Dan Binstock, Managing Director of BCG Attorney Search's Washington, D.C. Office
For Dan Binstock, a passion for the legal market and helping people makes for a successful career in legal recruitment.
By combining his passion for the legal market and for helping people, along with an emphasis on individualized service, Dan Binstock has become one of the nation's most successful legal recruiters.
Dan Binstock earned his J.D. from American University's Washington College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. He also served as Business and Development Editor on the American University International Law Review. Following graduation, Dan spent four years as an IP attorney with a large firm in Washington, D.C.
Why leave the practice of law to become a legal recruiter? ''I'm asked that question frequently,'' Dan said. ''Although I enjoyed many aspects of practicing law, I knew deep down I didn't have the level of passion I felt I needed to keep me going for the next 30 years. With a background in psychology, I knew my true passion involved talking to and helping people with issues of a more personal nature.''
While still practicing law, Dan briefly attended night classes to earn a counseling degree. But after serious consideration of his career, and thorough research of the market, Dan realized he wanted to be able to use his law firm experience in a more direct way. After finding BCG Attorney Search in 2004, he realized becoming a legal recruiter would give him the best of both worlds - law and counseling people on their careers.
Over the years, Dan has established lasting relationships with his candidates and Washington, D.C.'s law firms - both large and small. ''I'm very invested in finding a good fit for both our candidates, and for the region's firms. Being a legal recruiter allows me to utilize all of my skills to make that happen. Listening, speaking, negotiating, writing, researching - from beginning to end, and having an open flow of communication, is vital to everyone's success.''
And that success speaks for itself. Because of Dan's dedication, many of his candidates have either been placed at, interviewed with, or received offers from a large majority of the area's leading law firms.
Dan's articles and viewpoints on the legal market have routinely appeared in major media, including The Legal Times, The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Above the Law, LawCrossing, Law 360, The Washington Post, the Washingtonian, and numerous others.
By invitation, Dan speaks regularly on the D.C. legal market and counsels law students at law schools around the country. Some of those law schools include Harvard Law School, the University of Michigan Law School, the George Washington University Law School, Northwestern University School of Law, and the Washington College of Law, among others.
Dan is also a regular speaker at the annual National Association of Legal Placement (NALP) conferences, where his programs have included discussions about how law firms can most effectively work with legal search firms, and how law firms can create compelling job descriptions. Dan has also been selected by the Washington Area Legal Recruitment Administrators Association (WALRAA) to serve on panels discussing recruiting issues in the Washington, D.C. market.
There are many aspects to the recruitment process, and Dan serves both his law firm clients and candidates equally well. He works closely with law firms to help them develop effective search and recruitment strategies. Using innovative approaches, he provides law firms with cutting-edge strategies that help them stand out from their competitors. Regarding his work with candidates, Dan coaches each through all stages of the process, whether he's sharing his wealth of knowledge about different firms and opportunities, providing guidance on business plans, interview preparation, salary negotiations, or helping candidates choose between competing offers.
''While a candidate is going through the job search process, we develop a close relationship. We go to dinner. We talk on the phone, sometimes five to ten times a day, and at all hours. And I love it. I care about the candidates. I feel I have a gift in helping them navigate this difficult process. It's extremely rewarding to become such an important part of their lives, if only for a short period of time. And, of course, it's the most rewarding to help a law firm find the ideal candidate, which makes everyone happy.''
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- M.W.Dan has been extremely helpful with my career move. He provided very insightful guidance to both the general direction and specific details of my job search. What impressed me most was his ultimate professionalism. I could tell that he genuinely care [...]
