We’re hiring. We’ve been interviewing this week and we’re narrowing down the field. It’s going pretty well.
We have one candidate that bothers me. She’s an associate in another local family law firm. She’s qualified for the position.
We’ve never hired an attorney from another local family law firm. We haven’t been particularly happy when other firms have come after our associates and we’ve avoided doing it ourselves.
This prospective associate says she doesn’t really feel needed at her firm. She’s worried that they’re in an overcapacity situation. She’s worried about the long term.
She hasn’t told her firm she’s interviewing.
She’s a pretty appealing candidate, but I don’t want to make an enemy of her current employer. We’ve been dealing with that firm for years and we’ll be dealing with them for years to come.
I’m not really sure what to do. I might be doing them a favor by taking her off their hands. I might be aggravating the crap out of them by hiring her. I’m considering telling her that she’ll need to talk to the managing attorney in her firm, inform that person of what’s up and have them call us. Maybe I’ll give that person veto authority over our request.
Of course, there are other fish in the sea. We could just pick someone else.
What would you do?
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Lee Rosen has practiced family law for more than twenty years. With three offices, 
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Well assuming she’s a good candidate and did her homework, she’ll read your post:)
and understand your dilemma.But I believe you can use this problem to test her problem solving skills by laying out the issue and asking her what she believes is the best way to resolve the issue.Then you also be able to judge her crtical thinking skills.Good luck – tough decision.
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Lee, this happened to me when I was younger …. I was the female associate who began looking for a more stable job, and my prospective boss handled it the way you’re proposing (“she’ll need to talk to the managing attorney in her firm, … and have them call us”). Instead of a respected professional, I felt like a child caught between two parents without any right to decide for myself. It seemed so paternalistic to me then, and still does now. Take comfort in the fact that YOU didn’t seek her out, so you’re not “sharking” other firms’ associates … she’s leaving her former employer of her own accord. She found you, and you should take it as a compliment that you are more compatible for this up-and-comer. Don’t miss-out on a good opportunity to add a valuable member to your RosenLaw family.
Jenna,
Thanks for your feedback. Great perspective. I’ll be figuring this out this week.
Lee