Why the U-LPQ - Universal Lateral Partner Questionnaire (from the NALSC) could be a great tool for your law firm's talent acquisition process.

Creating a universally accepted Lateral Partner Questionnaire (LPQ) has long been a goal for many in the legal recruiting industry, and now, thanks to collaborative efforts among esteemed law firms, ethics attorneys, and experienced recruiters, this vision is becoming a reality. The Universal Lateral Partner Questionnaire (U-LPQ) is designed to streamline initial communications between search firms and law firms, addressing a longstanding need to reduce the repetitive task of submitting multiple LPQs when presenting partner candidates.

The U-LPQ serves several key benefits for all parties involved, significantly enhancing the lateral partner recruiting and hiring process:

For Law Firms: The U-LPQ opens the door to a broader pool of partner candidates, ensuring that firms do not miss out on talent due to the burdensome nature of lengthy questionnaires. By adopting the U-LPQ, firms can streamline their evaluations and gain access to candidates who may not have the time to fill out traditional 10–15-page forms. Additionally, the U-LPQ’s well-structured and clear questions address common pitfalls in existing LPQs, improving the accuracy of the information provided.

For Recruiters: The U-LPQ alleviates the need for recruiters to pursue candidates for multiple, repetitive LPQs across various firms. This substantial time savings allows legal search firms to dedicate more resources to assisting candidates and firms in the hiring process, rather than getting bogged down in paperwork.

For Candidates: For busy partners, the U-LPQ represents a streamlined solution, requiring them to complete just one comprehensive questionnaire instead of multiple variations tailored to different firms. This efficiency not only saves time but also empowers candidates to consider a wider range of opportunities without the labor-intensive burden of redundant submissions.

While law firms may choose to add specific questions to tailor the U-LPQ to their unique needs, the questionnaire significantly reduces the overall workload associated with the LPQ process. We think, the NALSC U-LPQ is a transformative tool that benefits law firms, recruiters, and candidates alike, making it a vital step forward in legal recruiting.

If interested, here is the page to download it: https://www.nalsc.org/u-lpq-information/

Happy recruiting!

Joshua Hill, Managing Partner of Pemberton Whiteman & Hill LLC