Opportunity Knocks : Litigation Support Staffing : The Cowen Group : Ediscovery Recruiters, Candidate Search, Practice Support, Position Placement

The AmLaw Litigation Support/E-Discovery job market is poised for a rebound in the later part of 2009, which will extend through 2010. However, many law firms anticipate building flexibility into their hiring plans by relying heavily on Temp-to-Perm employees.

When surveying over 100 Litigation Support and Human Resource Managers, we found that 42% of the AmLaw100 report an increase in hours worked since Q2 2008. As a result, 31% anticipate adding temporary staff within the next 6 months. In the AmLaw Top 50, 70% anticipate adding temporary staff within 6 months. For the most part, permanent hires in the AmLaw 100 remain flat.

These trends reinforce a shift in the market that The Cowen Group has observed internally: permanent employees at AmLaw200 and AmLaw300 firms are expressing interest in temporary positions within the AmLaw Top 50. They see the transition from permanent to temp-to-perm as a chance to at with the best-and-brightest – firms which have best-in-breed technologies and the largest, most complex cases.

If you would like to receive our full report on these, and other emerging trends in the E-Discovery job market, please email David@CowenGroup.com.

The Cowen Group provides an inside-out look at the E-Discovery space by conducting quarterly surveys into salary, hiring and other critical trends within the AmLaw, Corporate, and Vendor spaces. 

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This is a 4-6 week long contract – no more no less.

Requirements:

• Candidate should be extremely technical, personable, and professional.
• Significant experience with IConect & Concordance.
• Clear understanding of Litigation Support process from a technical perspective.
• Capable of balancing time and priorities works intimately with project management staff to create deliverables.
• Solid communication, a team player, one who knows how to maneuver through the landscape of a major law firms litigation department.

Assignment will start mid May.

For immediate consideration, please send your resume to Ryan Clark at Ryan@Cowengroup.com

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Good news:  The worst is over!

Hiring, not firing, is on the rise for Litigation Support and eDiscovery professionals!  The landscape for Litigation Support staffing, however, will be very different than years past.  Historically, the upturn in hiring after a meaningful national economic downturn is first seen in temp and contract hiring.

The Cowen Group is experiencing a significant increase in demand for temporary and contract staffing (NOT contract attorneys, but Lit Support staff).  When surveyed, 35% of firms in the AmLaw100 already indicated that their current Litigation/Practice Support staff is working into overtime hours.  As new cases come in, firms will need experienced talent to support increasing demands from internal case teams.

PROBLEM:  No PERM headcount. 

SOLUTION:  Hire “as needed” contract employees.  This trend will continue to grow exponentially in Q3 and Q4 of 2009 and likely into 2010.

So what does this mean for you?  Well, if you are working at an eDiscovery vendor or a tier 2 or 3 law firm… now is the time to reinvent yourself.  The most frequent question I get asked from individuals in the vendor community is, “How do I break into a major law firm?” 

According to Gartner's recent eDiscovery Vendor Market Analysis “by the end of 2008, there will be 25% fewer vendors claiming to have eDiscovery functionality."  25%!!  That means fewer jobs in the vendor community for project managers, analysts, specialists, EDD processors, and sales professionals.  Where will they go?  What will they do?

Exploring contract and temp-to-perm opportunities may be your best bet.  Yes, you may have to give up the benefits/perks of being a full-time employee.  Yes, we are placing vendor exclusive talent in long term temp-to-perm contracts, and yes, they are gaining invaluable experience.

The down-side to contract is obvious, but give some real consideration to the up-side:  You can make more money as a contractor.  You can gain experience with a variety of different cultures, business models, and technologies at various law firms – all the while searching for what will be the right fit for you long term.  You will have the opportunity to meet new people and thought leaders in the space.  You will be visible to a whole new community and network of professionals working within the AmLaw200.  As the old adage goes, it’s not just what you know – but who you know.

Contract staffing is going to increase over the next 12 to 24 months as demand begins to outweigh supply again.  This industry is reinventing itself… so should you! 

What are you doing to stay ahead of the curve and advance your career?

To dialogue with Mr. Coseglia, please email jared@cowengroup.com

Jared Michael Coseglia
Sr. Vice President of Recruiting
THE COWEN GROUP 

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