Introduction
Cohn & Schwartz, a well-regarded personal injury law firm in Orange County, CA, faced a persistent hiring challenge: filling a critical paralegal role with the right blend of experience, professionalism, and cultural fit. After internal recruiting efforts and partnering with a legal-industry-specific recruiter fell short, the firm turned to Ampleo HR.
Jessica Acosta, an HR consultant with Ampleo, brought a fresh, consultative approach—leveraging modern sourcing tools, deep screening expertise, and a commitment to quality over quantity. What followed was more than just a successful hire: It was a model for how recruiting has evolved in today’s competitive talent landscape.
Challenge
The firm needed to hire a qualified paralegal in a highly competitive, localized talent market. Unfortunately, internal recruiting efforts had stalled, and a prior engagement with a legal-specific recruiter produced underqualified candidates. Cohn & Schwartz expected a high volume of candidates but instead received low-quality resumes from candidates who lacked critical soft skills, relevant experience, and cultural alignment.
Solution
Ampleo HR led a detailed intake process to understand the role, firm culture, and what success looked like in the position. Instead of overwhelming the client with resumes, the partner took the following course of action:
- Adopted a proactive outreach strategy using LinkedIn and tapped into local paralegal groups—beyond the reach of traditional recruiters
- Focused on presenting only the best-fit candidates, resulting in just three on-site interviews but two solid offers
- Coached the client to rethink selection criteria to avoid disqualifying viable candidates prematurely
Throughout the process, communication was constant—Ampleo HR regularly met with the client to align on feedback, recalibrate expectations, and ensure transparency throughout the search. This ensured that the relationship became a true partnership built on trust, responsiveness, and expertise in both sourcing and advising.
“Recruiting today isn’t just about knowing the right people—it’s about knowing where and how to find the right people. Tools like LinkedIn have revolutionized the game, and our strength at Ampleo HR is using them strategically, screening thoroughly, and being true partners to our clients.”
—Jessica Acosta, HR Consultant, Ampleo HR
Results
The engagement highlighted how Ampleo’s holistic, modern recruiting model outperforms traditional industry-specific approaches by delivering the following results, all within a three-month period:
- 3 candidates brought on-site
- 2 offers extended
- 1 successful hire of a paralegal, who remains a high-performing team member more than seven months later
Cohn & Schwartz rehired Ampleo HR for a second paralegal search due to its satisfaction. The firm even went so far as to refer Ampleo to other attorneys, underscoring its trust in the process and results.
Conclusion
Cohn & Schwartz’s experience shows that relying solely on industry-specific recruiters can limit outcomes. With the talent landscape constantly shifting, firms need recruiting partners who understand both the tools and the strategy behind great hiring. Ampleo HR delivered more than just a hire—it delivered peace of mind, long-term value, and a better way forward.
