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Attorney By Attorney Career Profiles of the Profession Who? Miriam J. Frank Managing Partner, Major, Hagen & Africa - Chicago mfrank@mhaglobal.com What? Primary Recruitment Area & Subspecialty Fields: Senior level in-house searches; partners, groups and mergers. When? In Lawyer Placement: Since 1993, previously 2 years with another search firm In the Legal Profession: Since 1980 Where? Employer: Major, Hagen & Africa www.mhaglobal.com City/State: Chicago, IL Law School: University of Michigan, 1979, cum laude Other Post-Graduate Education: M.A. in Personality Psychology, University of Michigan, 1975 Undergraduate School/Degree: Barnard College, B.A. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Psychology Why? I chose to work with an Attorney Search firm because: I wanted to utilize the skills and contacts that I had built up over my years of education and legal practice in a profession that would make better use of my interpersonal and other "softer" skills. I was in a financial position at the time to take the risk of having little or no income while learning this new profession. I chose to work for Major, Hagen & Africa because: MLA had recruiters and partners with backgrounds and views of the business world, including ethics, that were similar to my own. In addition, the firm had a steady flow of high-quality work, and provided the opportunity to do significant searches for both in-house and law firm clients, locally, around the country and overseas. Advice and Tips for Lawyers Interested in Working in a Search Firm: Be selective. There is tremendous variation among search firms; your reputation is your most valuable asset as a search professional, so be careful to go to a firm where your colleagues will enhance, not harm it. Advice and Tips for Lawyers Interested in Being Placed by a Search Firm: Same as above - be selective and work with someone with whom you are comfortable and in whom you have confidence. Meet the recruiter with whom you are working if at all possible. Take responsibility for your own job search - don't expect the recruiter to do it for you. Be responsive. Be forthcoming. Be serious. How? Career Path to Current Position: Litigation associate at Katten, Muchin, Zavis, Rosenman; Associate Counsel at American Hospital Supply Corporation; legal search; Chief Litigation Counsel at Heller Financial, Inc.; joined MHA in 1993. Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s): Placement out of law school after summer clerkship; search firm; called the search firm that had placed me in my last job and asked for a job with the firm; placed myself into both my last legal job and MLA. Bar Affiliations and Activities: Admitted to the State of Illinois Bar; member and former officer/board member, NALSC. Memorable Career Moment: When a difficult to place candidate called me on the first anniversary of his new job and told me that I had changed his life. Intriguing Interests: Motorcycling, multiple pets; reading; my family. Most Gratifying Placements: The ones that have a real and lasting impact on the life of the organization, as well as the lives of the individuals involved - e.g. multiple placements in a given law department or the company's first GC.