Mike Evers

Mike Evers

September 29, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Want to Get Ahead in Your Career? Find a Truth Teller

Who do you have in your professional life who will "get real" with you? Find truth tellers and invite them to offer valuable criticism. Don't wait for it to happen incidentally. Seek it out.

By Mike Evers

2 minute read

September 04, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Going Beyond the Gut Check When Hiring

"Trusting your gut" is a litmus test that matters. You should feel good about a new hire. But don't be seduced into simply picking the most charismatic interviewee. Great interviewee does not always translate into great employee.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

August 02, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Hiring that 5th Year Associate for Your Law Department

Again historically, law firm Associates at the highest paying firms routinely left for in-house positions. There has always been a pay disparity. As I've written in this space many times, money is not the #1 motivator when it comes to career moves. Law firm Associates typically leave a law firm because they are incredibly unhappy.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

July 01, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Hiring From a Law Firm for an In-House Position? Use Caution

As a recruiter, I don't question the pedigree credentials or skill sets of accomplished law firm attorneys. Nor do I doubt the willingness of many to switch over to law department compensation structures. But is the match a good idea? Skill set and experience are two different things.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

June 03, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

How to Recognize Relocation Cold Feet: 5 Tips for Employers When Hiring a Nonlocal Candidate

Relocation has become more challenging for companies post-pandemic. Great candidates who became accustomed to hybrid or remote work arrangements are less enthusiastic about uprooting. The degree of difficulty in successfully recruiting non-locals has risen considerably.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

May 01, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Finding Contributor-Level Work as a Truly Senior Counsel

Former GCs and other senior level lawyers are now highly desirable for almost any kind of contract work – both at the high end as Interim General Counsels, but also more commonly in quality worker bee roles.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

April 01, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Tips for Engaging an Executive Coach

In last month's column, I played with ChatGPT to offer a glimpse of how AI will disrupt most aspects of Law World. This month I'm doing the opposite. I asked myself: What is the most human professional niche in Law World? What expertise cannot be replicated by technology and what is the unique value proposition of that expertise?

By Mike Evers

2 minute read

March 01, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Play Offense with Your Career

The toughest part of playing offense is looking in the mirror and being truthful with yourself. Are you "politically in favor" and ascending? Or are you running in place?

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

February 01, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

AI's Blueprint for Hiring Your Next General Counsel

I've been playing with ChatGPT. I asked the AI tool to list its best practices for companies to follow when hiring a General Counsel. It's actually a pretty good starting point. The only thing missing from the list is "Hire a Search Firm."

By Mike Evers

3 minute read

January 02, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Looking for Your Dream Job? Don't Follow Your Heart

Following your heart, in the context of one's career, usually translates into: "I should be happy at work, and I should move if I'm not." Getting to a dream attorney job includes, unfortunately, a lot of dues paying and long hours. Following your heart tends to turn into an excuse for job hopping.

By Mike Evers

3 minute read