Steve Meier, Owner of Steven Meier Specialist Recruitment
BL: Why is the Brussels Legal Job market so competitive?
Steve Meier: As the seat of the EU institutions, Brussels attracts lawyers from every Member State as well as from other parts of the world, including North America, Asia and Latin America. With so many talented lawyers vying for comparatively few positions, employers are highly selective when it comes to considering candidates for employment, something that can seem daunting, brutal and sometimes unfair to someone trying to break into this market. While every candidate presents his or her own situation, it is worth noting that the starting point for the “typical” lawyer in Brussels is: i) a law degree with honors from his or her home jurisdiction; ii) post-graduate law studies, again with honors, from one of the three or four highly prized programs; and iii) a stage (or internship) at one or two of the EU institutions, with experience at DG Comp, the Legal Service and the courts being especially prized. There are exceptions, of course, but this is the general rule of thumb.
Lawyers wanting a career in Brussels should keep in mind that they must make the move fairly early in their careers. Brussels is not particularly welcoming (indeed it seems outright hostile) to lawyers who, having spent several years practicing law in their home jurisdictions, then seek a move to Brussels. It is simply not a career option except in the rarest of instances. Young lawyers may start their career in Brussels and then move home after five or six years, but I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of experienced lawyers who have been able to make the move to Brussels.
BL: What are the outside influences to the Brussels Legal Job Market?
Steve Meier: The most obvious answer is, of course, general economic conditions in the world. That said, I have noticed through the years that, while Brussels never enjoys the boom times that one sees in London or New York, for example, it also never seems to suffer economic downturns to nearly the same extent. In other words, the Brussels legal market operates in a somewhat narrow bandwidth, with neither euphoria nor depression. The Brussels legal market may slow down during economic slumps, of course, but it never seems to suffer in the massive ways one sees in other markets.
BL: How is the current situation compared to the last years?
Steve Meier: I would say that there is a certain cautious optimism in the market, more cautious than optimistic, I fear, but nonetheless better than there has been for quite some time. For junior lawyers (less than about three years PQE) the situation is not particularly encouraging, but talented mid-level lawyers are finding the market better than it has been in years. Given all the uncertainty in the world, firms are being very wary about bringing on new lawyers.
BL: What can we expect in the coming months/ years?
Steve Meier: None of us has a crystal ball, of course, but I believe that the coming months will represent more of the same. There will be some demand for young lawyers in the next year or so, but I do not see it being anything more than modest.
BL: Please tell us a bit about Steven Meier Specialist Recruitment.
Steve MeierI am pleased to say that Dave Hemingway joined me earlier this year; he brings a similar ethos and view of how recruitment should operate.
It is difficult to talk about ourselves, as we prefer to let our clients do the talking. We take great pride in the fact that most new clients and candidates come to us through word-of-mouth referrals. I think that people appreciate that we are not – in the words of one client – “cowboy recruiters”, but rather providers of distinctive, discerning and discreet recruitment services. It is very important to us that clients and candidates know that can expect to be treated in a respectful and professional manner.
BL: What’s your advice to someone who wants to pursue a Legal career in Brussels?
Steve Meier: We are always happy to speak with talented young lawyers about the Brussels legal market and their place in it. We regularly try to point lawyers in the right direction, and one of the things that we always tell them is that they should not work with recruiters – even us! – until they have a few years of relevant experience. For lawyers early in their career recruiters simply get in the way; they offer no service that junior lawyers cannot do on their own.
I would mention anecdotally that the managing partner of one of our clients told me years ago that if young lawyers do not have the confidence to apply directly, they are never going to succeed in his firm. A bit harsh, perhaps, but it seems to be a common sentiment in the market among hiring partners.
BL: Thank you very much for your time!
