Most lawyers only ever see one side of recruitment: the job ad, the interview, maybe an offer. What happens behind that is rarely explained, and that gap is where most of the misconceptions live.
Quick answer: A specialist legal recruiter does far more than match a CV to a job description. At Alex Correa Executive, our work includes career advice at any stage, honest conversations about timing and fit, and staying genuinely connected to candidates long after a placement is made, not just when a role happens to be open.
Here are the myths we hear most often, and what is true instead.
Why We Always Ask What Else You Have Applied For
One of the first questions we ask a candidate is whether they have applied for other roles, and whether they are working with another recruiter.
Some people hesitate to answer honestly. We think they worry we will take it personally.
The truth is simpler: the legal market in Brisbane and across Queensland is smaller and more interconnected than most people realise. A firm may have briefed several recruiters on the same vacancy, or advertised the role directly while also engaging an agency. If you have already applied through another channel, we cannot put you forward for the same role twice.
Answering honestly protects you. It means we can advocate for you properly, avoid duplicate applications, and give you a clear, accurate picture of where things stand.
Myth: A Recruiter's Job Ends the Moment You're Placed
This is one of the most persistent myths, and it is simply not how good recruitment works.
Beyond helping you find a role, we can:
- Advise on salary and market rates, particularly useful ahead of a promotion or performance review
- Help you prepare for a difficult conversation with your current employer
- Talk through how your skills might transfer if you are considering a move between practice areas
- Act as a sounding board at any stage of your career, whether you are actively looking or not
Any recruiter genuinely worth working with takes this approach. It is not an add-on. It is the job.
Myth: If There Is No Role Right Now, You Are Forgotten
This one is understandable. If you spoke to a recruiter eighteen months ago and never heard from them again, it is easy to assume you fell off the radar.
At Alex Correa Executive, that is not how we operate. We meet regularly as a team to talk through past and current candidates, so people stay front of mind well beyond a single conversation. We also invest real time in keeping our records current, because the right opportunity for someone we spoke to years ago can still appear tomorrow.
In practice, many of the lawyers we have placed over the past year are people we had spoken with long before the right role existed, and in a number of cases, we brought them opportunities before those roles were ever advertised.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Good legal recruitment is built on judgement, not volume. That means:
- Understanding your experience well enough to represent it properly to a firm, not just forwarding a CV
- Being honest when a role is not the right fit, even if that means not making a placement
- Staying in touch based on genuine interest in your career, not just when there is something to sell
This is the same care and advocacy we bring to every conversation, whether you are a graduate exploring your first move or a senior lawyer considering what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With a Legal Recruiter
What does a legal recruiter actually do?
A specialist legal recruiter helps with far more than filling vacancies. That includes career advice, salary benchmarking, guidance on difficult workplace conversations, and honest input on whether a role or firm is genuinely the right fit for you.
Will you tell a firm if I have already applied elsewhere?
We will always ask whether you have applied directly or through another recruiter, because firms often brief multiple agencies on the same role. Telling us upfront means we can represent you properly and avoid conflicts.
What happens if there is no suitable role for me right now?
You stay on our radar. We meet regularly to discuss past and current candidates, and we keep our records updated so that when the right opportunity appears, whether that is in a month or several years, we can act quickly.
How do I get the most out of working with a recruiter?
Be upfront about where you have applied and who you are speaking with, and treat the relationship as an ongoing one rather than a single transaction. The lawyers who get the most value tend to see their recruiter as a long-term career adviser, not a one-off point of contact.
Ready for a Conversation About Your Legal Career?
Whether you are actively looking or simply want a trusted perspective on where your legal career could go next, use the contact form to tell us a little about your situation. We will take the time to understand the context before giving you advice worth acting on.
