Lucinda Cohen - Taylor Root, London

Lucinda Cohen – Consultant
London - Private Practice Team


Academic background
LLB Birmingham University
LPC College of Law, London

Previous work experience
Trained and qualified with Manches LLP

Why did you move into recruitment?
At qualification I was already having doubts about a career in law. It was the reality of the day-to-day work that I just found uninspiring and whilst I really enjoyed the business development side of the job, the hours of drafting started to drive me mad!

I spoke with a couple of friends that do recruitment and really enjoy it. They said that strong interpersonal skills, good organisational skills and being a generally enthusiastic person were all things that would stand me in good stead, so I thought I'd give it a go. I did some research into the recruitment market and then sent off my CV.

Why did you join Taylor Root?
I interviewed with a cross-section of legal recruiters from small single office outfits through to the larger international PLCs. Taylor Root stood out as the market leaders in the field and I was attracted by the fact that they are specifically legal recruiters. The PLC-type companies were all multi-focused, and I thought that a firm that solely concentrates on the legal side of things must know what it’s doing. There is also the benefit that there are no shareholders to answer to, which means that there is a lot more scope internally to try out new marketing ideas.

The main selling point, however, was the people. Everyone here is down-to-earth and fun whilst at the same time being enthusiastic and ambitious. There are also international offices that can offer secondment opportunities.

What is a typical day?
A typical day is split between speaking with law firms, either to arrange interviews or to discuss any new jobs, and speaking with candidates about those roles or about setting up their interviews. Each day you learn something new about the legal market, so it is also a case of spending time building up a bank of knowledge. There is also obviously the perk of wining and dining new and existing clients and candidates - not a bad life!

What do you enjoy about the role?
I really enjoy the level of contact I have with both clients and candidates. Every day is different and you really feel that you can build relationships with people and get to understand a market from a different viewpoint from that of a lawyer. Also, working at Taylor Root is all about teamwork. It’s great to know that there is always someone to ask if you are unsure.

Any downsides?
There is a lot to juggle at any one time. You need to be able to work under pressure and be comfortable doing a lot of things at once. The day often just disappears!!

What do you think makes a good recruiter?
Someone who finds it easy to empathise and has a genuine interest in helping people will find recruitment a natural fit. As I mentioned above, the ability to remain calm and organised under pressure is also a key skill.