your firm has just celebrated a major milestone or received positive media coverage or industry recognition, briefly mention that as well. Differentiating your organization from the thousands of others recruiting online will help you build name recognition.

Network on Industry Sites
Become familiar with websites of bar and professional associations as well as those targeting the legal field. Much like attending a monthly luncheon or meeting, visiting these sites can provide valuable opportunities for broadening your reach in the legal community and getting to know a group's officers and members, many of whom may be qualified job candidates. Often these sites will post job openings for a nominal fee.

Familiarize Yourself With Recruiter Sites
Whereas major job boards guarantee you'll reach a wide spectrum of job seekers, recruiter sites can expose your employment openings to targeted legal professionals in specific practice areas or industries.

The Web remains a key resource for reaching attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals. As more job seekers take their search online, it's helpful to implement measures that enable your firm to cast a wider "net."