Lawyer Headhunter | Trevin Sewell

Trevin Sewell Headhunter

A Legal Recruiter with a Human Lens

At SLS, I help law firms find exceptional legal talent —
and help lawyers figure out what comes next.

I have spent years immersed in the Canadian legal market — working with lawyers at every stage of their career and with the law firms and in-house legal teams that need to find the right person for a critical role. Legal is all I do. That focus is deliberate.

At Smith Legal Search, I work across private practice and in-house mandates, from associate placements to partner-level lateral moves and all levels of in-house searches.

The lawyers I work with get an honest read on the market, a clear sense of what is realistic, and a recruiter who will tell them the truth about where they stand and what their options actually are.

Visit Smith Legal Search

How I work is built on one thing — trust.

Every conversation is confidential. Nothing moves without your explicit go-ahead. Your name, your resume, your situation — none of it goes anywhere until you say so.

"Most lawyers do not need more options. They need someone who can help them think through the right one."

No resume spammingYour resume goes where you say it goes

No pressure tacticsI would rather wait than rush a bad move

No hidden agendasYou always know where your info is going

No ghostingThe relationship does not end when the deal closes

No bad fitsIf a role is wrong for you, I will say so

No transactional thinkingLawyers talk. I am building a reputation

Smith Legal Search

Canada's Leading Legal Search Firm

Smith Legal Search is a 100% Canadian owned and operated executive legal search firm, and one of Canada's leading and truly national legal recruitment firms, with offices in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. Our team provides unparalleled market insight and strategic recruitment advice to many of the top corporations and law firms in Canada, servicing clients in every major market in Canada.

45%

Cross-Market
Move

98%

Placement
Success Rate

10+

Years
Placement Longevity

SLS

For Law Firms & In-House Companies

Legal is all we do. Our team is immersed in firm structures, compensation trends, and in-house dynamics. We speak your language because we live in this space — and we focus on strategic hires with staying power, not transactional placements.

Most of the talent we work with is never on a public job board. We reach lawyers who are not actively looking but might be open to the right move. Deliberate hiring. Sustained performance. Trusted partnership.

Services

Partner & Associate

Private practice at every level across Canada

In-House Legal

First counsel to GC — we know what companies need

Office Opening

New markets, new teams, expansion planning

Confidential Search

Succession planning and sensitive replacements

The SLS Blueprint

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Scope — Align on success beyond the job description

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Market Map — Custom talent landscape for your search

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Outreach — We reach lawyers not actively looking

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Shortlist — Only candidates who align on every level

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Offer & Integration — We see it through to day one and beyond

Start Hiring — Contact Trevin View SLS Perfect Hire

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you decide which opportunities or candidates to bring forward?+

Every conversation starts with understanding what actually matters to the person — not just their CV. I only bring forward opportunities that make sense for where someone is and where they are trying to go. And I only bring candidates to clients when I genuinely believe it is a fit worth exploring.

I am worried that my firm or employer will find out I am speaking to a recruiter. What then?+

Nothing goes anywhere without your consent. Full stop. I do not share your name, your resume, or any details about our conversation with anyone unless you have explicitly told me to. Confidentiality is not a policy here — it is how I operate.

If I share my resume and consent for a specific opportunity, does that mean it goes out for everything?+

No. Consent for one opportunity is consent for that opportunity only. I will always come back to you before sharing your information anywhere else. You are in control of this process at every step.

Do you work with lawyers outside of BC?+

Yes. I commonly work with lawyers from all over North America who are looking to relocate to British Columbia. I also selectively work with some of the top US national firms with offices in California who are looking to recruit Canadian talent. At Smith Legal Search, we are national — I have colleagues in Alberta and Ontario who are able to assist with searches and placements across the country.

Is there a cost to a candidate to work with you?+

No. There is zero cost to the lawyer we place. Placement fees are not something a candidate ever needs to worry about.

How do you stay close to the legal market beyond active searches?+

I stay in ongoing conversations with lawyers and legal leaders whether or not there is an active search happening. The market moves fast and the best opportunities often do not get posted publicly. Relationships built over time are how I know what is actually available.

How do you approach conversations when a move or hire may not be the right decision?+

I say so. My job is not to close a placement — it is to give you an honest read on the situation. If the timing is wrong, if the opportunity is not the right fit, or if staying put makes more sense, I will tell you that. The relationship matters more than the transaction.

The best teams are not assembled. They are found. People who already understand what it means to show up — for each other, for the client, the candidate, every time.

This is who I go to war with.

Meet the Team ↓