“My Inbox Blew Up Overnight!” Legal Recruiters Praise NYSBA’s First Career Fair

“My Inbox Blew Up Overnight!” Legal Recruiters Praise NYSBA’s First Career Fair

9.30.2022

By Jennifer Andrus

Providing resources for members and addressing the need to bring in new talent for New York’s legal firms were the major goals of the New York State Bar Association’s first virtual career fair on Sept. 28.

The fair drew 135 job candidates ranging from law students to experienced attorneys. More than two dozen firms looking to hire new talent participated.

“The virtual career fair was a resounding success,” said Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association. “We were thrilled to help connect firms with high-quality job candidates who will help them continue to be so successful.  The event was so well-received that we are discussing future plans for events like this.”

Kelly Capozzi is a legal recruiter at Bond, Schoeneck and King. “Overall, I thought it was fantastic. The career fair was an excellent way to connect with several candidates,” she said.

Now she says the real works begins after her inbox blew up overnight with messages from job candidates.

With more than a dozen offices across the state, Capozzi said the job fair allowed her to connect with both entry level applicants and experienced attorneys.  “We spoke with practicing attorneys from other states like Texas who were looking to move back to New York.”

Christan Surdey from Coughlin & Gerhard in Binghamton says the career fair was a unique experience that proved fruitful for her firm. “I found the event helpful, and I was able to speak with some great candidates,” she said.

Capozzi says the convenience of hosting the career fair online helped her interview several candidates over the three-hour event.

“The convenience factor was huge for us. We also appreciated the event being held in the fall, outside of the busy OCI (on campus interviewing) season,” she said.