Legal recruitment has taken a step further towards the digital age, as candidates are able to apply for jobs by submitting their LinkedIn profile using a button next to the vacancy advertisement. The move effectively reduces the need for recruitment agents to trawl through the LinkedIn database searching for suitable applicants, connecting suitable candidates and the agents who have access to potential employers.

Legal recruitment firm CML, which made the feature available to candidates three weeks ago, is the first to introduce the new method of applying for legal job vacancies. “Numbers have already started to increase. So far we have seen a handful of people use the new system but we are convinced that these numbers will start to rise once people have a further understanding of how the system works,” said CML marketing executive Alejandra Wilkinson.

Candidates can choose to apply using just their existing LinkedIn profile or attach a CV or Resume, according to Wilkinson. “Candidates can attach a CV to their LinkedIn profile as a PDF. They do not need to have multiple versions stored,” she added. Once they submit their LinkedIn profile, a recruitment agent from CML will view and assess the candidate on the basis of the information they are able to see and from there decide whether or not to proceed to a full application. “We would still need to move forward to a full CV, background check and thorough registration. This is just a fast way of interacting with the recruiter and making sure that we are aware of them for a particular role,” said Wilkinson.

For those who might be concerned that potential employers could see information on their profile, Wilkinson confirmed that clients do not have access to a candidate’s LinkedIn profile, and are not able to track an application that has been submitted to CML.