For students interested in English, political science, or communications, pursuing a pathway toward becoming a lawyer may be the expectation. But what if your love for making friends, public speaking, or writing could lead to a career you never considered? For Jason Yuen, a Yorba Linda resident, these strengths opened the door to a rewarding career as a legal recruiter, where he connects top attorney talent with career advancement opportunities at leading law firms. Sometimes, the skills built in high school can shape an unexpected and fulfilling future. No formal pathway or traditional education can lead you to this profession; thus, you must desire to pursue it, keep an open mind, and be willing to learn.
Yuen’s journey from college to law school and from law school to becoming a successful entrepreneur in legal recruiting is truly inspiring. He graduated from college with a degree in English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition. After earning a law degree, he failed the CA bar exam three times. Taking that as a sign, he relinquished his pursuit of practicing law to begin working for a company that helped law students transition into their first attorney jobs by selling services for resume and cover letter reviews and application assistance. Following this, Yuen decided to use his expertise in writing, speaking, and fundamental personability to join a recruiting company. Working there for the next three years, he recruited partners exclusively at major law firms.
Over the following years, Yuen mastered the complexities of lateral partner recruiting and was eventually pursued by the largest recruiting firm in the nation. Unfortunately, just as he was onboarding, Yuen was part of a major company-wide layoff (over 100 employees) during the 2008-2009 economic recession. Many people may have let this set them back, but instead, Yuen decisively founded his firm.
With the support of several existing law firm clients who encouraged his foray into starting and running his own legal recruiting firm, Yuen seamlessly transitioned from working under someone to becoming his own boss. Yuen Partners had the support of clients with whom Yuen had developed strong connections and relationships, and Yuen recalls, “I already had deals in place with clients who were ready to follow me.” His business exclusively focuses on recruiting law firm partners with at least $3 million in annual portable business and helping them successfully move to one of Yuen’s client law firms.
Yuen compares his work to a skilled trade, as he puts it: “Like plumbing or air conditioning repair work,” emphasizing that recruiters develop their expertise through hands-on experience and mentorship. “You need to have a desire to learn, an open mind, and a mentor to guide you when starting out,” he affirms. While Yuen is clear that “you have to be able to sell,” he explains that he is “not a salesman, but…a search consultant. When talking to potential partner candidates, you must know how to address their concerns, how to respond to their feelings about a current situation, and how to listen. Most importantly, you need to be the person they believe in and trust.”
According to Yuen, legal recruiting at the highest levels is incredibly lucrative. When he connects partners with his law firm clients, he gets paid a significant percentage of every attorney’s compensation, whether an individual or a group placement. Yuen did not want to put exact figures in print but mentioned off-the-record examples of his firm’s deals and overall profitability, which seemed astonishing. He is a prominent figure in the legal recruiting industry; Yuen’s quotes and deals have been featured in national legal media and publications for over a decade.
Yuen’s journey highlights that not all pathways must be conventional to succeed. The skills you acquire throughout your life can lead you far beyond traditional routes, and Yuen’s success as a legal recruiter is proof of that. Find your strengths and go down the path that feels right to you; do not feel pressured by what is usually done or what everyone says is best. With hard work and dedication, pursuing what fits you and your passions is rewarding in the long run.
