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Ten steps to finding the perfect legal assistant: a great assistant can be the key to a successful law practice, but hiring good staff is a major challenge. These tips can help make the process easier.

Article Excerpt
Some people say choosing to spend the rest of your life with another person is one of the most significant decisions you ever make. I do not disagree, but picking the right legal assistant, also a major decision, sometimes seems far more difficult.

In 15 years of practicing law, I have had dozens of assistants. I have hired from temporary agencies and headhunters, and I've stolen assistants from opposing counsel and friends. I have employed people I met as tennis instructors, waiters, nurses, clients, coffee baristas, and even a professional dancer. I have tried it all.

Most people I have hired lasted three to six months in the job. Then, they either quit or I finally summoned the courage to let them go.

I realize this is not a record to be proud of. I often hired too fast because I was so busy that I did not want to spend time looking--I just wanted to get back to work. Other times, I had an office manager or secretary do the initial screening and select three or four candidates. By delegating, I relied on their hiring skills instead of mine. Still other times, I just chose wrong. My instincts let me down, as when I've picked the wrong juror in a trial or, worse, ignored the inner voice whispering that I was making a mistake.

Once I hired an assistant who dressed inappropriately for her interview. Her clothes were not too casual or revealing, but they were just plain weird almost like a Halloween costume. I ignored that warning sign, thinking it didn't matter what she wore as long as she could do the work.

In truth, the clothing was quite telling: She was strange. I was embarrassed to introduce her to clients and opposing counsel, and I couldn't take her to court with me. This mistake cost me time, money, and stress that could easily have been avoided if I had listened to the one who knows me best: me.

Thankfully, I now have several employees who have been with me for a couple of years and one for almost four years.

Here are some lessons I've learned--the hard way--about making better hiring decisions. I hope they will spare you the pain, embarrassment, and expense of high staff turnover.

Step 1: Visualize the person you want

This is tough. It takes time and some peace and quiet. Go somewhere you can think for an...