Michael F. Auger, Esq., is an attorney and legal recruiter at Robert Half Legal, a legal search firm in Chicago, Illinois. He places attorneys and paralegals in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, as well as parts of Indiana. Originally from Connecticut, he's a proud UConn alumnus and avid sports fan.
I asked Mr. Auger what is the most noteworthy placement he made? "I recently placed an exceptional paralegal candidate on a contract assignment with the corporate legal department of a Fortune 500 company, and the fit was perfect - the client didn't want to lose her and decided to convert her to a permanent employee before the contract assignment ended."
What makes him stand out as a legal recruiter in his field? "Not all legal recruiters have practiced. I have and that gives me an advantage. I also am confident in my abilities and pride myself on building trust and setting realistic expectations with my candidates."
What is the biggest contribution Mr. Auger made? "I've conducted training for other members of our team on the different legal practice areas to increase their understanding."
Before entering recruiting, Mr. Auger practiced as a civil litigator for both plaintiff and defense firms in Connecticut and the Chicagoland area.
Mr. Auger received his Bachelor's of Arts in English from the University of Connecticut, and earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Quinnipiac University School of Law. During law school, he was the recipient of a partial scholarship and was awarded Distinguished Academic Achievement Awards in Introduction to Representing Clients and Antitrust Law. Mr. Auger was also selected to the Probate Law Journal and served as Lead Article's Editor.
Mr. Auger resides with his girlfriend and their two dogs in the River West neighborhood of Chicago. When he is not working, he enjoys watching UConn Basketball, the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Eagles. He is also a converted Chicago Blackhawks fan. Additionally he enjoys running the Warrior Dash and Urbanathlon and maintains a small collection of Air Jordans.
Mr. Auger's Successful Career Path and Tips for Legal Recruiters
Does Mr. Auger have a top memory from school? "My top memory from school was being selected as a member of the Probate Journal after a writing competition. I was excited to be selected out numerous candidates."
What does it take to become a successful legal recruiter? "Confidence, an eye for talent, and a good attitude."
What motivated Mr. Auger to work as a recruiter? "I like working with and helping people and wanted to stay in the legal field, but with a better work/life balance. Legal recruiting seemed like a natural fit, and the transition has been smooth and rewarding."
What is his advice to new recruiters? "Find a mentor and learn what works for them, and then incorporate it while putting your own spin on your recruiting style. Also, really learn the different practice areas to make accurate placements to satisfy client needs and put candidates in the right places to succeed."
What are Mr. Auger's strengths as a recruiter? "Legal experience, dependability, honesty, and the knowledge that there's always room to improve."
What is he known for professionally? "Integrity, reliability, and preparation."
What does Mr. Auger look for to find the right fit? What makes a great candidate? "Matching a candidate's experience with a client's need in that area is part of it, but my approach to finding the right fit is to also try to match the personalities and meet the expectations for work environment and culture."
In regards to what makes a great candidate, he stated, "Good academic credentials are always a plus, but motivated and reliable people with good interpersonal skills and work habits make great candidates."
Where does Mr. Auger see the field in the next five years? "I think it is going to continue to grow and become even more important. People are getting busier and busier and some don't have the time to conduct a thorough search, whether candidate or client. I think more and more people will find value in working with a dedicated recruiter instead of submitting their resume to every internet posting they find."
Does he learn something of value from all mistakes? "There's always a takeaway/ lesson to be learned from a mistake."
What motivates Mr. Auger? "Helping people - making the call to a candidate to let them know they got the job is a great feeling. Also, I am competitive by nature and with a lot of legal recruiting agency options for candidates, I want to be the recruiter candidates call for new opportunities and trust enough to refer to their friends or colleagues."
Where does he derive his confidence? "I practiced for almost 7 years, so that gives me firsthand knowledge of the legal industry and great understanding of the various legal roles and corresponding needs."
One Notable Mentor, Mr. Auger's Passion, A Rewarding Position and His Goals
Does Mr. Auger have a mentor? "My direct supervisor currently serves as my mentor. She is one of the top recruiters with Robert Half Legal and someone for whom I have great professional respect."
Does Mr. Auger find his work rewarding? "Absolutely, getting people back to work or to new and better opportunities is definitely rewarding."
Does he like his occupation? "Without question - It's fast paced and competitive and I love working as part of a team."
Does Mr. Auger have goals? "My goal is to be promoted into a management role and mentor newer recruiters. I plan to continue to recruit and place great candidates while expanding my network and ability to be a resource for candidates and clients alike."
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