CEO Weekly Feature: "Legal Recruiter Michelle Foster Honored by Marquis Who's Who

Legal Recruiter Michelle Foster Honored by Marquis Who’s Who

The outstanding work done by Michelle Foster in law and legal recruiting during the past two decades was recently honored by Marquis Who’s Who, which has included Michelle’s biographical profile in an upcoming edition of their globally recognized publication. The distinction points to the prominence she has earned in the field of legal recruitment services, where she and her team have established a strong reputation as skilled specialists who consistently deliver excellence.

“Simply put, I love my work, my clients, and the value I can add to individuals and companies,” Michelle says. “When one changes their job, oftentimes their life changes with it, so being able to assist in such a positive transformation is very rewarding. Starting my own firm was an extension of this. I wanted to continue doing the work I loved and partnering with terrific clients and candidates in an environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration.”

Michelle is the Managing Partner of The Foster Group Legal Search, which she launched in 2014 to assist with law firm and in-house recruitment and provide attorneys with legal recruitment services. Her work with the firm has involved assisting a broad cross-section of law firms and corporations in their efforts to recruit quality legal talent. Michelle has also successfully guided countless legal professionals through the intricacies of career advancement, an endeavor that she approaches with what she calls a “career counseling” approach.

“Many of the large recruiting firms have quotas for their recruiters to meet, which encourages their recruiters to take a transactional approach to searches,” says Michelle. “What should be a thoughtful and lengthy conversation is boiled down to the bare minimum because they need to make 40 more calls or connections to meet their quota. Our approach could not be more different. We spend a significant amount of time with candidates to understand their strengths, goals, and how we can ultimately add value to their search and their career.”

A trusted partner to attorneys and firms

Being included in Marquis Who’s Who adds Michelle to a long but exclusive list of accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, and law. The Marquis publications, which include Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who of Professional Women, have been an essential source of reliable biographical information for researchers, journalists, librarians, and executive search firms since 1899.

The visibility and position of trust Michelle has achieved in the legal recruiting field is another factor that led to her inclusion in the Marquis Who’s Who. Having served as a partner and exceptional recruiter at the world’s largest legal search firm for more than a decade before starting her own firm, she has built an extensive professional network that provides unparalleled insights for attorneys and firms. It is common for Michelle to meet with Managing Partners, Hiring Partners, and Practice Group Leaders at a broad cross-section of law firms, from which she gains valuable insights into their firms’ operations, culture, and hiring goals.

“The exceptional legal recruiting firms are those with a track record of making placements by building relationships with law firms,” Michelle says. “Recruiters who have relationships can call a firm’s hiring partner directly to obtain the kind of information that will be beneficial to an attorney pursuing a position. Our commitment to building long-standing relationships with law firms allows us to provide suggestions that are built upon a deep knowledge of firms, their cultures, and the opportunities they offer.”

Unparalleled insight for building a successful career

Michelle’s experience as an attorney also strengthens her understanding of the needs that her clients bring. After receiving her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (now UC Law San Francisco), she was an attorney at Greenhill Speyer Thurm and later at Jones Hirsch Conners Bull, where she developed her legal acumen by winning a decision in the New York Court of Appeals. The fact that she was the second woman partner at Jones Hirsch Conners Bull is a further testimony of her excellent professional capabilities.

In addition to her professional work, Michelle is active in giving back to the community. She is a committed supporter of Doctors Without Borders and several women’s organizations and is a devoted parent to three children.

The attorneys who have benefitted from Michelle’s work are quick to offer glowing reviews. As one explains in a review featured on The Foster Group’s website, Michelle and her team “diligently sought out and obtained interesting opportunities for me among some very fine law firms, while being supportive and encouraging during a sometimes trying and transitional stage in my career.” Another describes her as “a critical advisor and a tireless advocate on my behalf.”

“When you assist someone in changing their career trajectory, they are often re-energized, and their outlook becomes markedly more positive,” Michelle says. “It’s a very meaningful endeavor that we approach with a high level of sincerity and focus.”

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