Extract from Frank Ready’s article “Inexperienced Attorneys Can Absolutely Get E-Discovery Jobs, But First They Need E-Discovery Experience”
E-discovery salaries have climbed high enough that even lawyers with no relevant experience on their resumes may be tempted to try and cross over. Still, even with the serious demand for talent going on in the market right now, many e-discovery leaders at law firms or vendors may be reluctant to take a chance on untested candidates.
Joseph Tate, chairman of e-discovery and practice advisory services at Cozen O’Connor, acknowledged that his firm is having “a real struggle” to find both attorney and nonattorney positions for its e-discovery team. Tate also noted that he hasn’t seen the demand for e-discovery talent in the market this high in years.
Even with all that being said, there’s still a limit to who he’s willing to take a chance on hiring, especially considering the fairly niche nature of the technology and software involved in e-discovery. “I have lawyers who reach out to me [about e-discovery jobs] and say, ‘I really don’t have any experience.’ And what I say to them is, ‘You’ve really got to try and get some experience.’ Because it’s just tough to come in cold,” Tate said.
