http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/archives.php BCG Attorney Search Articles Section en-us © 2010 BCG Attorney Search. All rights reserved. admin@bcgsearch.com admin@bcgsearch.com Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:40:02 CST Articles http://www.bcgsearch.com/feeds/bcgrssfeedsitemap.php 60 Question: I am a senior associate with some portable business. I am looking for a job in today's market with a straight base compensation, but I find that everyone just wants to talk about my potential portables (which are tentative at best) once they hear that I have some business. Is it impossible to find a normal service role today instead of a rainmaking role at my level? Should I stop mentioning my portables to potential employers, although I think that they do add something to my candidacy? I don't want an eat-what-you-kill compensation structure, but, inevitably, the conversation goes in that direction as soon as ''potential portables'' are mentioned. Help! http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60976 bcg1 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT Southern California (Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles) The Northeast (New York, Washington, DC, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) The Southwest (Texas) The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and Utah) International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60974 bcg2 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:00 GMT Several years ago, Malcolm Gladwell, the author of The Tipping Point, penned a second wildly popular book entitled, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. To be frank, I purchased this book several months before I actually read it - picking it up and putting it down repeatedly until, one day, it literally dawned on me that now seemed the right moment to read Blink. I don't quite know what I was waiting for or whether I was just uninspired. I simply knew that until that fateful day arrived, I simply was not in the right frame of mind to sit down and digest its contents and, thereafter, put its lessons to good use. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60971 bcg3 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT I went to UCLA LAW, and graduated this year with a 3.02, but due to circumstances I did not have the opportunity to intern for anyone during the summer. Now I am currently awaiting the California Bar results, and searching for a job, but I have had no luck. Where is a good place to look? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60965 bcg4 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT Working with a legal recruiter is the smartest decision a good attorney can make. Legal recruiters typically operate in the ''upper echelons'' of the legal profession and for people who are suited for their services legal recruiters are the absolute best career resources. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60967 bcg5 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT Hot practice areas typically differ quite dramatically from state to state. However, there are consistencies which are generally always present in most geographical areas. These consistencies are generally applicable across most time periods in most geographic areas. While this is the sort of question I would love to ''write a book'' about, for purposes of brevity I will be brief and highlight only one or two areas that are very busy generally in major geographic areas. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60969 bcg6 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT I have thought a lot about this question over the years and I really believe I have the answer. The answer is as simple as this: Dress as you want to be seen. While this may seem an overly simplistic answer, I believe that with some further elaboration the meaning of this will become far more clear. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60970 bcg7 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:00 GMT Let me start this article off by talking about myself. I am the oldest of three and was probably the most ''driven'' and ''motivated'' of my siblings. Competitive by nature, I had to get straight A's in high school and college. An ''A-'' could bring me to tears. My drive, my need to succeed is what led me to apply to law school while in college (as a psychology major, I eventually ruled out PhD programs). Once I got into law school and knew where I was headed, I arrogantly declared to my friends I would be making over $100,000 a year before my 25th birthday. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=612&id=60956 bcg8 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT Southern California (Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles) The Northeast (New York, Washington, DC, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) The Southwest (Texas) The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and Utah) International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60924 bcg9 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT I am pleased to introduce you to Petunia Partner, a lovely figment of my imagination and my homage to all of the wonderful advice columnists of the world. In this fourth installment, Petunia continues to offer up her very special brand of practical advice for the everyday lawyer. I hope Ms. Partner's lighthearted column helps you to avoid some of the common pitfalls that many lawyers face in today's hectic world. Petunia, take it away... http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60917 bcg10 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT I've never liked speed bumps. Growing up in a family of car lovers and auto racers, I like to think that I was born for speed. I realize that is a very romantic, some would say arrogant, statement, but it's true. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60912 bcg11 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT After completing a full day of interviews, a common question I receive from my candidates is whether they should send a thank you note to each of their interviewers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60910 bcg12 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 GMT It is easy for attorneys to conclude that today's legal market sucks. There has been a pandemic of layoffs, sending countless attorneys into what can feel like a non-existent job market. However, if you are one of these talented but unemployed attorneys searching for employment, one of the easiest ways to increase your chances of getting a job is to cast a broad net in terms of job applications and entertain jobs outside of your current geographic location. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60906 bcg13 Sat, 30 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT There is no doubt about it, the legal job market is going through an extremely challenging period. Every day there is news of yet another law firm giant laying off obscene numbers of attorneys and staff. In this difficult recruiting climate, it becomes imperative to use all relevant resources available to you, to the best of your abilities. If utilizing the services of a recruiter is part of your job search arsenal, here are a couple of tips on how to maximize the benefits from this relationship. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=613&cat_id=0&id=60898 bcg14 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Southern California (Orange County and San Diego) Northern California (Silicon Valley, and San Francisco) The Northwest (Portland) The Northeast (New York, Washington, DC, New Jersey, and Boston) The Southwest (Texas and Las Vegas) The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and Utah) International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60892 bcg15 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Moving from a large general practice firm to a smaller boutique environment requires a good deal of forethought and may require some significant adjustments. Recently, I spoke with a senior associate that was working at a boutique firm. She had been there for less than a year and had previously worked for a number of years at an AmLaw 100 law firm. I could hear the frustration in her voice about having made a move that she thought was definitely the wrong move for her career. Although obviously a very bright and accomplished attorney, she unfortunately had not considered the significant differences that can exist between large firm practice and practicing in a smaller boutique environment. Attorneys moving to a smaller boutique environment from a large general practice firm would be well advised to take note of some of significant differences that may impact their daily practice. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60891 bcg16 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT As I write this, law firm layoffs are at unprecedented numbers. From where I sat two years ago, the current unemployment levels for talented, highly educated attorneys seemed inconceivable. How did we get to this current state? The answer isn't as simple as one might believe. We can't entirely blame large firm associate raises, although they certainly have compounded matters. My law firm clients tell us that in many ways their hands have been forced into layoffs because their clients are just not paying their bills. It's not that they don't have the work; the money isn't coming in, and unfortunately, decisions have to be made. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60889 bcg17 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT In the current economy, it goes without saying that job seekers need to take advantage of all available employment resources. This includes, of course, traditional avenues such as recruiters, colleagues, friends, family, and job-posting websites. More than ever, it also includes exploiting new, innovative, and even unconventional methods. Those who embrace and exploit these newer technologies will gain a significant advantage over their colleagues who are restricting themselves to established job-search methods. While there are a host of emerging technologies that can assist job seekers, this article will focus on the use of social networking and social media to expand the reach and scope of their pursuit of their next job. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60890 bcg18 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT I heard somewhere that it takes more energy for a boxer to throw a punch that misses its mark than to land a punch. That fact (I'm not sure whether it's true) always stuck with me. If you are going to make the attempt to win a fight-flailing around is far more of an energy suck than hitting your mark. A good boxer commits to hitting the mark. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60878 bcg19 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Most of us remember that famous Yogi Berra quote: ''If you come to a fork in the road, take it!'' Earlier this week, I spoke with a non-equity partner at an AmLaw 100 firm who realized he had come to a fork in the road. He had been a service partner for over 20 years and was recently let go. His words were painful to hear, but insightful: ''No one cares what law school I went to. No one cares about the quality of the work I have done. No one cares that I have been working hard at the top of my game servicing clients for over 20 years.'' With the recent economic downturn, more and more non-equity partners who do not have business of their own are being forced out of firms. Having serviced other equity partners' clients for so long, many non-equity partners have had little or no time to build their own books of business and now find themselves at a fork in the road. If you are a non-equity partner who is at your ''fork in the road,'' Yogi's unique insights might prove helpful. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60879 bcg20 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT ''Go on, take the money and run''-Steve Miller Band http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60880 bcg21 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT The legal landscape has changed. What was once fertile ground is now nothing but dust and endless desert. You may not have noticed, but law firms are laying off associates at alarming rates. Every day. In droves. It's unfair and unprecedented, and everyone is waiting for it to hit bottom because, currently, there is no end in sight. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60881 bcg22 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT I am pleased to introduce you to Petunia Partner, a lovely figment of my imagination and my homage to all of the wonderful advice columnists of the world. In this third installment, Petunia continues to offer up her very special brand of practical advice for the everyday lawyer. I hope Ms. Partner's lighthearted column helps you to avoid some of the common pitfalls that many lawyers face in today's hectic world. Petunia, take it away... http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60882 bcg23 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT It's springtime here in Mill Valley, California, and over the last few days the fruit trees have been quietly erupting in blossoms. Underneath heavy boughs of pink, white, and lavender petals, I've spotted the crowning heads of purple crocuses pushing their way through the dark, cold dirt. Overnight, cheerful daffodils have popped up, their bright yellow heads bobbing on slender green stalks. Red and pink camellias have suddenly unfurled amongst the deep green waxy leaves of trees that I had not noticed all winter. The speed at which the natural tapestry has altered is dizzying; it's a riot of nature clamoring to be noticed. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60883 bcg24 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Every day seems to bring news of yet another firm laying off employees. Many attorneys are wondering if their firm or their job may be the next casualty in these crazy economic times. Do you find yourself regularly checking ''Above the Law'' to see if there are any rumors regarding your firm? Are you monitoring the schedule for the firm's conference rooms to determine whether they are booked up for long periods of time on a Friday? Does your heart drop every time you see the name of the managing partner or head of human resources on your caller ID? If you answered yes to any of these questions, know that you are not alone. I speak to associates every day who are afraid that they may be next. However, it is very important to try and keep a level head and not panic, which understandably may be easier said than done. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60884 bcg25 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT The media has tremendous power to magnify economic trends and alter our perceptions. In a world of 24/7 news coverage, we can hear 20 reports about the same layoff. After a while, it starts to sound like every law firm associate has lost his or her job. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60885 bcg26 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT The other day, I received a call from a junior litigation associate looking to make a move from top law in Chicago. We spoke at length about her academic credentials, litigation experience (including her reviews and current standing with her firm), and reasons for seeking another position. Uncertain economy aside, this was a rock-star candidate and one that I would normally jump to represent. In fact, even in these times, I seriously considered representing her because her credentials and litigation experience were outstanding. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60886 bcg27 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Does the ad below look inviting to you? Have you been reading about the soaring success rate of the SnuggieTM? Did friends ring you in December and recommend it as the ''perfect gift?'' Welcome to my world. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60887 bcg28 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Lately it seems as though the number of female partners currently working in law firms is becoming fewer and fewer these days. A lot of female partners are fleeing from firms due to a lack of balance in their work and professional lives, and also because of an absence of support or mentoring. In this article, I am going to discuss some of the ways that firms can attract and retain female partners. As many women in this country opt to pursue law as their professional career, those firms on the forefront of female partner retention efforts will benefit greatly by attracting existing female partner talent and those up and coming women attorneys who represent the next generation of female partner candidates. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60870 bcg29 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT Your managing partner walks into your office and closes the door. The look on this person's face is grim and you feel a huge knot forming in the pit of your stomach. You see this person's mouth moving, but can't hear the words. After a couple of minutes have passed, your partner politely makes an exit and you are left in your chair, speechless and dumbstruck. Yes, the unimaginable has happened, you have just been laid off by your firm. As you pick your jaw up off the floor, a feeling of panic starts to slowly creep over your entire body. At this crucial moment in time, it is important to keep a level head, breathe, and consider the following steps to successfully recover and bounce back from this difficult situation. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=612&id=60871 bcg30 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT For many law school graduates, their first taste of practicing law comes from working as an associate at a law firm. For those people who have opted to join a large firm, the first year of practice is probably filled with both excitement and stress. There are many wonderful perks that come with being an associate at a big firm (prestige, high salary, etc.). At the same time, however, there are many potential pitfalls that juniorâ€"level associates will want to be aware of and avoid. In this article I have included some tips for surviving your first year of practice at a law firm. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60867 bcg31 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:00:00 GMT While most seasoned partners have been through their share of recessions and economic turmoil, the recession of 2008 has put us into uncharted territory. We have seen a number of top tier law firms close their doors. And while there are still plenty of firms that have not been forced to disband, many are looking to take the firm in a new direction in an attempt resurrect it and ensure its survival. Merging with another law firm is a common way to keep a firm alive. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60864 bcg32 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:00:00 GMT Having spent the past week vetting resumes from partner candidates who are exploring the market, something from my college days keeps coming to mind. It's a play called 'dentity Crisis by Christopher Durang. One of the core moments within such play is a dialogue between the character Jane and her psychiatrist, Summers: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60539 bcg33 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT In these crazy economic times, companies of all shapes and sizes are exploring ways to minimize their operating expenses and overhead costs in order to avoid being the next Lehman Brothers. One of the first costs to be cut and/or minimized is outside legal fees. As a result, partners are rightfully concerned about their relationships with both existing clients as well as prospective clients and how to best solidify and foster those relationships. In my experience as a former in-house attorney at a well-respected private equity/investment management company, I have utilized the services of numerous law firms, some of which were very effective in their duties as outside counsel while others were, unfortunately, not as much. This article addresses several different, and relatively simple, ways in which outside counsel can demonstrate their worth to a client that can help them stand out from the crowd and solidify that relationship. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60540 bcg34 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT What is the secret to building a book of business? Why do some partners succeed in developing work while others, who appear to have everything going for them, are unable to get off the ground? The intangible factors are very important. They include self-discipline, gumption, interpersonal finesse, and a willingness to risk. Setting aside the intangibles and issues that vary from firm to firm, such as billing rates and how matters are credited, to begin the focus has to be on a number of core ingredients that are required and need to be adjusted on an ongoing basis: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60541 bcg35 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT In difficult economic times, the knee-jerk reaction of many partners is to hunker down and hold on for dear life to the clients they already have. Smart partners, however, will use the weakening economy as a stepping stone to increase their books of business â€" perhaps dramatically â€" by deepening personal and business relationships with existing clients and, more importantly, seizing upon opportunities with new clients. These partners will emerge from the economic slowdown atop the heap, while the overly-cautious partners will miss critical opportunities to grow their client bases. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60542 bcg36 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT There seems to be some debate, so let me settle the issue: I do not read minds. The recruiters at BCG are all talented people blessed with an enormous array of gifts, but, sadly, they lack that particular talent as well. At least the last time I checked. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60543 bcg37 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Departures from a law firm are complicated for any attorney, but for a partner the details can be quite intricate. Please note: First and foremost, the interests of your clients should be absolutely paramount. Consultation with existing ABA and state bar guidelines on firm transition is suggested. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60544 bcg38 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT In this challenging economy, lateral associate hiring is down overall while there is an active market for lateral partners with portable books of business. Partners have different needs and objectives than their associate job-hunting counterparts. As a lateral partner, it is important to retain a recruiter who understands these specific needs and can manage your expectations accordingly. A job search can be stressful but the right recruiter can alleviate many concerns throughout the process. Over the past decade, many partners have come to BCG Attorney Search looking for a new home for their practice and we have been happy to work with them. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60545 bcg39 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Unless you practice law under a large, windowless rock, you are well aware that the economy is in turmoil. With this comes a decrease in lateral associate hiring, a drastic reduction in the number of in-house opportunities for lawyers, and a general sense of panic for most of us. However, one positive change we are seeing is the increase in lateral partner recruiting by law firms around the country. These uncertain economic times have led many top law firms across the country to try to bolster their partner ranks by taking advantage of the talented (and lucrative) partners on the market. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60546 bcg40 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Lateral partner hiring is resilient in even the worst economic conditions. Thus, despite the current credit crunch, lateral partner hiring has increased nationwide and firms are continuing to supplement their ranks with partners with business. Partners with business should evaluate their current firm's status and determine whether it is a good time to make a strategic move. Why would any partner decide to move in such a tumultuous legal market? There are a number of good reasons partners should consider moving to another firm in an economic downturn. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60530 bcg41 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT One of the most pronounced trends among the nation's top law firms in the past 10 years is that most firms â€" the overwhelming majority of firms â€" are two-tiered partnerships. A decade ago, 80 percent of the 100 largest law firms in the United States were single tier equity partnerships. Now 80 percent are two-tiered partnerships (see, e.g., '''De-equity' Stirring Big-Firm Partner Ranks'' by Dick Dahl for Lawyers USA, August 27, 2007). Although the importance of retaining a single-tiered partnership may seem diminished given the groundswell in favor of promoting non-equity partners, there are still important considerations in choosing between a one- or two-tiered partnership. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60531 bcg42 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT I am a recruiter who believes that every candidate (partners and associates alike) should have a game plan. It's like my favorite football team â€" the USC Trojans. Every week, Pete Carroll and his staff develop a game plan that is tailored to the opponent of the week. It's all about undertaking the proper level of preparation that will eventually lead to success. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60532 bcg43 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Let me get this out of the way: the very best way for an attorney to acquire business is through relationships. This would include family, friends, and family friends. As a young attorney placement recruiter, I placed a visit to the Beverly Hills office of Finley, Kumble, Manley et al. based in NYC. Marshal Manley was the resident partner in charge. I met with him in his beautiful, spacious office there on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. His office and his demeanor reminded me of the movie Wall Street with Michael Douglas. During our brief meeting, I said to Mr. Manley: ''Mr. Manley, what does it take for an associate to make partner at your firm?'' Marshal Manley said: ''Ted, tell who his father is!'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60533 bcg44 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Due to the economic crisis, I have been spending a lot of time on the phone with outstanding lawyers who have been left in desperate situations. Many of these attorneys, from junior associates to senior partners, come from top law firms and have excellent academic credentials. The tone of the conversation is one of desperation and frustration. Perhaps the most frustrated are the senior and partner-level attorneys who have a wealth of experience to bring to the table, but have not had any success getting a firm to talk to them. These candidates are disgusted because their willingness to be flexible and take a hit in title or class year in order to make a move is rejected. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60534 bcg45 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT ''Fortune Favors the Bold!'' Quoted more often than followed, Virgil's immortal phrase rings truer now than ever as a source of inspiration â€" and as a challenge. In Virgil's day, fortune â€" or ''Fortuna,'' the goddess of luck â€" was believed to bestow her largesse on risk-takers and adventurers. Those who boldly sacrificed comfort in pursuit of greater goals were rewarded by Fortuna for their efforts. These unpredictable financial times provide a great opportunity for many to catch Fortuna's eye and generous attention. So all you partners with a book, great or small, dust off your shield and saber, or business plan and contacts, and be bold. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60535 bcg46 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT A senior associate or ''counsel'' with significant portable business is a sought after commodity. Many attorneys who reach this point in their career decide to ''take a look around'' before making a long-term commitment to their current firm. Often, these attorneys simply want reassurance that they have positioned themselves on the best platform for an upward career trajectory and general workplace satisfaction. However, a number of senior attorneys with business conclude that they must leave their old firm to reach partnership. Once the decision to move on is reached, they often want the time interval between leaving their old firm and ''consideration'' at their new firm to be as short as possible. From a recruiter's perspective, this ''hurry up'' strategy may not be the best approach to the ultimate goal of partnership. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60536 bcg47 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Question: ''I was recently laid off from my position for economic reasons. The partners in my practice area where not generating enough business to keep our hours high enough and there were cuts throughout the firm. I received several months of severance pay and my biography is still on the firm's website, at least for a couple more months. Should I tell prospective employers the truth or try to find a job before my profile is removed?''- Anonymous http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60515 bcg48 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT These are challenging times for law firms. There is great uncertainty in our financial markets. This in turn is making it much more difficult for business and individuals to obtain credit. If this continues for a protracted period of time, law firms are likely to see a significant drop in transactional legal work. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60516 bcg49 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT I recently asked a managing partner (who is actively in the market for lateral partners) how his firm distinguishes itself from its competitors. The response I got was, ''We've got a great firm and we make a ton of money.'' I have to give him points for being superlative, if not terribly specific. He wasn't being flip; it was clear that he believes that these are the two reasons for partners to join his practice. But as someone who talks to firms about their senior-level needs on a regular basis, these may be important characteristics of the firm, but they are hardly distinguishing characteristics of the firm. The truth is many firms aren't great at articulating what makes them different from their competitors. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60517 bcg50 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego) Northern California (Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Sacramento) The Northwest (Portland and Seattle) The Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC) The Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Miami, South Florida, Orlando, and Tampa) The Southwest (Texas, Arizona, Nevada) The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and Utah) International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60518 bcg51 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT This is undoubtedly an unpopular question for a legal recruiter to ask, but why are you an attorney? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=612&id=60512 bcg52 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Wall Street's financial troubles are distressing not only to firms in New York City, which rely heavily upon financial industry clients, but also firms located throughout the U.S. At the current juncture, partners are viewing the landscape as either of two extremes — disastrously or opportunistically (and maybe a little bit of both). Naturally, the tumultuous nature of 2008 is keeping many of our partner candidates awake at night with images of the last ten (10) months running through their minds and, for some, foreboding feelings directed toward year ahead. To that end, we have attempted to tackle the top 10 questions that many partner candidates are asking this quarter as 2008 comes swiftly to a close: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60504 bcg53 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT Question: I am a mid-level corporate associate, and have just been told that I am being laid off because there is not enough work in my practice group. My firm is giving me three months to find a new position. One of my friends at the firm has advised me that I should not tell my headhunter the truth about my situation because it will only hurt my chances of finding a new job. Is this true? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60623 bcg54 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT In today's down market, news of firm layoffs have unfortunately become all too common. If you are one of the unlucky ones who have been downsized, there is nothing to be ashamed about, especially if it was the result of the worsening economy. It is widely known that firms are laying off very qualified associates solely for economic reasons and not for performance reasons. The natural tendency for laid off associates is to want to hide this information from friends and family, as well as potential employers. However, you should fight the urge to hide the fact that you were laid off from your legal recruiter. I cannot overstate how important it is to be as honest and forthright as possible with your recruiter from the very beginning of your relationship about all aspects of your job search, including the reasons why you are looking for a new position. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=612&id=60816 bcg55 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT As we approach the fall many law firms are preparing for the arrival of this year's class of first-year associates. The importance of a strong mentoring relationship in supporting the development of a new associate has been widely discussed and acknowledged. The flip side of the equation, or how becoming a mentor (and doing it well) can add tremendous value to the career development of an experienced attorney, has been underplayed in my opinion. This article will consider how the role of the mentor can serve to promote professional growth for all attorneys involved. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60197 bcg56 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:00:00 GMT Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego) Northern California (Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Sacramento) The Northwest (Portland and Seattle) The Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC) The Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Miami, South Florida, Orlando, and Tampa) The Southwest (Texas, Arizona, Nevada) The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and Utah) International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60466 bcg57 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT The Importance of Making Strategic Lateral Moves Making a lateral move in your legal career is a serious matter. Whereas many industries are accustomed to high turnover and expect job applicants to have several moves on the resume, law firms remain committed to seeking out candidates who have demonstrated stability and good sense in their career development. Thus, one of the most common reasons we hear for law firms passing on potential candidates is that the candidate is perceived as having made too many moves or moves that do not make sense to the potential employer. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60528 bcg58 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT a. Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego) b. Northern California (Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Sacramento) c. The Northwest (Portland and Seattle) d. The Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC) e. The Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Miami, South Florida, Orlando, Tampa, and Tallahassee) f. The Southwest (Texas, Arizona, Nevada) g. The Midwest (Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and Utah) h. International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60465 bcg59 Tue, 13 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT A large law firm can be a harsh work environment. When you take a group of intelligent, ambitious, left-brained individuals, put them in charge of high-stakes work with tight deadlines, and give them highly paid but inexperienced associates, communication problems are bound to arise. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60791 bcg60 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction A good resume is an extremely important tool in the job-search process. Because firms are inundated with resumes, your resume must be able to get the attention of the hiring partner and create a good, strong impression at a brief glance. Your resume is your sales pitch to the hiring partner. It is not merely a recitation of your life's chronology. You need to make your value to the employer clear, and because your resume will likely only get about 30 seconds of the partner's time, you need your value to be emphasized and evident from a quick scan and cursory examination. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60792 bcg61 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Guide to Relocation There is nothing more exciting than leaving one area of the country and going to a new area to start a new career and life. One of the advantages of having chosen a career in the fluid legal industry is that you do have the option of living in other parts of the United States or even the world. We have moved attorneys from one city to another and from one continent to another. Indeed, as an attorney-search firm that places attorneys throughout the United States and the world, we believe that we have made a positive difference in the quality of many lives through our relocation efforts. For excellent attorneys, we are the relocation experts. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60793 bcg62 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT I am pleased to introduce you to Petunia Partner, a lovely figment of my imagination and my homage to all of the wonderful advice columnists of the world. Petunia joins us today to offer up her very special brand of practical advice for the everyday lawyer. I hope this first installment of Ms. Partner's lighthearted column helps you to avoid some of the common pitfalls that many lawyers face in today's hectic world. Petunia, take it away... http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60794 bcg63 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT You just had a good interview. In fact, it was great! You really connected with the people that you met. You found the practice to be interesting and sophisticated, the setting collegial, and the compensation package first-class. You are one step closer to getting the job of your dreams when you are asked to provide your references. How should you handle this very important step in your job search? The following is a basic guideline aiming to steer you through this sometimes tricky and often overlooked aspect of the job-search process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60796 bcg64 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT I am pleased to introduce you to Petunia Partner, a lovely figment of my imagination and my homage to all of the wonderful advice columnists of the world. In this second installment, Petunia continues to offer up her very special brand of practical advice for the everyday lawyer. I hope Ms. Partner's lighthearted column helps you to avoid some of the common pitfalls that many lawyers face in today's hectic world. Petunia, take it away? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60797 bcg65 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT INTRODUCTION Every legal recruiter practices his/her own brand of recruiting, and for the most part, each style has merit. As the head of a national recruiting firm, I speak with legal recruiters both within and outside of my recruiting firm each day and have become quite familiar with various recruiting styles. When you are searching for a recruiter, it is important that you, too, are aware of the various recruiting styles, as your legal recruiter's particular recruiting style can often determine how effectively he/she can assist you in your job search. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60799 bcg66 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT So You Want to Switch Your Practice Area? In a lot of respects, the path attorneys take to joining a particular practice area is nothing short of insane. Most attorneys interview for summer-associate jobs, take the best summer job they can get, and join a particular firm without much thought as to what practice area they will be in. Given that people spend a significant amount of their life at work, enjoying the work they do is especially vital, and the process attorneys undertake to choose a practice area seems nonsensical in a lot of respects. It is not surprising then that many attorneys call our offices on a daily basis seeking to switch practice areas. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60800 bcg67 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT On a daily basis, recruiters serve as agents for their candidates, with different degrees of success. What exactly is involved in effective and efficient agency on behalf of a client, and what should you look for in a recruiter/agent? In this article, we'll discuss some of the most significant components of effective agency: Advocacy, Goodwill, Ethics, Navigation, Competition, and Yield. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60802 bcg68 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT [Media Director Miskah Ismail earned her B.A. in political science from Williams College and studied abroad at Oxford University. She earned her J.D. from Boalt Hall, where she was a member of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal and Berkeley Journal of International Law.] http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60803 bcg69 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT ''Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt'' â€" Abraham Lincoln ''One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears.'' â€" Dean Rusk, U.S. secretary of state (1961-1969) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60804 bcg70 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT With big businesses gobbling up competitors and financial disclosure woes dominating the headlines, it is no surprise the market for legal professionals continues to expand ? albeit at a modest pace. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60805 bcg71 Fri, 02 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT It's no secret that the downturn in the economy has caused the legal employment market to contract somewhat. But plenty of jobs still are available. Interested in learning more about how to pursue your career in this tough market? Come hear Carey L. Bertolet, a partner in BCG Attorney Search, share some valuable job-hunting tips. 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls are welcome to attend. After Ms. Bertolet speaks and answers questions from the audience, you are invited to join us for a reception with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres on the 2nd floor of Barrack, right next to the Career Planning suite. This event has been brought to the Law School courtesy of J.D. Jungle. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60653 bcg72 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT When most attorneys prepare for job interviews they come up with lists of questions they should ask. Most of these questions are questions to which the candidates/interviewees (the people interviewing for the jobs) would like to have answers. However, most attorneys do not consciously realize that questions generally fall into two categories. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60655 bcg73 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT For attorneys in private practice who wish to relocate from one part of the country to another, the process of finding a new job can be particularly challenging. Busy work schedules, personal obligations, differing time zones, and lack of familiarity with the job market can often prove daunting for those seeking law firm employment in a new city. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60656 bcg74 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Small and typically more self-aware groups of attorneys are approaching their careers as businesses. Regardless of whether or not they are happy with their current employers, these attorneys focus on their short- and long-term goals to ensure their careers are on course. In essence, these attorneys understand that their careers are indeed businesses, and as such, they have business plans. This article focuses on the methods used by these attorneys and provides some tips on how to make sure you are on the right career path. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60657 bcg75 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT King & Spalding has long been associated with the Atlanta, Georgia market and is in some circles considered the premier firm in that city. King & Spalding represents some of the most notable Fortune 500 companies in the South, boasting long term relationships with institutional clientele. King & Spalding would have most certainly been able to sustain its history of profitability in Atlanta alone, or could have extended its stronghold in the Southern legal market. However, King & Spalding, with a bold goal of acquisition, has now established itself in some of the largest legal marketplaces in the world, including New York, Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas in a relatively short amount of time. Since beginning its expansion outside of the Atlanta market over ten years ago, King & Spalding has grown to over 700 lawyers and is now ranking among the nation's top 50 law firms. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60658 bcg76 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT You have spent many hours planning your job search with your recruiter, picking the right firms, and researching them with every spare moment. You have interviewed like crazy for months, while staying up late at night trying to hold down your current job. But it's all been worth it: You finally got the perfect job offer at the firm of your dreams. Congratulations, time to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the new change in your career. But don't get too comfortable, you still have a lot of important challenges ahead of you if you are going to make this new job a success. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60659 bcg77 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT What is typically given the least amount of attention by candidates, but has the highest likelihood of undermining one's chances of getting a job? Yes, writing samples. When it comes to the importance of writing samples, I will never forget the following email, which came from a recruiting manager at a large firm: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60660 bcg78 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT LOS ANGELES - Latham & Watkins can't be expected to make decisions as quickly as its smaller brethren. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60661 bcg79 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Try to list professions that inherently expect their members to give portions of their time to the underprivileged for free; it will probably be a short list. At the top of that list, however, would almost certainly be the legal profession. Pro Bono Publico: For the public good. ''Pro bono'' is practically synonymous with the word lawyer. But why is it that lawyers, unlike many other prominent professionals, are expected to provide free legal services to the disadvantaged? And why do law firms continue to support this endeavor? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60662 bcg80 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One thing that many attorneys do not know is that the most successful attorneys are ''networked.'' Attorneys who do not network often fail over time because of this fact alone. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60663 bcg81 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The 'do-it-yourself' home improvement craze is spreading. From painting to flooring, more and more people are embracing the idea that they can do it themselves. Since we're in the business of career improvement, so to speak, we wondered whether there is a renewed interest in do-it-yourself job hunting. In other words, does it pay to handle your own job search? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60664 bcg82 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The do-it-yourself home-improvement craze is spreading. From painting to flooring, more and more people are embracing the idea that they can do it themselves. Since we're in the business of career improvement, so to speak, we wondered whether there is a renewed interest in do-it-yourself job hunting. In other words, does it pay to handle your own job search? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60665 bcg83 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Managing Director of BCG's Los Angeles office Claudia Barnes details the many factors that candidates should consider when relocating to California. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60666 bcg84 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Just as the salary wars seemed to be winding down in New York, a new wave of associate compensation increases has struck the West Coast and Washington, DC. Nearly five months after Simpson Thacher raised the compensation of its New York first-year associates to $160,000, large firms in some major cities are now matching these salaries. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60667 bcg85 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Instead of writing an article on how to interview or whether to accept a counter offer, I will try to predict the future of the law firm market. There are many attorneys who are unhappy at their current firms and are looking to move to another firm. However, due to market conditions, they find themselves stuck with limited opportunities. Therefore, I decided to give you a look into the future for the rest of 2007 through 2008 and see if next year will be a better year for a move. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60668 bcg86 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT At least once during their careers, most attorneys think that they would be better off at another firm. This article will analyze (1) whether you should make a move and, if so, (2) when you should make a move to another firm. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60669 bcg87 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT We've all heard a story like this: a motivated, highly successful (generally female) associate at a top-tier law firm earns a reputation for being the ''go-to'' associate in her department, earns rave reviews for her work, and is on the fast track to partnership. Then she has a baby, takes a maternity leave, and returns to work full-time, convinced she can balance it all. However, shortly thereafter, reality sets inâ€"she realizes that balancing a successful career while raising a child is practically impossible to achieve. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60670 bcg88 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search's Chief Operating Officer, Peter Wilkniss, offers up some tangible advice about succeeding in the corporate world. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60671 bcg89 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Deconstructing the Communication Picking a law firm is like picking a mail-order bride, only worse. You start with a healthy number of glossy marketing flyers in your hand; you see a hundred smiling faces; you read a hundred vapid, nearly identical descriptions of each firm's "culture" and how "nurturing" each is. Just as untrustworthy as you may conceive of a "bride" (or "groom"!) catalog to be, don't believe a word of this nonsense. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60672 bcg90 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT It only takes 30 seconds to spot a typo. It only takes 30 seconds to find that a candidate has not listed his/her GPA or class rank. It only takes 30 seconds to see the names of five firms over a three-year period. These reasons are among the many that support the theory ''A hiring administrator will only look at your resume 30 seconds before he/she makes a decision.'' While it is somewhat of an antagonistic approach, perhaps you should look at it as the individual is really looking for a reason not to hire you. Unfortunately, with the high number of resumes that inundate hiring administrators' desks on a daily basis, it is the only way to go about it. In other words, do not give them a reason to immediately reject you. One very important point candidates miss is that leaving a recruiter with a lot of questions is a very good reason to reject you. Therefore, do not skip over a job you're not proud of, do not leave off a GPA that makes you wince, and do not forget to have an entry for the summer after your second year of law school. This only leaves the recruiter with the impression that you have something to hide. Therefore, it is a potential waste of valuable time. All of this leads to the importance of what you do during your summers and what this says about you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60673 bcg91 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most persistent problems attorneys practicing law have is their failure to collaborate and learn from the other attorneys they are practicing law with. There are several factors that are essential for success in the practice of law and advancing in your career. Being well-liked and collaborating are two of the more important ones. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60674 bcg92 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Do any of the following scenarios sound familiar? You have been working for years in a high-level career that is not taking you where you want to go...or you have been slaving away working on your Ph.D. and are facing many more years of fairly thankless work in other peoples' labs at student wages before you see any chance for autonomy or recognition...or you have one of those degrees (such as a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or physics) you have heard all the intellectual property law firms are seeking. If you are a sophisticated, bright individual who has done a little poking around, you may have come to the conclusion that obtaining your law degree will be the solution to all your problems—your ticket to nirvana, the inside track to wealth and prestige! And it might even lead to interesting work. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60675 bcg93 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Practical, Real-World Advice from Washington, D.C. Law Firm Attorneys and Recruiting Managers http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60677 bcg94 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Networking is a powerful tool that anyone can master. Networking is not "rocket science." It mainly requires commitment, follow through and a willingness to be a good listener. Networking is an activity that Stephen Covey, author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," describes as important but not urgent. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60678 bcg95 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Individualism is deeply ingrained in the culture of the United States. We live in a country where anyone can make it if they work hard enough. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60679 bcg96 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT You need to keep the unpleasant possibility of lay-offs in the back of your mind, for it has become a very relevant possibility whether you are a partner or an associate. In fact, the larger your firm and the more practice areas it offers, the greater the lay-off danger, especially if each practice specialty is considered its own profit center. We'll tell you how to spot the signs of pending lay-offs in a moment, but first, a little legal cultural history is in order, as it will place the specter of law firm lay-offs in context for you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60680 bcg97 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT I was recently quoted in IPLaw360 in a piece on Wal-Mart's ill-conceived memo trying to rein in associate rates charged them for work. The upshot is that Wal-Mart wants no rate increases unless an individual memo is approved as to the individual worth of each attorney billing on a matter. Other than the fact that I cannot believe such a procedure would ever be put into practice on a consistent, to say nothing of a long-term, basis, the plan will of course backfire on Wal-Mart, at least from the law firm point of view. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60681 bcg98 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The Bay Area is a huge region anchored by the San Francisco, Oakland, and Silicon Valley metropolitan areas. It offers tremendous geographical, sociological, architectural, economic, cultural, and professional diversity. Many people here work in distinctive locations, such as downtown high rises, while living in vastly different locations, such as homes in the hills under the redwoods, trendy art enclaves on the bay, or beach communities less than an hour's commute away. In addition to enjoying a vast array of lifestyle choices in terms of work and home settings, we are within a half-day's drive of many incredible, world-class tourist destinations, including Yosemite, Squaw Valley, Carmel, and the Napa Valley wine region. You can truly have it all here. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60683 bcg99 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Many attorneys spend tens of thousands of dollars to obtain an LL.M. in a particular discipline after they have graduated from law school. Some enroll in LL.M. programs immediately, and others practice for a given length of time before getting their LL.M.'s. There is no question that an LL.M. degree in a particular discipline can be quite prestigious, but let's tackle the issue of whether obtaining one will meaningfully increase your chances of obtaining a better position. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60684 bcg100 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are contemplating a lateral move, conventional wisdom dictates that you should keep your intentions confidential until you have accepted an offer at another firm. If your current employer learns that you are interviewing elsewhere, the effect on your career can be very negative. This is true both in the short run and in the long run. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60685 bcg101 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT ...Should I Stay or Should I Go?... The Clash Accepting an entry level job at a law firm is a big career hurdle for a law student. It is a goal that took years of hard work and academic achievement to reach. But at some point, young associates should set new career goals. Will the new goal be making partner? Creating a permanent non-partner status for yourself at your present firm? Going in-house? Joining a smaller firm? Starting your own firm? Leaving the practice of law? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60686 bcg102 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT There are many considerations that come into play when an attorney decides to move to another geographic region. Any attorney moving geographically will be faced with practicing in a new jurisdiction. Most attorneys will tell you that with any move comes the dread of potentially having to take another bar exam. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60688 bcg103 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT On Friday April 9th 1999, Leona Vogt, a highly regarded legal career consultant in the Boston area, shared with us her thoughts on "making the most of your law firm experience". Her presentation was packed with insightful career advice for associates who are planning to stay as well as associates who are planning to leave their firms. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60689 bcg104 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT For many attorneys, especially those in large law firms, life as an attorney can seem pretty solitary. There are, of course, the subtle and entertaining email exchanges with your peers, as well as meetings with other attorneys and clients. There is the occasional CLE event, firm retreat, or maybe even a firm social event here and there. Nevertheless, many attorneys rarely venture too far out of the office and into the legal community. Time away from work is family or recreation time-something to be cherished and certainly not time you would want to spend with other lawyers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60690 bcg105 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT On Friday, May 21, 1999, Dr. Harry Keshet led an informative workshop on how to develop business. He opened the presentation by going around the room and asking participants how much contact they have with their clients. He commented that it is rare for associates to have their own clients. He also indicated that firms are generally not set up to give origination credit to an associate who does generate business (i.e. either from new clients or from existing clients.) But he emphasized the importance of laying a foundation so that business can be generated in a three to five-year time frame. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60691 bcg106 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Are you overworked? Tired of stressing about your billable requirements? Dissatisfied with the level of responsibility you are given or the quality of your deals? Miss having a life outside of the law firm? Not confident in the ability to make partner at your law firm? Been daydreaming lately about finding the perfect in-house position? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60692 bcg107 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT As I sit before my computer monitor writing this short article, the window for my document is minimized so as to maximize my view of my desktop backgroundâ€"a view of our beloved, blue planet from two hundred miles above its surface. The stunning vista of creamy, white-blue clouds and indigo sea against a black, starless sky reminds me of the amazing richness of opportunities constantly before us?and of our regrettable inability to take advantage of all of them. Fortunately, leading full and joyful lives does not require that we take advantage of all opportunities but, rather, that we carefully choose the precious few possibilities that we can and will pursue. What a difference it will make in your law career if you seize those few opportunities and take full advantage of the doors they open! http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60693 bcg108 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Unless you are part of a shrinking minority of lawyers who spend their careers at one firm, chances are you'll be changing jobs several times during your working life. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60694 bcg109 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT There has been no rash of pink slips at major Boston firms, and by most reasonable standards lawyers at large firms still work long hours. But make no mistake about it: There are signs that the legal market is slowing. Corporate legal work is down and lateral hiring has become more selective. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60695 bcg110 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Much of what there is to say about legal careers and marketing has already been said. Get a great education. Follow your interests. Do great work. Find a good mentor. Provide outstanding customer service to clients and partners and treat support staff with respect. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60696 bcg111 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Once upon a time, law school graduates could join a firm right out of school, work hard for several years, do great legal work and expect to become a partner at the same firm. About 20 years ago the world began to change, and today few junior associates at major firms have any real expectation of being elevated to member. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60697 bcg112 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Unquestionably the newest firm on the block, Cleveland-based Tucker, Ellis & West opened its doors on July 16, 2003 with 90 attorneys. While it is remarkable that a new firm could open with such a large stable of attorneys, it is not all that surprising to anyone following the latest goings on in the Cleveland legal market. Arter & Hadden, one of the largest firms based in the Cleveland area with a national presence, has dissolved, effective the day before Tucker, Ellis opened. All 90 of Tucker, Ellis's attorneys, in addition to the legal staff they employ, are coming directly from Arter & Hadden's ranks, including the name partners. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60698 bcg113 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction One of the most misunderstood facets of the legal-recruiting industry is the following: You have many options when choosing a legal recruiter (not just the one that cold-called you), and how well you work with your legal recruiter will directly influence how successful the legal recruiter is in working with you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60699 bcg114 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Although the practice of law has undergone enormous changes in the past two decades, one thing remains constant: integrity still counts for a lot in the legal profession. A lawyer who bends the truth in advocating on behalf of a client may find himself facing disciplinary action. A law student or associate who materially misrepresents her credentials at an interview may be shown the door if the misrepresentation is discovered at a later date. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60700 bcg115 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Last year, I attended a workshop on stress management for lawyers. At the session, the presenter relayed the following anecdote. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60701 bcg116 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Four years ago, Joel Burcat glanced around the bar at a Washington conference center where Kirkpatrick & Lockhart was holding its firmwide retreat and didn't recognize a soul. He had joined the firm, now known as Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham, in 1988 as its 240th attorney. But by 2001, the firm's ranks had exploded to about 700, he said. Now, nearly 1,000 attorneys work for the transcontinental operation. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60702 bcg117 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT At the outset, it is important to realize that much of what I am saying goes against the "traditional" view of the law as a profession. Obviously, the law is a profession. Notwithstanding the use of the word "profession," though, you can still get fired, not advance, or find yourself in a dead end job. Your skills or specialty can quickly become irrelevant in the marketplace. You can also find yourself in a geographic location where there is no work (i.e., "business"). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60703 bcg118 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT I think nearly every attorney in the United States would agree that the past few years have been difficult times for associates in the legal profession, especially for transactional attorneys. Since the transaction market peaked in 2000, there has been a steady decline in transaction jobs, as the same law firms whose size had galvanized the legal market in the late 1990s now found that their clients were no longer generating the same amounts of legal work, forcing firms to downsize their associate ranks. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60705 bcg119 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the ten largest law firms in the country, Morgan Lewis & Bockius mainly built its highly reputed name on the East Coast. The firm was the only one to have over 300 attorneys in the major marketplaces of Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City. Plans for a broader national presence (and eventually, a stronger international presence) were imminent, but were sped up recently when Brobeck, Phleger, and Harrison, one of the largest presences in California, suddenly decided to cease operations. Noticing the potential that all of these Brobeck attorneys could have in developing more of a West Coast presence (their Los Angeles office, the only Morgan Lewis office in California, had less than 75 attorneys), Morgan Lewis quickly responded, taking on 150 new attorneys, including 60 partners, as well as many staff members from the recently unemployed Brobeck ranks. This comes on the heels of much-publicized merger talks that fell through when Morgan Lewis got cold feet about taking on Brobeck's debts, which dashed Brobeck's hopes of somehow surviving their financial woes. Despite not following through on the merger, new offices are about to spring up with Brobeck attorneys wearing new Morgan Lewis nametags in Palo Alto, Irvine and San Francisco, and the current Los Angeles office is going to experience major growth with 75 new Brobeck attorneys coming on board. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60706 bcg120 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Whether or not to take a temporary position while either waiting for a permanent position or between jobs is a question faced by a large number of attorneys and new law school graduates in the job market. Although BCG only handles permanent placements, we are often asked for advice with respect to the temporary market in general and how temporary positions affect a lawyer's marketability for permanent positions. For an out-of-work lawyer, the question may seem simple enough at first blush because temporary work is, among other things, a paying job. I suggest you give it a closer look before making a final decision. Being a temporary attorney can have a great effect on your legal career. It is more than simply serving as a way to make money until you find your next or first permanent position. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60707 bcg121 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In a quiet pool near a silent grove, Narcissus fell in love with a reflection of his youthful face, and died. Not a complicated plot. Curiously, while short, this story is recounted numerous times in Greek mythology, and in a variety of interesting forms. Obviously, the myth must have communicated something important in Greek culture. With the proper understanding, it can provide vital information to us in our time as well. My hypothesis is that this illusive character from Greek mythology presents us with a profound mystery and potentially an important insight into the human psyche. Understanding the deeper message presented by Narcissus' challenges, and failure, can have a direct impact upon our understanding of ourselves, and upon our productivity and career satisfaction-ultimately, perhaps more than that. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60708 bcg122 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The word narcissism comes from the character made famous by the Greek poet Ovid, Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. In the story, Echo falls in love with Narcissus and gets rejected. The story makes clear that Narcissus is only able to love himself and not others. Conversely, Echo completely loses herself in her love for Narcissus and has no sense of self at all. At the end of the story, Narcissus tells Echo, "I would die before I give you power over me." Echo responds, "I give you power over me." Both Narcissus and Echo die because their love is unattainable. Many of us cannot find a balance between ourselves and others. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60709 bcg123 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Why Networking is Essential to Your Success as an Attorney One thing that many attorneys do not know is that the most successful attorneys are "networked." Attorneys who do not network often fail over time because of this fact alone. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60710 bcg124 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Res Ipsa Loquitur: An Insider's Reflections on Work Trends at "New Economy" BigLaw Firms http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60712 bcg125 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT So your resume and cover letter were written up all nice, you managed to avoid embarrassing yourself during three separate interviews, and you were granted an offer to work at a new law firm. You may be thinking that the difficult part is over, but having gotten your foot in the door, you now have to push it open and walk through without tripping over the gag wire if you hope to have a long and fruitful career at this new firm. Starting a new position can be just as taxing and stressful as the job search that got you that position, especially considering the politics and the bizarre cultures that are inherent to some firms. Figuring out how to get through the rocky first weeks will prove important in making the kind of first impression that has people thinking "partner potential" instead of "first to go." Here are a few helpful hints to help you come out on top: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60713 bcg126 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Years ago, while representing a client in an M&A deal as the head of the ERISA group at the now-defunct Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar PC, Carol C. Brown was intrigued to learn that the lawyer on the other side of the deal was from a boutique whose sole focus was the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Today, Brown and former Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC employee practice group head C. Stephen Parker Jr. have their own ERISA boutique, Parker & Brown PC in Boston. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60715 bcg127 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Here is a quick test of your generational ''orientation'': When you think of a ''posse,'' does your mind conjure up the image of 20 to 30 ranchers, all armed and eager to perform their civic duty while rounding up horse thieves? Or do you get the vision of eight or so of one's closest friends all wearing terribly expensive clothes designed to look like Goodwill cast-offs, while listening to impossibly loud music with lyrics that require copious expletive deletions? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60718 bcg128 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Five or more years into the real estate boom, real estate lawyers are still a hot commodity in Chicago law firms, maybe the hottest. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60719 bcg129 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT You've spent the last few months updating your resume, working with your recruiter, evaluating firms, and interviewing. Finally, all of the hard work has paid off, and what you have been waiting for has arrived: the offer. However, while you may feel a sense of relief, accomplishment, and happiness, you may also feel a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. This is a serious decision to make, and before making it, you should weigh certain factors carefully. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60720 bcg130 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Now that fear about the Y2K bug has subsided, it is time to get back to business and make some resolutions for the coming year. Personally, I thought it was prudent to take a "wait and see approach" before giving suggestions on how to approach career advancement in the year 2000. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60721 bcg131 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Every year, we receive numerous phone calls from practicing attorneys as well as law students, inquiring whether or not they should pursue a clerkship with a judge in order to make themselves more marketable. At the outset, it is important to note that the value of a clerkship should not necessarily be something that you view as a marketing tool. Beyond making you marketable, a clerkship has far greater significance because the skills and level of insight you will acquire during your clerkship will be something that should help you throughout your career, regardless of what practice area you ultimately end up in. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60722 bcg132 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are like most people, you will be excited when a law firm or other legal employer extends you an offer for a job. Especially if it's your first offer, your only offer, or the offer you were hoping for the most, the inclination is to immediately accept. Even if you are not that excited about the opportunity, you might be inclined to accept immediately because you are afraid it might look bad to the employer if you hesitate. You might even be concerned that the offer will be revoked if you don't jump on it. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60723 bcg133 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT This year I joined the legions of die-hard Cubs fans at Wrigley Field to attend the playoff game against the Arizona D-backs. The last time I attended a Cubs playoff game was the 2003 playoff game against the Florida Marlins?the infamous Bartman game. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60724 bcg134 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT As we grow and our organization experiences various changes, I think it is important that everyone here understand what we are doing as a group. Whether or not we realize it, these philosophies guide us on a daily basis. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60725 bcg135 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT As we grow and our organization experiences various changes, I think it is important that everyone here understand what we are doing as a group. Whether or not we realize it, these philosophies are something that guide us on a daily basis. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60726 bcg136 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Carey Bertolet, Managing Director of BCG's New York office, uses history as her guide to discuss characteristics of the law firm landscape in the aftermath of increased associate salaries. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60727 bcg137 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT This article is intended to supplement the BCG Attorney Search Article: "Handling References: A Basic Guide". http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60729 bcg138 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are a senior associate, Of Counsel, or partner, how important is portable business when making a move to another law firm? Most junior to mid-level associates are told to concentrate on developing their skill sets so they can become great attorneys. So, you put your head down, do good work, learn from the senior associates and partners, get good year-end reviews, and you feel you are learning and growing as an attorney. Before you know it, you're a senior associate, respected by your peers and performing well on all work given to you. From this point, there are three things that can happen if you want to stay in a law firm environment: (1) you leave your firm, (2) you are promoted to Of Counsel at your present firm, or (3) you become a partner at your present firm. We will analyze whether portable business is important in all three scenarios: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60730 bcg139 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most important lessons I learned as a legal headhunter was taught to me just a few weeks into my career. I was meeting with the recruiting manager of a large firm and she was mentioning her firm's high number of applicants and the challenges posed in terms of ''weeding'' out candidates to a manageable number for interviews. Seems pretty normal, right? However, she then made a comment that really shocked and struck a chord with me. This comment was so powerful that it has directly influenced my recruiting practice and compelled me, years later, to write an article about it. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60731 bcg140 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT INTERVIEW TIPS FROM THE INTERVIEWERS-FOR LATERAL ATTORNEYS-Practical, Real-World Interview Advice from Washington, D.C. Law Firm Attorneys and Recruiting Managers http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60732 bcg141 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT So you've taken CivPro, CrimPro, ConLaw, and Corps. You know your way in and around the codes, cases, and statutes (you always check the pocket part). You've mastered the research memorandum and oral argument in moot court. You know the Blue Book rules down to the last punctuation mark. BAR/BRI review books were your only reading material for months (okay, maybe you perused the sports page or the living section for a quick break). But now, you are going in to the firm every day, you are expected to be a "junior associate," and you have no idea what that means. Here a few tips to carry you through the day-to-day grind until you can prove you really were paying attention in law school. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60733 bcg142 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Money will never make you happy but it greatly contributes to your emotional stabilityâ€" anonymous http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60734 bcg143 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The New Year is a good time to reflect on our lives. What did we do well over the past 12 months? Where did we fall short in our personal and professional lives? How can we improve ourselves in the coming year? And most importantly, what changes are we actually going to make? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60736 bcg144 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT When evaluating when the right time is to make a move, there are many factors that come into play, one of them being your year-end bonus. This article is going to break up the year into quarters and guide you through your options at different parts of the year in relation to your year-end bonus. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60737 bcg145 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In recent years, a good number of American attorneys have relocated overseas. These relocations have been principally to London and Hong Kong. While many American attorneys may not consider an overseas assignment when they get out of law school, it is worthwhile to note that a legal career overseas may be a viable option for many American attorneys. Because BCG Attorney Search has American attorneys interviewing on an ongoing basis in London and Hong Kong, we believe that the international demand for American attorneys merits discussion. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60738 bcg146 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT There's the truth, but then there?s the other truth, or so one who's been amicably laid off (but laid off all the same) from her law firm might be led to believe. After all, the typical laying-off scenario is as follows: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60739 bcg147 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Q. I am a corporate attorney with ood credentials. I went to a top local law school, graduated with honors and I work for a respected mid-sized firm. I like my work, but I feel overwhelmed by the demands and how little personal time I have. In short, I would like to reduce my hours. My firm has accommodated lawyers in other practice areas who have requested a part-time schedule, but up until now I have been afraid to broach the subject with the partners at my firm. Part-time seems like an option that has only been granted to working mothers and I am neither a parent nor female. How do I make a case to my firm to allow me to work part-time? Are there any firms that might hire me on a part-time basis. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60740 bcg148 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the early 1980's while living in a building owned by Columbia University, I marveled at the sight of new construction springing up around the campus. At the same time, significant portions of the existing infrastructure were suffering from neglect. It was an early lesson in life that it is easier to marshal resources to acquire new capacity than it is to spend time cultivating existing resources. And so it was with great pleasure that I read the recently issued report of the BBA Task Force On Professional Fulfillment. Under the capable leadership of attorney Jack Curtin, past president of the ABA, the BBA Task Force recommended that law firms and corporate legal departments do more to cultivate their existing talent. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60741 bcg149 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most common questions that attorneys ask me after going in for an interview is whether or not they should send a thank you letter. The resounding answer is "no." Before you ever send a thank you letter, please read this article. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60742 bcg150 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT ''We say tomato, and they say...'On a daily basis, we meet lawyers who are considering not just a change of firm but a complete change of scenery. Often, a lawyer's interest in relocating to a new city is based on his/her perception of what it's like to live and work in the target city. Of these lawyers interested in relocation, some of the most frequent are New York-based lawyers interested in working abroad and London-based lawyers interested in practicing in a New York firm. We see these preferences often enough that it caused us to consider what it means to live and work in New York vs. London and whether there are generalizations that can be made that accurately contrast the lawyer's law firm experience in London to that of the New York-based lawyer. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60744 bcg151 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Numerous books have been written about resumes and many career professionals will try to convince you that there are hard and fast rules about proper resume drafting. What follows are my own thoughts and observations about resumes (in a very distilled form) along with some good samples that I have seen (and redacted). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60747 bcg152 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In 2002, the rate of change in the Boston legal community was staggering. Hill & Barlow and Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar both announced that they would be closing their doors after more than 100 years in business, and virtually every major firm laid off associates. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60748 bcg153 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Ah, summertime: a season that evokes images of picnics, family vacations to the beach, and lounging by the pool. Although some associate summer with a decrease in work, our experience is that the summer can be the most jam packed period for associates. In addition to the normal workload, summer associates are everywhere, begging for attention and lunch companions. And, if you are in the midst of the interview process during the summer months, you may find summer the most difficult season to get through the process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60749 bcg154 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Survey also shows uptick in number of permanent spots offered by firms Though the gains are modest, law firms are seeking more associates for their upcoming summer programs and making more offers for full-time employment to last summer's participants, according to a recent survey tracking job placement. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60750 bcg155 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The hot summer months of July and the much-anticipated ''holiday'' downtime of August prompt many foreign associates and partners to review their careers more closely. Very often, such close examination leads to thoughts of a lateral move to U.S. practice, which promises cutting-edge work and high-market-value deals. This summer, however, making a lateral move to U.S. practice has been rendered more difficult due to increasing visa restrictions and already-met quotas as of April 2007. This article will address some of the more common questions I am fielding from associates abroad who wish to practice in New York or another top U.S. legal market. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60751 bcg156 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Accepting mediocrity in yourself is the only real way to achieve balance in your life. If you are a lawyer in private practice and you want to practice law while raising a family, then you need to be a mediocre lawyer. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60752 bcg157 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The media has tremendous power to magnify economic trends. When dot-com mania ruled, we read about lawyers and other professionals joining start-up companies in droves. There was a pervasive message that an epidemic of lawyers were leaving law-firm practice in search of stock options, subsequent wealth and early retirement. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60753 bcg158 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The banking & finance practice refers generally to a practice that serves a wide variety of needs of financiers (the banking and financial institutions industry) and/or borrowers. Attorneys in this area generally service investment arrangers and/or corporate originators. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60754 bcg159 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Bankruptcy encompasses a practice that spans the rights of debtors and creditors in Chapter 7 liquidations, Chapter 11 reorganizations or liquidations, out-of-court workouts, and receiverships in the United States, as well as cross-border insolvency issues with respect to companies with assets in one or more jurisdiction. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60755 bcg160 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Corporate practice generally refers to the representation of companies in the following broad areas: corporate governance and compliance; mergers and acquisitions; and securities. It is very common for a corporate attorney to have a specialty (and, many times, a sub-specialty) in one of these areas. Moreover, many corporate attorneys specialize in representing either �public� companies (generally, larger companies with many shareholders whose stock trades on a public exchange like the New York Stock Exchange) or �private companies� (generally, smaller companies with a small number of owners whose stock does not trade on a public exchange), given the significant differences in the legal regimes and business needs that govern each type of company. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60756 bcg161 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Intellectual property (�IP�) lawyers deal with inventions, creations, and other �intellectual� and intangible types of property. The term "intellectual property�� is used in its general sense to describe:�A product of the intellect that has commercial value, including copyrighted property such as literary or artistic works, and ideational property, such as patents, appellations of origin, business methods, and industrial processes.� http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60757 bcg162 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT IT litigation refers generally to a practice covering a range of matters. In addition to litigating contracts regarding technology licensing, outsourcing, and purchase contracts, IT litigators often handle matters concerning online privacy, defamation and trade libel, trademark, domain names, database rights, and patent rights. Law firms tend to represent corporate clients on these matters, though they may occasionally represent individuals who are defending defamation suits or bringing privacy suits. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60758 bcg163 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Labor and employment refers generally to a practice that involves companies, corporations, government agencies, or other employers as it concerns the relationship with one particular employee or potential employee, or a group of employees, organized or otherwise. Law firms tend to represent either management-side labor and employment issues (representing the employers) or the employee side.This practice may be either a consulting-based practice (advising clients on relevant employment practices and issues) or controversial (representing clients in a specific dispute). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60759 bcg164 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Litigation attorneys must develop both general skills and specific substantive areas of expertise. General skills include: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60760 bcg165 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Real Estate attorneys represent real estate investment trusts (REITs), lenders, developers, landlords, tenants, and buyers and sellers in all aspects of commercial real estate. As with any multifaceted practice area, real-estate attorneys can be generalists, but often have specialized experience in a number of related areas. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60761 bcg166 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Reinsurance is a form of insurance in which insurers pass on a portion of their risk to other insurers, thereby spreading losses among more than one company. In a reinsurance transaction, one insurance company purchases coverage from a second insurance company for a risk that the first insurance company is insuring. In such a transaction, the first insurance company would be called the �ceding company� or �cedant,� and the second insurance company would be called the �reinsurer.�This reinsurance relationship does not affect the insurance policies that the cedant issues to its policyholders; the cedant remains liable to pay its policyholders for insured losses regardless of the reinsurance coverage, and in most situations, the insured is not even aware that its insurer has reinsured a portion of its coverage. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60762 bcg167 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Although most general practice law firms have a tax department, what those tax lawyers do may vary quite dramatically from firm to firm, especially depending on the firm�s clients. In addition to reviewing the substance of a tax lawyer�s background, tax is the principal practice where a master of laws (LL.M.) is highly desirable. At some firms, it is a mandatory credential. Several law schools have a master's program in taxation. New York University School of Law is widely considered the best among these programs. In addition, many lawyers who have or are taking tax courses to get their LL.M. do so in the evening while employed full time. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60763 bcg168 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG is a leader in original research. In March 2002, BCG Attorney Search released The 2002 BCG Attorney Search Guide To Class Ranking Distinctions And Law Review Admission At America's Top 25 Law Schools (the BCG Guide) to many of the nation's premier law firms. Because there are as many different grade scales, honors and law review requirements as there are law schools, the BCG Guide was written to de-mystify what it means to be at the top of the class at the best law schools around the country. This guide was the product of more than 2500 surveys, and six months of research. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60764 bcg169 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT To be clear, this article is going to deal with, and encourage, some rather inhumane truths about practicing law in law firms. I cannot tell you how many associate careers I have seen ruined by the wrong attitude when it comes to working weekends and holidays. While you may consider working in a law firm ''just a job,'' if you telegraph that message to your superiors, you will be in trouble quite quickly. In order to really thrive in a law firm, your work must be far, far more than just a job. There is no better way to let your superiors know that your work is more than just a job than working weekends and holidays. To get ahead, you must do this. You certainly do not need to work every weekend and holiday. Nevertheless, this should not be something you make a major effort to avoid. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60765 bcg170 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT At the outset, it is important to realize that much of what I am saying goes against the traditional view of the law as a profession. Obviously, the law is a profession. Notwithstanding the use of the word "profession," though, you can still get fired, not advance, or find yourself in a dead-end job. Your skills or specialty can quickly become irrelevant in the marketplace. You can also find yourself in a geographic location where there is no work (i.e., business). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60766 bcg171 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the first of a two-part series, Claudia Spielman, BCG Attorney Search recruiter, uses her own experience to guide young attorneys (though the advice applies to anyone in or contemplating a career in the legal industry) on how to evaluate whether to stay at a law firm. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60767 bcg172 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Associates' Views on Partnership Has Shifted. Today's associates are not necessarily as interested in making partner as they once were. For some, it seems more unattainable and less desirable than it has been for associates in the past. This is especially true coming out of a recession, when firms are typically electing fewer partners. As a result, there appears to be a definite shift in the goals of some of today's law firm associates. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60768 bcg173 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search's new, revised 2003-2004 Cover Letter Guide offers the definitive word on what makes an effective cover letter. Expanding on last year's edition, not only does this year's Guide offer helpful tips to make sure you do not make the kind of errors in your cover letter that your spellchecker will not catch, we also give you advice on what should be included in an effective letter and what is probably better left for the interview process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60769 bcg174 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Traditionally, many smaller and earlier stage companies have met their need for legal services by retaining an outside law firm. Many rightly believed that their budget and workload would not justify the considerable expense of an experienced, full-time ''General Counsel'' to handle day to day issues, and to provide proactive advice about upcoming issues. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60770 bcg175 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Many lawyers, doctors, and other professionals prefer to think of themselves as in business for themselves, merely using a group to provide office space, support services, and occasional camaraderie. This assumed sense of personal independence undergoes a rude awakening when a senior partner calls you into his/her office to detail for you, without your asking, how you are perceived. Some of the thoughts that may go through your head at a time like this are: "Just who the hell is he/she to be judging me?" "All that negative stuff has been coming from X, who has been talking behind my back. I knew I couldn't trust him/her." "He/She acted as if he/she thought I was pretty cool. Now the truth comes out!" "I feel dirty. I am neither as good nor as bad as they say." "Why is all this ancient stuff being drudged up and thrown in my face?" Recognize yourself in any of this? Had similar feelings? It is normal. By understanding anyone's normal self-centered and defensive reaction to being judged and realizing that your feelings are automatically programmed to respond self-protectively in such situations, you have won half the battle, because with understanding can come a modicum of control. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60771 bcg176 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most fundamental pieces of interview advice is ''Don't speak negatively about your current job or employer during an interview?it's the kiss of death.'' I have found that this wisdom, by itself, often falls short on a practical level. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60772 bcg177 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Have you been wondering whether you should italicize ''habeas corpus'' or spell out the number 617 in your formal correspondence? Wonder no more, as BCG is providing a free style guide for cover letters, which should clear up those questions and many more. The 2002-2003 BCG Attorney Search Letter Guidelines and Style Sheet (PDF file) is available for download on the BCG website. Grammatical errors or even poor sentence structure in a search letter usually means certain death to any job hopes, so before you apply to your next job, make sure you have a copy handy. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60773 bcg178 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT LOS ANGELES - The associate salary wars got off to a slow start this year, but now they are officially under way. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60774 bcg179 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT As a recruiting firm, we talk to both partners and associates at firms in every major legal marketplace on a daily basis. These conversations often concern why a lawyer is dissatisfied with his/her current firm or what kind of lawyer a firm seeks to hire. We have discovered that the salary increases that have taken place over the past several years have actually had the effect of straining professional relationships between partners and associates and also between partners. In the end, the more that money becomes the dominating factor defining the relationships among attorneys, the more the profession becomes like a business and less like, well, a profession. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60775 bcg180 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT This feature pits our founder and CEO, Harrison Barnes, against Carey Bertolet, our senior recruiter in the world's largest legal market, New York City. Read their insightful opinions about Thank You Letters, and decide for yourself. And let us know who you think won this debate! http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60776 bcg181 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT IntroductionCongratulations on passing the bar. One of the ''rights, privileges, and immunities'' that you derive from being a well-credentialed attorney is that you will soon be receiving calls from legal recruiters (a.k.a. ''headhunters''). A legal recruiter can be very helpful in assisting you with a lateral move. On the other hand, you will probably hear horror stories about how members of this group made the process more difficult by sending a candidate's resume to firms that he/she didn't authorize. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60777 bcg182 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In our effort to provide a truly national recruiting service to America's top lawyers, we at BCG Attorney Search have opened our newest office in the nation's capital. The D.C. legal market is one of the largest and most fluid in the country and our newest office is designed to make it easier for the best legal job candidates to find employment in one of the busiest markets in the country. You can read more about our new office and BCG Partner by clicking the link below. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60778 bcg183 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Lateral attorneys often forget the importance of a first impression. As a law student, you are groomed for first impressions during the on-campus interview process. But somewhere between the time you land your first job and the time you start looking for your next, attorneys often overlook the significance of their resumes, which is the first impression a prospective employer gets of you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60779 bcg184 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT The first and most important step of the legal-recruiting process, building long-term client relationships with law firms, is too often ignored or underestimated by many recruiters. Strong relationships are what allow a firm to trust a recruiter with its hiring decisions and are actually critical to any recruiter's effectiveness. Building this trust is far more rewarding than making an individual deal or placement, although it often takes much more effort and consideration for the client's needs. To this end, a good recruiter must always look to deepen its business relationships into partnerships and take into account whether an attorney he/she represents will benefit that attorney's partners as much as that attorney's placement will benefit his/her own interests. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60780 bcg185 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT LOS ANGELES - Between their second and third years at law school, many top-tier students enjoy a summerlong shower of freebies, including trips to wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, dinners at posh restaurants and tickets to Major League Baseball games - all while earning more than $10,000 per month. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60781 bcg186 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT I have had the pleasure of giving the below explanation of my philosophy and approach towards professional legal recruiting to hundreds of attorneys on countless occasions. I thought that I would reduce this information to a writing for those who may wish to get a preview of how I work as they contemplate entering into a professional relationship with me. I hope that this will provide the reader with a sufficient introduction to my services. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60782 bcg187 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT When I sit down to write an article, I usually try to come up with some reference to classical antiquity or perhaps Enlightenment-era philosophy. I like to think that the progenitors of our society have something relevant to say that will shed light even in our relatively ''dumbed-down,'' pop-centric, go-go culture. But when I sat down to write this article on reapproaching the professional resume, I felt that the sedate, reasoned approach to life exemplified by our intellectual forebears just did not catch the spirit of the modern job search. Not at all. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60783 bcg188 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Your first job interview may be with the law firm's managing partner, but don't count on it. Depending upon the law firm's size and the job you're seeking, you may be much more likely to speak with the personnel director. These initial contacts are also referred to as legal administrators, recruiting officers, directors of human resources, and various other monikers. Regardless of their titles, these gatekeepers share the ability to take you to the next level or return you to the street. We spoke with several key recruiting people from law offices of all sizes across the country and asked them to give us their perspectives about these matters: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60784 bcg189 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT You're finishing your second round of interviews. You really enjoyed all the people you met, and can start to see yourself working at this new firm. The excitement is building. As you are ending the interview and approaching the elevator to leave, the final interviewer shakes your hand and says, ''It's been a pleasure meeting you. You'll be hearing from us in the near future.'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60785 bcg190 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT Several years ago, a BCG Attorney Search article detailed the dangers of trying to use offers from other firms as leverage at your current firm, commenting on the fact that such offers are often wolves in sheep's clothing. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60786 bcg191 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the 1980's, the professional world was introduced to a new term of art: the so-called trailing spouse. Trailing spouse syndrome has been generally defined as the effect the relocation of one's spouse has on one's professional trajectory. More specifically, the trailing spouse subordinates his or her own career in order to allow his or her partner to advance professionally. Since many spouses and partners possess their own distinct professional identities, relocation for a new job (even with the same employer) affects not only the candidate, but the spouse as well. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60787 bcg192 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT It never fails to amaze me that most of the candidates who come to me for help have worked and excelled, often for decades, at the highest level in demanding educational programs and in demanding law firms. Yet when it comes to the last step â€" the process of finding the legal position that will be the source of their livelihood, the setting for most of their waking hours, and the determinant of where their career will take them â€" many attorneys balk at spending the time or effort to do the work that will ensure their best opportunity. And much of this work can only be done by them. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60788 bcg193 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT As a legal recruiter, I spend my days speaking to lawyers about their job transitions and speaking to law firms about my candidates' credentials. I work in a world where grades, law school, and law firm prestige seem to reign supreme. However, there are countless situations where lawyers with good, but not great, credentials are far more successful in their job searches than those with stellar credentials. I used to believe that, in these circumstances, the lawyer with the better credentials must have had weak interpersonal skills while the lawyer with lesser credentials had strong interpersonal skills, which must have accounted for the difference. While this was true on occasion, it often was not the case. As I studied these types of situations, I realized a common characteristic among the lawyers with lesser credentials that seemed to outperform the others on job searches: They believed in themselves in an uncharacteristically strong way and were extremely positive thinkers about their abilities. Regardless of their credentials or experience, they generated these undeniable airs of self-assurance, as if they just knew they would get the jobs of their choices. And usually they did, because their self-confidence was contagious. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60790 bcg194 Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT There is a select group of candidates that everybody wants, and you know the type we are talking about. Excellent credentials, highly desired practice group, and a great personality to boot. The age-old question for law firms: How do we most effectively recruit these top candidates? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60580 bcg195 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most persistent mistakes legal professionals make is to not understand the importance of fitting in their work environments. Indeed, fitting in is something that enables you to both get and keep a job. In terms of what it takes to succeed in the practice of law over the long term, fitting in may actually be more important than your skill level. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60581 bcg196 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Throughout my years as a practicing attorney and now as a legal recruiter, I have come to realize that while some people are inherently confident about their interviewing skills, most people get very nervous about interviews. Thus, for the vast majority of us, it goes without saying that interview preparation is essential, helpful, and absolutely necessary. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60582 bcg197 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are at a law firm and would like to have a successful road to partnership, here are five keys that will help you on your journey to the top: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60583 bcg198 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The struggle to balance career and family is not a new problem, but one that many employers have recently started to address and implement policies about. These changes are no longer an administrative annoyance, but are being recognized as actually adding value to firms and giving them an edge in a competitive environment. Obviously, having two working parents in a household is not uncommon, nor is single-parent support of the family-it is becoming the norm. Individuals need to find time for responsibilities outside of work. Therefore, it is important that firms address their level of commitment to institutionalizing and publicizing support for alternative work schedules. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60584 bcg199 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT This Milwaukee firm has fast outpaced some struggling mega-firms on both coasts. Through targeted acquisitions and nimble maneuvering, they have positioned themselves for solid profitability even through difficult times. With modest encroachments into a diverse range of practice groups, Foley and Lardner impacts both national and local legal markets. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60585 bcg200 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I am frequently approached by foreign-educated candidates who are highly qualified attorneys seeking employment in the United States. These candidates are frequently confounded by how difficult it can be for them to get jobs as attorneys in the United States, even though their resumes or curricula vitae demonstrate that they are highly qualified for available positions. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60586 bcg201 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Far too many legal-hiring organizations fail to hire stars because their hiring process actually prevents superstar candidates from ever getting in the door. By reviewing the following list of suggestions for organizing and streamlining your approach to hiring, you should be able to maximize your chances of hiring the star candidates who may have eluded your recruiting efforts in the past. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60588 bcg202 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As professional search consultants, part of our job is to counsel attorneys on a daily basis as to how they should choose between competing law firms. There is a considerable degree of insight that is needed to understand the psychology that attorneys attach to choosing between competing offers, and contrary to popular perception, attorneys do not always choose to work in the highest-paying or most prestigious law firms. Understanding why attorneys choose one firm over another can help you both attract and retain attorneys after they are hired. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60589 bcg203 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Tailoring Legal Search to Meet Your Firm's Needs All things considered, legal recruiting is a fairly young industry. Although law firms are increasingly sophisticated in their use of the legal-recruiting industry, BCG believes there is substantial room for improvement in the way the legal-recruiting industry delivers its services and in the way law firms avail themselves of legal-recruiting professionals. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60590 bcg204 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Probably the hottest practice group in all respects for the past several years has been intellectual property law. However, many attorneys have little idea (1) what intellectual property law is, (2) why intellectual property is so popular, and (3) the types of intellectual property attorneys that are most marketable. The purpose of this article is to answer these questions. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60593 bcg205 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT From Recruiting Coordinator to Search Consultant Over the past few months, a number of people have asked me ''Why did you do it?'' and ''What is it like to be on the 'other side'?'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60594 bcg206 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT INTRODUCTIONEvery legal recruiter practices their own brand of recruiting, and, for the most part, each style has merit. As the head of a national recruiting firm, I speak with legal recruiters both within and outside of my recruiting firm each day and have become quite familiar with various recruiting styles. When you are searching for a recruiter, it is important that you, too, are aware of the various recruiting styles as your legal recruiter's particular recruiting style can often determine how effectively they can assist you in your job search. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60596 bcg207 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60597 bcg208 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Historically, law firms have been conservative environments, and as a result, gay attorneys (which includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered attorneys) have largely kept their sexual orientations to themselves out of fear of being ostracized, rejected, and discriminated against. Many of us have witnessed or heard of stories in which a very highly regarded attorney's sexual orientation was somehow disclosed (or leaked) to his or her firm, resulting in negative consequences for the attorney. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60599 bcg209 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT While associates may earn more and work less than ever before, they may encounter the resentment of partners who are stuck paying premium salaries in hard economic times. Falling on the heels of a boom market, this recession has left many firms struggling to maintain salary levels that were established when the demand for associates was exceptionally high. It is key for firms to move beyond these issues, and resolve turmoil in order to maintain healthy work relationships. We examine these problems in depth, and reveal how to cope with newly unbalanced supply and demand levels. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60600 bcg210 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT You have just landed a job, and you are experiencing the elation of finally achieving your goal to get the perfect position at an exciting firm. Suddenly, you feel the onset of anxiety upon realizing that you face new challenges, excitement, and uncertainty. The one immediate challenge is that you still have to tell your present employer that you are leaving. You may feel guilty, deceitful, and disloyal. You may feel like a spouse who cheats, like a trusted confidant who reveals secrets, like a dependable accountant who doctors the books, or like a faithful deacon who dips his hands into the Sunday donation basket. Enough already! You have been concentrating on getting the position you were seeking, so much that you have postponed planning your exit. Get past the guilt, and strategize as to whom, how, and when you will give notice that you are leaving. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60601 bcg211 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Most law firm associates are preoccupied with surviving-doing everything they can to beat the odds and one day be elected partner-or just hanging in there long enough to gain the experience they need to pursue other legal-career opportunities. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60602 bcg212 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I am disgruntled, disturbed, disenchanted. No, actually, I am deeply concerned. The cause? Well, that's the subject of this article. For the past nine months, I have watched some of my flawless, brilliant candidates with bright futures engage in very destructive behavior and/or antics during their interview process. I have encountered a strange phenomenon whereby a good candidate (''Victor Victorious'') goes unequivocally bad (''Vlad the Impaler''). I am not talking about ''past your prime'' type of bad. I am speaking of the situation whereby a candidate goes from top pick to COMPLETELY out of the race in less than 24 hours due to behavior undertaken by the candidate himself/herself during the interview process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60603 bcg213 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Grades are important to many law firms when making hiring decisions. However, the weight that they carry in these decisions most often depends on the particular firm involved and whether you are (A) a junior attorney or law student, (B) a mid-level to senior associate, or (C) a partner. At each stage of your career, the importance of your law school grades will diminish, and your work experience will take precedence in hiring decisions. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60605 bcg214 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT You just had a good interview. In fact, it was great! You really connected with the people that you met with; you found the practice to be interesting and sophisticated, the setting collegial and the compensation package first-class. You are one step closer to getting the job of your dreams when you are asked to provide your references. How should you handle this very important step in you job search? The following is a basic guideline aiming to steer you through this sometime tricky and often overlooked aspect of the job search process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60607 bcg215 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you practice in a law firm (and in particular, at a large law firm), you know that finding the right balance between your professional and personal life is no easy task. Getting the right balance requires a good understanding of your own preferences and values. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60608 bcg216 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One day last fall, David Derrico received five calls from headhunters trying to entice him away from his fourth-year associate position with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Los Angeles. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60609 bcg217 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe, based in San Francisco and annually ranked as one of the top 100 firms by American Lawyer's survey, is historically known for its prominent life sciences and litigation practices. Perhaps more noteworthy, however, is the firm's recent commitment to growth. Since 1997, the firm has more than doubled in size, going from 355 attorneys to its current roster boasting 720. Perhaps even more impressive is that a substantial number of those attorneys were added during the current economic recession, when most firms are shedding attorneys left and right. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60610 bcg218 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Q. I have been having difficulty in obtaining interviews for a position as an associate. I graduated from law school in May of 1999 and my resume shows substantial full-time legal experience. Would you have any suggestions for head hunters? It seems that whenever I contact a recruitment firm for help, the response is that I do not have enough attorney experience for recruitment purposes. Do you know how recent graduates are placed? I would sincerely appreciate your comments. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60611 bcg219 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT It is becoming increasingly common for attorneys desiring more than a few weeks off from the practice of law to simply quit their current jobs. Unlike some other professions, most law firms do not look favorably upon attorneys' taking more than a few weeks off unless they are involved in "a major life event." In the calculus of most law firms, a "major life event" is primarily limited to such circumstances as the death of a close family member (usually a spouse), a life-threatening illness, or the birth of a child (only if you are a woman). Accordingly, attorneys without such explanations often simply quit, explaining to flabbergasted partners that they want to take some time off for travel or reflection. The logic most attorneys follow in quitting is that if they take significant time off from their current firm under any guise other than one of these life-changing events, they will harm their chances for advancement in their current firm's eyes, and therefore, they need to quit completely and find a new law firm once they are ready to return to legal practice. Given the way that law firm politics generally work, that logic is pretty accurate. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60612 bcg220 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT LOS ANGELES - Junior associates hoping that Robert Gunderson might again serve as the patron saint of higher salaries are likely to be disappointed. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60613 bcg221 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT When a company hires its first in-house attorney, an array of business practices are subjected to legal review for the first time. This can have the short-term (and even long-term) effect of increasing the legal expenses of a business. This is particularly true if the first hire is a general counsel rather than a staff attorney. So if legal expenses may actually climb, how should a company decide to add to its overhead? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60614 bcg222 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Ed Koch served as mayor of New York throughout the 1980's and was famous for employing the phrase ''How'm I doin'?'' Throughout his administration, he would walk up to strangers on the street and pose this question. For a politician like Ed Koch, the answer was of course critical to his survival. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60615 bcg223 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I'll admit it. I am one of a scarce breed. I am a female golfer in Manhattan. How did that happen to me? And how can golf find you? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60617 bcg224 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT It is not a mistakeâ€"quoting the word ''self'' in the title of this article. I put such word in quotes for a reason. ''Yourself'' has become a very underrated, undervalued, and perhaps misunderstood term. Taken individually, however, the words ''your'' and ''self'' hold more value, as they are both powerful terms. Together, they equal. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60619 bcg225 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We regularly read and hear that "jobs for life" are disappearing, to be replaced by a pattern of consecutive jobs and unpredictable career dislocations. When the time comes to face such a change on a personal level, these statistics take on a whole new meaning. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60621 bcg226 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The days of absolute job security are gone for the time being. Many large law firms continue to lay off associates, and some are even demoting equity partners to non-equity status. However, litigators with top academic credentials and with major law firm experience continue to be in demand, and patent lawyers with a background in electrical engineering still manage to get more than one job offer. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60625 bcg227 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT INTRODUCTIONOne of the most misunderstood facets of the legal recruiting industry is the following: You have many options when choosing a legal recruiter (not just the one that cold-called you), and how well you work with your legal recruiter will directly influence how successful the legal recruiter is in working with you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60626 bcg228 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Many junior attorneys work incredibly hard for four years to get top grades at first-tier law schools, work on law reviews, and get offers from prestigious firms. Then, they face unplanned speed bumps in their careers when their fiances feel it is time to live in the same city, get serious about their commitment, marry, and settle down. Legal recruiters receive many questions in relation to different versions of this scenario. The following is what I tell attorneys in this position. (Many of these thoughts may apply to same-sex couples as well, where one partner is relocating to meet the needs of the relationship.) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60627 bcg229 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most persistent mistakes legal professionals make is to not understand the importance of "fitting in" in their work environment. Indeed, fitting in is something that both enables you to get and keep a job. In terms of what it takes to succeed in the practice of law over the long term, "fitting in" may actually be more important than your skill level. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60629 bcg230 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Several years ago, I was brokering salary negotiations for an in-house position. The general counsel was excited about the candidate, the candidate was very interested in the company and there was good chemistry between the two. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60630 bcg231 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT (The following is based on an actual letter. Some of the facts have been changed, however, to preserve the identity of the original author.) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60631 bcg232 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Several months ago, I went on vacation to Hawaii with my family. After we had been there several days, my wife surprised me by signing me up for a snorkeling trip. It was a chance to be out on a boat in a beautiful ocean with beautiful scenery. It was also a chance to enjoy the surroundings without my wife and three children. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60632 bcg233 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the early 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution in England, laws and customs that had been designed to protect workers were first ignored and then abandoned. In 1808, for example, a bill passed that decreased the minimum wage, and the Combination Acts outlawed trade unions. High food prices and decreasing wages during this time also served to require more of each person's wages and make life very difficult for workers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60634 bcg234 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Selling legal services is all about relationship building. Since legal consumers hire attorneys who they trust (either directly or because someone they trust has made a referral), it is not difficult to see that building relationships is the best way to build a law practice. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60635 bcg235 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction As a legal recruiter, I am often quite surprised by the differences among attorneys in their receptiveness of information presented to them. When associates are called by a recruiter out of the blue, they are often extremely suspicious, declare they are not interested in speaking with the recruiter at all, brag about how happy they are, and then get off the phone as quickly as possible. Successful partners and associates tend to do the opposite. An event of a couple of weeks ago comes to mind. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60636 bcg236 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction The purpose of this article is to provide you with insight as to whether or not you should go in-house. Many attorneys claim that going in-house was their best career move. Conversely, some attorneys claim it was their biggest career mistake. In the end, going in-house is entirely up to you. You need to understand, however, that the decision to go in-house is one of the most significant career decisions you will ever make as an attorney. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60637 bcg237 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are an associate at a major firm, the chances are great that you have contemplated moving in-house at some point in your career. This is conventional wisdom in the legal-search business because associates frequently recite the mantra, ''Call me if you hear about a good in-house opportunity.'' But have you fully considered the pros and cons of leaving private practice? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60638 bcg238 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Attorneys work extremely hard in large law firms to achieve partner status. Even when they do become partners, there remain different lines of authority between partners which make some feel important and others quite insecure. When an associate is dealing with a partner, he or she is dealing with someone who is in a position to feel insecure because there are almost certainly going to be more important partners above him or her. The best thing you can do in the law firm environment is cater to a partner's need to feel important. Conversely, one of the worst things you can do in a law firm environment is do things to make a partner feel insecure. When you make a partner feel insecure, the response of the partner is generally to stop giving you work or lobby for you to be fired or replaced. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60639 bcg239 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We are frequently contacted by attorneys whose practices focus on insurance law. The relative marketability of these attorneys depends on the specific nature of their practices. Insurance coverage attorneys are highly marketable and can transition to challenging new positions with top law firms with relative ease. On the other hand, those who practice insurance defense find it more difficult to make an upward move, notwithstanding their often excellent litigation skills. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60640 bcg240 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Appendix I: Videoconference Interviews With law firms becoming more dynamic and embracing new technology, the videoconference interview is becoming increasingly popular. Law firms recognize that the videoconference interview displays a cutting-edge technological aspect that is appealing to many young attorneys and saves the firm time and money. Without needing to pay for plane tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms, and expensive dinners, the firms are able to focus their resources on improving the firm environment, paying larger bonuses, and increasing associates' goodwill. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60641 bcg241 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction Preparation is the key to successful interviewing! The interview format is essentially a question-and-answer session, with the interviewer asking most of the questions. We cannot predict exactly what will be asked, but certain questions do come up over and over again. It is to your advantage to prepare general answers to these questions on the following pages. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60642 bcg242 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The primary purpose of an interview is for an employer to measure how well you will fit into the organization. An interview also provides the interviewer an opportunity to see how well he or she can work with the candidate. In lateral hiring, it is a reasonable assumption that if you get called for an interview, the employer already has good reason to believe that you have the necessary skills and experience to perform the job. While questions will arise during the interview that help clarify your experience, what is most important at an interview is the non-verbal communication that occurs and rapport that is established. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60643 bcg243 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As a legal recruiter, I am often asked about effective interviewing tips and techniques. In these conversations, I often find myself analogizing the interview process to the early stages of dating. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. In both scenarios, people are seeking a genuine connection with the other person, while communicating who they are and what they want in life. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60644 bcg244 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Should You Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interview? One of the questions I receive quite often from the attorneys I work with is whether or not they should talk about other interviews while they are interviewing with law firms. Let me emphasize one thing: This is one of the more important questions you will have to answer in an interview. Regardless of your qualifications, how you respond to this question will have a direct bearing on whether or not you receive an offer from the law firm interviewing you, so you have to be very careful with your answer. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60645 bcg245 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT On many antiquarian maps, there is a simple, chilling statement scrawled at the edge of the known world: "Here be monsters." This is the mapmaker's rather dramatic way of saying, "No one is quite sure what lies here, but it is almost certainly bad." But a hedge of this sort is not nearly as evocative, nor as indicative of human nature, as a miniature pictorial of ravening mythological beasts. From a psychological perspective, this three-word warning symbolizes how humans have dealt with uncertainty from time immemorial: with a keen sense of dread. And returning from a law firm interview that was difficult to read can fill you with a similar sense of foreboding. With no quick feedback, this can rapidly deteriorate into worry, followed by full-blown panic, and finally, despair. Meanwhile, your recruiter could be negotiating a lavish salary package for you with the firm. Who knew? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60646 bcg246 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT How to Excel in Law Firm Interviews We have seen the same scenario repeat itself over and over again. We send a highly qualified candidate out on an interview, only to later learn that a job offer was never extended. What went wrong? The reasons for unproductive interviews vary from one attorney to another. Furthermore, interviews are often handled differently, depending on whether the interviewee is a senior partner, an associate with one to four years of experience, or a senior associate. Hiring organizations also pose questions about certain topics at different stages of the interviewing process. However, candidates need to be ready to answer every question, whether it's posed to them during the initial screening interview, the callback interview, or during a post-offer stage. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60647 bcg247 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As Firms Begin to Renew Hiring Initiatives, a New Vernacular Must Take Hold For those lawyers who have practiced through both the heady hiring frenzy of the late 1990's, and the resulting (and inevitable?) chill on hiring in the early 2000?s, lifestyle firms seem to have gone the way of the Dodo bird. Although it is almost certainly true that law firm culture has changed, first in favor of associate life, then to its detriment, lawyers in law firms must learn to better articulate the dynamics of law firm life. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60649 bcg248 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Every day, I receive phone calls, faxes, e-mail messages and letters from attorneys seeking employment. I run a recruiting business and it is only natural that job seekers contact me. "It's what I do." But the truth is, I can only help a small percentage of those who inquire. Legal recruiting is a specialized business and while there is no shortage of attorneys looking to make a lateral move, for the most part, employers who use recruiters have a very particular profile in mind. Generally, they are looking for junior to mid-level associates with major firm experience and top law school academics (partners with portable billings that exceed $350K will also do). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60650 bcg249 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you believe what you read in the popular and legal press, career satisfaction is woefully lacking for most attorneys. While I encounter a lot of this dissatisfaction in my own coaching and recruiting practice, I also speak to many lawyers who actually like what they do. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60651 bcg250 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Recruiter Deirdre Sullivan of BCG's New York office stresses the importance of networking. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60652 bcg251 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT A. Martin Wickliff, Jr., decided early in life that he wanted to enter the legal field. He said when he was young, he worked in his father's law office, and being in that environment cultivated his interest in law. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60311 bcg252 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the coming months, the legal community will continue to speculate about what caused the demise of Testa Hurwitz and Thibeault. Some will say that it was the greed of the partners who had the best client relationships and therefore controlled the most legal work. Others will say that the firm became unglued with the death of Dick Testa, a charismatic leader who insisted that everyone work for the common good of the firm. Still others will blame the firm?s over reliance on one industry (i.e. technology). http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60368 bcg253 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Joseph-Marie, Comte de Maistre was an aristocrat, philosopher, and diplomat, and a strident voice in the call to destroy the spirit of the French Revolution. In a word, he hoped to restore public faith in hereditary monarchy and an unchallenged, infallible Papacy. Needless to say, his views are not widely held in 21st-Century democracies. Nor should they be. An easy call, you may say. Yet, there is something insidious and pervasive about some of his views, and you may be surprised to find that some of them may be lingering in the back of your mind-and they have everything to do with your career. Wow! A link between career development and 18th-Century political philosophy-it must be a first! But read on. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60369 bcg254 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I am not a determinist. Really. But I do believe that movements within societies are inexorable, ineluctable, unavoidable. That means that new ideas and new values and new social mores come about seemingly of their own accord; and they cannot be stopped, cannot be forestalled, cannot be ignoredâ€"at least not ignored without risk. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60370 bcg255 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Over the past seven, turning eight, months of 2008, I have noticed an odd ''happening'' on the East Coast. My recognition of this event, or chain of events, started slowly with The Wall Street Journal at 6:30 a.m. over morning coffee. It increased rhythm and size with The New York Times on the way to the subway. Tripped me up as I headed toward my train with AMNew York. And fully blew me away on the weekends with U.S. News & World Report. It was the recognition of all that is bad for i-bankers — Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, rumors of Lehman Brothers — and how such i-bankers expect to survive the market........with nothing being written to address those in the legal profession. Mind you, New York City is a finance-driven metropolis; thus, newspapers' focus on the demise of i-banking jobs and the struggle of i-bankers, in general, is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is the dearth of front page news over the last few months, addressing those in the legal profession. Don't we count? Aren't Big Firm layoffs relevant to the world? Isn't the loss of associate, partner, and counsel jobs an important sign of the weakening economy? Where are the self-help articles for lawyers in The Wall Street Journal? Yes, attorneys make a good paycheck, but i-bankers make more — how come there is no pity for the lawyer? In a nod to M. Night Shyamalan, has nature turned against us too—and how come nobody cares? Apparently, it seems to be very ''right now'' to write about i-banks, i-bankers, and related matters, but articles directed at attorneys remain a ''specialized'' topic reserved for Abovethelaw.com and other such legal-directed publications. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60371 bcg256 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Considering the landscape of news, gossip, and reviews that has influenced the world of associates and partners in 2006-2007, one thing remains certain: the ongoing salary war undertaken by law firms throughout the U.S. has changed the playing field (and future) of attorneys in this country. Perhaps more so, it has ushered in changes in business models and visions for a number of area law firms. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60372 bcg257 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search has teamed up with the global leaders of on-line talent management tools: Thomas International to provide you fast and easy access to one of the most significant and widely used tools for professionals around the world. BCG Attorney Search offers all its attorney clients the option of taking this unique on line assessment to improve their job search strategy. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60373 bcg258 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We often hear from attorneys with whom we are working that they are contemplating doing contract work while they look for permanent employment. Generally, these are attorneys who have worked for a while at law firms, but have been laid off or have relocated. They are thinking about doing contract work for one or more of the following reasons: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60374 bcg259 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction Deciding whether to pursue a Master of Laws degree (''LL.M.'') is a major decision that can have a long term impact on your legal career. This article provides some food for thought on the subject as well as a list of pros and cons one should consider when determining whether to take a hiatus from practicing law in order to pursue an advanced educational degree. It is important to note that over 98% of United States lawyers, including those practicing in the areas of tax and international law, do not have LL.M. degrees. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60375 bcg260 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Cooley Godward's information technology specialty dates back to the 1950s. In the 70s and 80s, the firm established itself as one of America's preeminent technology law firms by taking the most powerful biotech companies public. From San Francisco, Cooley relocated to the Silicon Valley, the high tech capital of the world, in the early 80s, opening offices in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The firm expanded in size and focus from a regional specialist firm to a full-service national firm, riding the crest of the exploding computer industry at the end of the 20th century. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60376 bcg261 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We regularly read and hear that "jobs for life" are disappearing and being replaced by a pattern of consecutive jobs and unpredictable career dislocations. When the time comes to face such a change on a personal level, these statistics take on a whole new meaning. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60377 bcg262 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Since late 2000, as every attorney knows, there has been a marked slowdown in the amount of available corporate work. The number of layoffs that has occurred in the market is severe and is not improving. On the recruiting side, many major recruiting firms claim to not have made a placement of a corporate associate in more than a year. Most major law firms have instituted hiring freezes of corporate associates. Worst of all, many attorneys from top-tier firms and law schools have been out of work for more than one year. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60378 bcg263 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT This article addresses an issue that may seem like common sense, but is something many attorneys don't fully appreciate. To provide context, it is currently May 2008 and the lateral hiring market in my city (Washington, D.C.) is active in some areas and dreadfully slow in others. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60379 bcg264 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT H.E. Palmer, a member of the U.S. forces that settled the West in the second half of the 19th century, is attributed with having said, "Never put down your gun to hug a bear." Where counteroffers from your present employer are concerned, it's the counteroffer that's the bear. When you have an offer from a new employer in hand, that's your gun. Don't put it down once you have shown it. There is no end to the horror stories about accepted counteroffers I've come across in my years as a recruiter. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60380 bcg265 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Cover letters are a necessary evil in all job searchesâ€"a necessary and critical evil. While many job searchers think a solid resume should speak for itself, the reality is it often does not. In fact, a poorly written or sloppy cover letter can detract from even the most impeccable of resumes. The first step in writing a cover letter is to appreciate the potential effect it can have on the decision maker and that it may be the only tool you have to separate yourself from all the other applicants. While there is no standard formula to follow, there are some things you should be sure to do, and there are some things you should never do when crafting your cover letter. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60381 bcg266 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The 482-attorney Cozen O'Connor finished 2005 with improvements in the key financial indicators, showing a 7.3 percent increase in gross revenue to $220.5 million, according to The American Lawyer's AmLaw 100. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60382 bcg267 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Larry Stybel's main thesis was: if you want to be successful lawyer today, mere ''competence'' is insufficient. With a large number of attorneys still graduating from law school, competence has become a commodity. But if you establish credibility outside your firm, you are no longer a commodity; rather you are a lawyer who brings value to the table (i.e. your services will be in demand). Larry emphasized that it is important to establish ''credibility'' outside of the firm even if this is not the message your firm is sending you. If your firm is telling you to focus on servicing clients, you should still make sure to ''get out there''. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60383 bcg268 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT ''Can you be trusted?'' Beyond any other single question-regardless of how motivated you are, where you went to law school, or your work history-if you slip up on an issue of credibility, you might as well forget about a successful career in the law. Certainly, there are many people who get ahead by playing fast and loose with the rules. I have seen more examples of this over the course of my career than I can count. Nevertheless, when all is said and done, no matter how far untrustworthy people get, they almost always come crashing down. When these crashes occur, they are not normally bumps in the road. Legal careers end. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60384 bcg269 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We believe that an attorney's happiness and success in the practice of law have more to do with a particular law firm culture (which is sometimes also referred to as the personality of a firm) than with any other factor. This article discusses (a) the importance of firm culture, (b) why some attorneys do not give strong consideration to firm culture when joining a firm either during or after law school, (c) the reason a failure to seriously consider firm culture prematurely ends many legal careers, and (d) why making a lateral move provides the best opportunity to evaluate firm culture and the course of your career. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60385 bcg270 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Working in the law, like working in most other professional fields, entails a certain amount of customer service. Some might say the customer service aspects of the job are the most important, especially if you want to get ahead in a large firm. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60386 bcg271 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As the economy sinks, competition for good legal jobs, both in-house and at law firms, is on the rise. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60387 bcg272 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As warm as you can get without being 'hot': SF and Bay Area firms are growing, expanding, adding new practice areas, fleshing out their existing practices, and merging. If that is not a hot, market, what is? The only caveat is that firms, while as bullish as ever, have a completely different mind-set going in. Before the 'dot.com' boom, firms saw needs, and hired-immediately. Now, needs are identified, discussed, pass through committee, are communicated (more or less) and then sit unfilled for months. This is because the new paradigm is caution, deliberation and still more caution. Firms are indeed looking to hire-their associates are over-burdened and their clients' needs are going unfulfilled, but firms absolutely refuse to be caught with their pants down this time. This means that firms will hire, but the candidate must be PERFECT fit. Rather than be afraid of distinguishing yourself, rather, candidates need to do everything they can to push 'meat on the bones' and communicate their particular, individual mission. In short, you must know what you want to do and be able to communicate it. (Note to self: that is what your recruiter is for.) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60388 bcg273 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT In every organization, there are people who are positive forces that lead, inspire, and build and others who are negative forces that criticize, depress, and tear down. This dichotomy can be carried further to cover virtually any social group. This distinction is so clear that a cognizable argument could be made that most people can be grouped into one category or another. Which are you? In life, as in work, you will be faced with a decision of which group to join, and your decision will have a meaningful effect on your long-term success. Whether or not your workplace is composed mainly of builders or destroyers will also have a meaningful effect on your organization's overall success. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60389 bcg274 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT There is no denying the national mood has shifted towards the dark side. It is impossible to escape the reports of natural disasters, global warming, the energy crisis, the housing slump, and the lives lost and forever changed by war. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60390 bcg275 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The Dating Game When faced with a career move, choosing among the "Big Firms" may be akin to playing the dating game, wherein you usually have two choices: presume they are all the same and blindly pick one or take so long to decide that you end up missing out on the best choice. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60391 bcg276 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The process of seeking a position at a major law firm is not for the faint of heart. In addition to coping with core issues of financial security and professional identity, a candidate who submits their resume to a law firm must also deal with the daily roller coaster of a seemingly irrational and inefficient process of consideration. Before throwing your hat into the ring it is best to gird yourself for the following four potentially negative by-products of the hiring process: silence, ambiguity, delay and rejection. Even the most sought after candidate is often faced with one of these issues. These elements are a normal part of interfacing with the people who make hiring decisions in law firms. No one in a law firm intends to direct negative energy at a candidate, but the system is what it is, and understanding how it works, can help you cope with what may at times seem frustrating and ego deflating. Once you can anticipate what to expect in the short run, working with your recruiter to find the perfect position can be a very satisfying joint endeavor, as you negotiate each successful stage in the process. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60392 bcg277 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Some synonyms for ego include: character, individuality, power, psyche, self-admiration and self-pride. These are all relatively positive words. However, add ''-TISTIC'' to ''ego'' and the synonyms include: assuming, bossy, bragging, cocky, conceited, domineering, haughty, insolent, know-it-all, overbearing, pompous, presumptuous, pretentious, scornful, self-important, smug, stuck up, superior, vain. Eh, not so good. Nearly every attorney would agree that the stereotype of an arrogant lawyer is absolutely false, but the harrowing job search process can turn the best-mannered person into that stereotype faster than you can say, ''but I'm worth it!'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60393 bcg278 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT So, you spent the afternoon interviewing for a position as a possible lateral associate position. It's 8 p.m. and you're just settling in for a date with your DVR and the latest episode of American Idol, when you start to get the nagging sense that you have forgotten something...something related to the utterly exhausting afternoon you spent interviewing. From the recesses of your fatigued brain comes the memory of sending thank you notes after your interviews in law school. But could it still be true? Do you still have to send thank you notes after interviews? After all, you've been practicing for awhile now. Do you still have to resort to these measures to get the job? The answer is an unequivocal ''YES!'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60394 bcg279 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction Very few people within the legal profession understand exactly what a recruiter does. At its highest level, legal recruiting is an extremely sophisticated business. Nevertheless, legal recruiters must, as a general rule, make submissions to law firms. Making submissions to law firms, by necessity, requires that legal recruiters send out your resume. The issue then becomes this: What is the most effective way for a recruiter to make a submission? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60395 bcg280 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT It seems that many lawyers do not consider changing firms in the fourth quarter of their firms' fiscal year, even when they would otherwise want to, because they are unwilling to walk away from their potential year-end bonuses. Although nobody wants to leave money on the table, there are many reasons why an end-of-the-year move is quite compelling and should be considered. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60396 bcg281 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Economists, businesspeople and other observers who appeared unfazed by the gathering clouds of recession now admit that the economic storm is upon us. Nothing sinks markets like pessimism, but a little clarity - not to mention honesty - goes a long way in determining how Wall Street†s pain will affect Main Street. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60397 bcg282 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Communication has changed dramatically in the workplace in the past two decades. In a span of less than 20 years, voice-mail, cell phones, overnight delivery and personal computers have altered where and how we interact with clients and colleagues. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60398 bcg283 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I. IntroductionYou've received a call from the managing partner in your firm's intellectual property practice, who needs to hire three new associates, pronto. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60399 bcg284 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT [The following question is a composite of several questions asked by several different candidates. The name of the firm has also been changed.] http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60400 bcg285 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Legal recruiting is a niche business that caters to a relatively small subset of the legal community. Like any business, legal recruiting is constrained by the business realities of the marketplace. Smaller firms are often unwilling or unable to pay search fees. Firms that are open to paying search fees are generally looking for a specific demographic of candidates. What follows is an attempt to answer some of the more common questions we receive (sometimes on a daily basis). I have also included answers to some of the questions that we suspect lawyers don't ask but would like to ask. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60401 bcg286 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Are you thinking of beginning a search for a new job? You may think that having an up-to-date resume is all you need to get this ball rolling. But have you ''Googled'' yourself recently? Make no mistake, the firms or companies where you apply will likely run your name through a search engine if they are even thinking of interviewing you. At the very least, they will probably come across your profile on your law firm's website. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60402 bcg287 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Anyone who reads the professional announcements in this publication knows that partner movement is a reality. No matter what you think about the accelerating rate of change in the profession, it is a fact of life that practice group acquisitions, law firm mergers and individual partner moves are occurring with growing frequency. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60403 bcg288 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Daniel Smart was having a difficult time with his job search. Dan (whose name has been changed for this article) had an impressive resume. He graduated with honors from a top law school and spent four years at a major Boston firm. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60404 bcg289 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Yes, indeed. The eternal question. The oft-asked inquiry of young and old attorneys alike: How do I find a work/life balance? Whether you are a first-year associate or a ninth-year, it is likely that you have posed this question to yourself, your mentor, your law school career center, your recruiter, and your cat. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60405 bcg290 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT So you've decided to take the plunge and actively start looking for a new position. You would like to enlist the help of a legal recruiter, as you are too busy to undertake this overwhelming task on your own. In this article, I will outline some of the different qualities you should seek in a great legal recruiter. After all, your job search is undoubtedly important to you and should not be taken lightly. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60406 bcg291 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Most attorneys from large firms move at least once or twice during their first three to five years of practice. However, if you are looking at your third or fourth firm in your second year of practice, something is wrong. Several times a day, we see resumes of attorneys attempting to do this, and for the most part, we cannot help them. "Firm hopping" is taken into account by firms assessing your qualifications. Moving several times in a short time span can, in fact, hurt your ability to get a job because it leads law firms to question your loyalty and long-term commitment to the practice of law. In addition, moving several times in a short time span gives firms the impression that you may have moved because your work was not valued at your former firm. None of this is to say that any of the above factors may be relevant to your reasons for moving in the past. Yet, it is important to realize what firms are thinking and that their preconceived notions of an attorney that moves firms too often may negatively influence their ultimate decisions to interview you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=619&id=60407 bcg292 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The notion that a partner or associate must produce 2,000 or 2,400 hours of billable work yearly virtually assures that some clients will be overbilled. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60408 bcg293 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I spend a lot of my professional time giving out advice about networking. I frequently talk to experienced lawyers about using networking as a business development tool. Every day, I coach lawyers about using networking to uncover hidden job opportunities and interim assignments. I write articles giving practical tips to lawyers and other professionals who want to improve their networking skills. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60335 bcg294 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Be a Prince (or Princess) Amongst Paupers.Remember Prince...the Artist Formerly Known as Prince...who is now, apparently, Prince once again? I saw him today. I was finishing up minute 46 on a treadmill at the New York Sports Club on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when, lo and behold, he appeared before me clad in purple, heels, and big hair. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60336 bcg295 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Given the nature of practicing law, almost all articles on the subject are likewise-and appropriately-serious in nature. Topics such as recent decisions, practice group mergers, or building a book of business typically do not result in the reader experiencing an unexpected burst of laughter. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60337 bcg296 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT In the nine years that I have been in the recruiting business, I have spoken to literally hundreds of associates about their careers. Through these conversations, I have noticed a number of repeating themes (concerns about how to achieve work/life balance, decreasing interest in partnership, etc.) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60338 bcg297 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT On Friday Sept. 22nd, Linda Kline, of New England Legal Search, and Bob Licht, Vice President and General Counsel of Homeruns.com, launched the 2000/2001 Sandwich Hub series with a terrific overview of the pros and cons of in-house legal careers. Linda Kline began her discussion by articulating the reasons why lawyers at large firms are finding in-house jobs so appealing. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60339 bcg298 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Many law students, for a number of different reasons, make the decision to start their careers as tax attorneys. Some are helped along by the Big 4 accounting firms' coming to law school campuses and recruiting them. For several reasons, this is an attractive offer. You meet the attorneys within the tax practice, and they seem different from those at the large firms. They are charismatic, gregarious, and have business acumen. They tell you how associates at their firms put together presentations and have almost immediate client contact with Fortune 1000 clients throughout the region. They claim you will be reading the tax code and writing memoranda on different issues that relate to your clients. You walk out of the interviews pretty pumped up. On the other hand, a large law firm looking for tax associates will give you a much different feel when it interviews you. The tax attorneys at law firms are less sales people and more grinders with not much personality and, for the most part, are servicing M&A practice clients, as opposed to their own clients. So you decide that you like the feel at one of the Big 4 and believe that you will get the training necessary to become a good tax attorney. Even though you will have to take a pay hit compared to your colleagues going to the large firms, you know that the partners at the Big 4 make as much as, if not more, than the partners in law firms. So you accept an associate position within the Federal, SALT, International, ERISA, or M&A practice group. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60340 bcg299 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Jim was a litigation associate at a major Boston law firm. Soon after he started as a first year associate, he realized that he did not like the adversarial nature of litigation nor the length of time that it took for a case to move through the system. Nine months into his tenure, Jim noticed that his workload was beginning to ease up. At the same time, he was hearing stories that the associates in the corporate department were burning the midnight oil. Jim approached his supervisor and asked if he could take on some projects in the corporate department while continuing to manage his litigation caseload. Within two months, he was working full-time in the corporate department. A year later, he made a lateral move to another firm which had better corporate work. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60341 bcg300 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT His character's fate sealed by mortal wounds suffered on a historic battlefield, the actor casts his glance heavenward and breathes forth an elegant final soliloquy, imparting timeless words of honor, courage, and love. When he finishes, all is silent, save for the clatter of his falling sword and shield as the hero slumps and falls. The story has concluded. The curtain falls. The audience, moved by the dramatic scene just witnessed, erupts in applause, shouting its adoration. Another fantastic stage production has ended for the theater company. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=621&id=60342 bcg301 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As the holiday season approaches and the end of 2007 looms closer, partner and associate candidates wonder whether it is better to move laterally now or save such a move for the new year. The answer to that question lies in clarifying the pros and cons of each lateral hiring period and establishing one's own priorities. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60343 bcg302 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One thing that most lawyers have in common is that they don't want to be lawyers. It's almost part of the lawyer culture to be constantly searching for something new and different. We are inspired by stories of former lawyers who go out and start airlines or produce television shows. We tell ourselves that's how we want to put our legal education to work. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60344 bcg303 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Congratulations! You have successfully interviewed at a law firm, and now you have an offer to show for it! This questionnaire and worksheet is intended to assist you with a thorough analysis of the law firm and the offer, as well as give you an opportunity for self-reflection. Bear in mind that there are typically only so many lateral moves an attorney can make (without a substantial book of business) before firms begin to frown on the constant movement. Do not make your decision hastily. Each move must be seriously considered with a great deal of careful thought. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60345 bcg304 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Here's My Story: The Life of a BCG Recruiter[Dan Binstock is a BCG Recruiter covering major Eastern markets such as Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. He holds a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from American University, Washington College of Law, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland.] http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60346 bcg305 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If there are any useful forms of information you believe we should include on our site, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we may put it on here. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=0&id=60347 bcg306 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Question:I graduated from law school in 2004, and since that time, I have worked as a litigation associate for a respected midsized firm in DC. I went to law school because I thought that being a litigator would be intellectually challenging. But most of my days are filled with endless discovery disputes, and when I look at what partners in my firm are doing, I find myself getting depressed. I have made a few attempts to interview for non-legal jobs, but it is difficult to find the time to think about what I want from my career, let alone go out on interviews. I'm thinking of quitting my law firm job so that I can focus more consistently on looking for an alternative legal job, but some of my friends say I shouldn't quit until I find something else. What should I do? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60348 bcg307 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT On Friday November 3, 2000, the The Sandwich Hub featured Fran Massey, a consultant with 20 years of experience in coaching professionals. Fran Massey's basic point was that associates should avoid passive, passive-aggressive or aggressive communication. Instead, she suggested that �assertive� communication is the most effective means of getting what you want in the long run. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60349 bcg308 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Bankruptcy has been a hot topic in the legal market ever since the dot-com bubble burst in the late 1990s. Although many of the dot-coms disappeared with nary a whimper (because many of these firms did not have significant assets), the quick and public demise of huge international companies such as Enron Corp., WorldCom, and Global Crossing increased the amount of bankruptcy work at many firms around the United States. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60350 bcg309 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT So you've had many less-than-stellar experiences as an associate at your law firm. You've spent countless all-nighters on a two-month document review in the basement of a chemical plant located 300 miles outside of Boise, Idaho. You've woken up in the middle of the night with cold sweats, realizing you forgot to put a comma in a brief filed the previous day. You've gotten yelled at the next day for forgetting to put that comma in the brief. You've debated whether taking a weekend stroll in the park with your loved one justified passing up three billable hours. At times, you've felt as if your entire self-worth as a person hinged on whether a partner was pleased with your work (i.e., nice comments from a partner = you're on top of the world; negative comments from a partner = you're molded whitefish). You've questioned whether the admissions counselor at your law school must have been intoxicated when deciding to admit you. You were blindsided by an unexpected layoff that was allegedly based on poor performance, although you question whether that was the entire reason. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60351 bcg310 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT While lawyers concerned about the best possible presentation on their resumes(as we all should be!) may agonize over formatting and fonts, the key to creating a powerful resumes simplicity. Often, a resumes that leaves the best impression is one that's been edited to remove extraneous content, leaving the most relevant parts for the potential employer's review. Being concise, relevant, and punchy is generally wildly more effective than verbosity and superciliousness. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60352 bcg311 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Brian was a young attorney who appeared to have it all. He graduated from a top law school with top grades, landed a prestigious job during a slow market, and made a salary reaching well into the six figures. When Brian contacted me to discuss a job search, he seemed beaten down. I asked him to describe his work. This is what he told me: http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=618&id=60353 bcg312 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you are new to the practice of law, you are most likely facing pressure from the competing demands on your time. As you begin to learn your trade (including everything you never learned in law school), you are also getting used to a new set of office procedures and the culture of your law firm or law department. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=615&id=60354 bcg313 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Should I stay or should I go? I found myself asking this very question at a very early stage in my legal career. If you are reading this, I assume you are also pondering whether or not you should stay in the legal profession. This is a serious question and you should research it as much as possible before making the decision. Approach the question as you would any legal issue: be objective and reserve judgment until after getting all the facts. Make sure to make a decision that honestly reflects your feelings, because it is most likely going to be a decision that will permanently affect the rest of your life. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60355 bcg314 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT A candidate called me this week, and in the course of exchanging information I realized that she was probably the most highly-credentialed junior associate candidate that had crossed my path in recent years. She held JD, PhD, and Master's degrees from the most prestigious schools in the nation. She graduated near the top of her class in each instance and she had been editor-in-chief of her law review. Still, she was somewhat apologetic for not having earned straight A's. I understand where she is coming from; when you are spending most of your time in competitive environments surrounded by other brilliant people, you can lose perspective. This phenomenon is not uncommon in young attorneys just entering the profession, as grades and degrees are the primary sources of feedback before getting out into the work place. But it can be tragic when experienced attorneys lose sight of their strong capabilities and fine credentials just because their firms does not see them as superstars, or because they are isolated from the reality of what the average attorney working in their practice area does by comparison. In these cases, fine careers can be lost to insecurity or ignorance of opportunities that might provide fertile ground for professional satisfaction and pride. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60356 bcg315 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT A lawyer in California has top law firm experience, strong academic credentials and she is planning to relocate to the East Coast. Her husband is starting a medical residency at a large teaching hospital in Boston, and this associate plans to relocate when her husband?s residency begins. She knows little about the legal market in Boston; and because she works in a busy corporate transactional practice, she has limited time to research which firms might be worth approaching. Should this individual work with a search firm to explore a lateral move? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60357 bcg316 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Welcome to the summer season. It's July, it's hot, our minds are turned away from our computers and brief-writing and toward the beach (and those new Malia Mills bikinis tucked into our drawers since spring). Summer sneaks up on all of us, and when it does, it begs the question "Is now a good time to look for a new job?" http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60358 bcg317 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I can't tell you how many times highly qualified and well-credentialed senior-level associates have contacted us because, in their words, ''all the work I used to do for many years is now being given to younger associates, and there's not much left for me. I have always been praised for my work, but has the quality suddenly gone downhill?'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60359 bcg318 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT America's Greatest Places to Work With a Law Degree starts with a disclaimer. Kimm Walton writes ''I don't take direction well. That's why I was fired from every job I ever had''. She goes on to say that the firm she worked for in her second year of law school were ''miserable schmucks''. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60360 bcg319 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT In August of this year, the Boston Bar Association released the final report of the Task Force on Professional Fulfillment. Under the able leadership of outgoing BBA President Joel Reck and former ABA President John Curtin, a committee of respected bar leaders made a broad series of recommendations on how law firms, corporate management, public employers and the BBA can promote career satisfaction amongst lawyers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=617&id=60361 bcg320 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Most law firms would love to be in the position that Bracewell & Patterson is in today. There is a tendency for firms to view themselves in terms of their relative position vis-a-vis others they perceive to be their competitors. Bracewell has long been a firm that sees its competitors as only the best firms in the markets it serves. Bracewell celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1995. Over the last seven years, as the boom in technology investment has come and gone, Bracewell has invested carefully and with purpose in its growth, while at the same time maintaining a firm culture that causes it to be considered one of the best workplaces among Texas firms. For a top rated firm, and in a state where good manners at some level are still required in almost every workplace, this is quite an achievement. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60362 bcg321 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT First the bad news. Brobeck saw its profits per equity partner plunge 44 percent in 2001. The firm cracked the $1 million threshold in profits per partner in 2000 with $1.17 million, but this figure dwindled to $660,000 last year. Likewise, gross revenue also decreased from $476 million in 2000 to $447 million last year. Early this year, the firm announced layoffs of 54 associates and 85 staff members. This comes on top of the voluntary leave offer accepted by 82 associates in the last quarter of 2001. The impact of these actions mostly landed on the firm's business and technology group. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=614&id=60363 bcg322 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Lateral movement between major firms is an accepted fact of life in today's legal profession. This has been well documented by the National Association for Law Placement. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60364 bcg323 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT ''Get a better recruiter.'' ''Get a better 'job.''' ''Go in-house.'' ''Take anything.'' ''Take only 'the best.''' If you are an attorney in transition or contemplating a career move, these little commands, and many more just like them, are likely running through your mind. Incessantly. Therein lies the rub: how to sort out the wheat from the chaff, how to unearth your (real!) personal goals, how to create and execute a successful plan. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60365 bcg324 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT If you think you can make a successful career just by continually improving yourself, think again. You can write beautifully, argue passionately, think incisively, groom perfectly, even go to 1,000 conferences; but it will not get you the success you want. Conversely, ask yourself why it is that a certain partner down the hall does so well? He doesn't seem any smarter than you (just the opposite!); he doesn't have a very compelling presence; he doesn't even write very well. Why does he have so much business, and why is he ''going places?'' Hard telling. But I do know that no matter how much potential you have, no matter how much natural intelligence and drive you have, you cannot ''get there'' if you are doing it ''on your own.'' Therein may be the secret of that mystery partner: Maybe he is not doing it ''on his own.'' Maybe he has help. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60366 bcg325 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The twists and turns in this year's presidential race were enough to make anyone's head spin. If you are glad that the post-election battles are over and relieved that you will stop hearing non-stop election coverage on the news, consider this: You can learn a lot about managing your career by reviewing the ups and downs of the campaign. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60367 bcg326 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Cincinnati-based trial lawyer Glenn V. Whitaker has had a long and distinguished legal career and is recognized as one of the top litigators in his field. He worked as Special Litigation Counsel for the United States Department of Justice for four years and has litigated a broad spectrum of cases over the course of his career. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. And he was recently named in The Best Lawyers in America in three categories: criminal, business litigation, and personal injury. Whitaker is also included in Ohio Lawyer as one of the state's "Winningest" litigators. In 2004, he was selected by his peers as one of the top 10 "Super Lawyers" in Ohio. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60296 bcg327 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction The purpose of this essay is to address the question of what makes a world class legal recruiter. The answer to this question is identical to what translates to an exceedingly high level of success in any profession. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60297 bcg328 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT You are a partner at a solid firm, where you generate a respectable book of business on an annual basis. You feel your career at your current firm is heading toward a perpetual stagnation. You feel that you lack the resources to build your practice, or you view the firm's overall commitment to client relations or service as inadequate. Worse yet, you believe the culture or prestige of the firm has suffered because of the actions of your partners. Perhaps you have great concern regarding the firm's profitability or compensation structure. Or you question the management in guiding the firm through the uncertain future. Whatever the reason, you are contemplating leaving your firm to improve your unfulfilled expectations. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60298 bcg329 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Providing Insider Knowledge and Counseling Professional search consultants receive their fees from the legal-hiring organizations that employ their candidates. Virtually every U.S. law firm with a staff of more than 20 attorneys asks recruiters to help them with their hiring needs. In fact, firms are often surprised when candidates approach them who aren't represented by a professional search consultant. They find it difficult to believe that some candidates think they can learn about the universe of opportunities available on their own. Considerable leg work is involved with finding a new position, and most candidates just don't have the time it takes to successfully handle all of the necessary tasks while holding down a full-time job. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60299 bcg330 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Every day, I receive calls from partners who are seeking to transition to new law firms. One of the first questions I ask is whether the partner has the ability to bring with him or her clients or whether there is a strong likelihood he or she will be able to develop business at a new firm via current contacts. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60300 bcg331 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT When Jerome L. Ringler decided as an undergrad at Michigan State University that he wanted a career in the legal field, he had a very clear idea of the type of attorney he wanted to be. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60301 bcg332 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT John Butler's motivation to enter the legal profession did not stem from a lifelong dream of one day becoming an attorney. Rather, he went into law because of his father's bad experiences with attorneys in business dealings. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60302 bcg333 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Successful labor and employment litigator Jay Augustine said that two key factors contributed to his decision to enter the legal profession. One was the social exposure he received from his mother, who was a social studies teacher, and the other was his environment. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60303 bcg334 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Before going to law school, Katherine Bacal had no plans to enter the legal profession. In fact, she initially wanted to be a history professor. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60304 bcg335 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Kevin Culligan's decision to enter the legal profession did not stem from a lifelong ambition to become an attorney but, rather, from an experience he had while helping some of his friends as an undergrad at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, more than 30 years ago. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60305 bcg336 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT The environment in which Kieran Shanahan grew up played a pivotal role in shaping his career in the legal field and the political arena. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60306 bcg337 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Before becoming an attorney, Kimberley Chen Nobles worked as a research and design engineer for several years at Rockwell International, where she and her team supported the space station, space shuttle, and space-based interceptors. In addition, her engineering experience includes work in the areas of communications and antennae. Nobles said she worked at three different locations while with Rockwell: Anaheim, Seal Beach, and Downey. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60307 bcg338 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT For those lawyers who have practiced through both the heady hiring frenzy of the late 1990s and the resulting (and inevitable?) chill on hiring in the early 2000s, lifestyle firms seem to have gone the way of the Dodo bird. Although it is almost certainly true that law firm culture has changed-first in favor of associate life, then to its detriment-lawyers in law firms must learn to better articulate the dynamics of law firm life. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60308 bcg339 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT You are a partner at a solid firm where you generate a respectable book of business on an annual basis. You feel your career at your current firm is heading toward a perpetual stagnation. You feel that you lack the resources to build your practice, or you view the firm's overall commitment to client relations or service as inadequate. Worse yet, you believe the culture or prestige of the firm has suffered because of the actions of your partners. Perhaps you have great concern regarding the firm's profitability or compensation structure. Or you question the management in guiding the firm through the uncertain future. Whatever the reason, you are contemplating leaving your firm to improve your unfulfilled expectations. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60309 bcg340 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Civil trial lawyer Mark Nowak has had an interest in politics and government since he was very young, and he said that interest ultimately led him to consider a legal career. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60310 bcg341 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Michael J. Bowers is a true Southern gentleman, complete with the accent and the good manners. He is also a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP, the former Attorney General of Georgia, and chairman of the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission. In addition, Bowers was named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians" for eight consecutive years (from 1990 to 1997) and received the honor again in 2003. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60312 bcg342 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As an undergraduate at Pitzer College in the early '70s, Nancy Abell did not plan on going to law school. After graduating first in her class with a B.A. in Psychology in 1972, she began working for the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department, where she remained for four and a half years. During that time, she was a member of Mayor Tom Bradley's Affirmative Action Task Force and Advisory Committee on the Status of Women. And for her last two and a half years at the department, she served as Supervisor for the City of Los Angeles' Affirmative Action Unit. Abell said the work she performed while in that position ''cultivated [her] interest in employment law.'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60313 bcg343 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Law firms (along with the rest of corporate America) have their sights set on Generation Y, the coming-of-age individuals who are today's most targeted consumer demographic and make up the youngest of the workforce population. Today's newly minted lawyers are coming from Generation Y, also called ''Millennials.'' For those of us who focus on recruiting talent for a living, understanding the Millennial zeitgeist has become a priority. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60314 bcg344 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Profile: Robert E. KinneyThis month we profile Robert Kinney, the newest member of our team, who established the Texas office of BCG Attorney Search. Robert attended the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Texas Journal of Business Law and a research assistant to a distinguished professor. ''Working with Professor Baade really defined my experience at Texas.'' Robert says, ''We became close friends in the course of difficult work on a project that took us to Scotland for a total of four months during my second and third years of law school. I can't imagine a better legal education.'' http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60315 bcg345 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Law firms across the country are now more than ever focused on strategic planning for growth and expansion in a legal marketplace that places high value on sophisticated talent and timely delivery of legal services. With the increased surge toward growth and expansion both domestically and globally among the top international and national law firms, partners with significant levels of expertise and business are in high demand. Irrespective of the size of their books, their practice areas, or other factors which may play a part in transitioning to another law firm, most partners have a number of factors influencing them to leave their current firms and affecting their ability to transition their business to a new law firm. Partners who are cognizant of and prepare for the factors that might affect their abilities to transition their business will be better positioned to move their books when the right opportunities present themselves. Some of the issues facing partners transitioning to new law firms are discussed in more detail below. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60316 bcg346 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT We see it all the time: A graduate of a top law school (or wherever) joins a large, highly regarded law firm in a major city. The thought of working for a small to mid-sized firm is something most of these attorneys never believe they will ever do when they first join a large law firm. The lures are spectacular: name-brand clients known worldwide; powerful senior partners, a few of which may even be media figures; a backup support staff to dream of-proofreaders, legal assistants, and schedulers; plus fellow lawyers equally brilliant and success-driven. For all-work-and-no-play achievers, such an achievement is like landing in Heaven. All that hard work has paid off. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60317 bcg347 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT How to Evaluate the Veracity of Information from Partner Candidates Although it is uncommon, recruiters handling partner-level searches for law firms must be able to identify when a potential partnership candidate is misrepresenting information to the recruiter in an attempt to secure an interview or opportunity with a law firm looking to expand. Partner candidates do not necessarily intentionally give recruiters inflated or inaccurate information, but it does happen; and it may happen because of the lawyer's failure to think through all of the relevant issues involved in being represented to a firm for partnership. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60318 bcg348 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Moving your practice to another firm is a serious task that requires your careful attention to detail, your ability to identify and navigate around potential minefields, your capability to resolve issues expeditiously, your interpersonal skills to temper hurt feelings and egos, your access to the resources of your new firm, and the assistance you receive from key individuals within your current firm as well as others outside of your firm, such as your recruiter. Since portable business is a key factor driving your marketability once you are more than five years out of law school, you need to ensure that if you move, you move the business you have generated with you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60319 bcg349 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Without question, the most famous recruiter ad on record is that timeless classic depicting a stern and strangely muscular, though avuncular, old man with a starry top hat, frosty pointed beard, and fiercely pointed finger aiming right at you. It quickly becomes apparent, the gesture so intensely commanding, that his message would be painfully clear even had the copywriter chosen to omit the caption: I want you. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60320 bcg350 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Many of the most successful recruiters do not spend their time cold calling or submitting candidates to law firms. Often the most successful recruiters are those that are able to pick up the phone and call associates or partners with whom they have developed relationships, whether it be for purposes of recruiting them directly, picking their brains about other potential candidates, or gaining insightful information about the market and firms in general. These recruiters are the true stars of the industry. They have learned the art of the most effective way to recruit-through building professional relationships, and building them at all levels. It is this relationship-building that allows them to truly succeed. The fact that long-term relationships tend to establish a higher level of trust and confidence argues that these are the best relationships to foster. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60321 bcg351 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Research is obviously a key ingredient to placing any attorney into a suitable law firm, but this is particularly the case when attempting to place partners. Because partners tend to reflect upon the law firm more so than any single associate could, a partner who does not fit with his/her law firm is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Associates obviously should not be cast into a firm that does not fit them, but a sly enough associate will most likely be able to make him/herself fit in if he/she wants it enough. Partners, on the other hand, are unlikely to want to change their ways and are even more unlikely to be accepted by other partners, who all have at least some things in common to have worked their way up in the same firm. This is why it is important to cover all of your bases when researching to match an attorney at the partner level with an appropriate firm. You really need to do both parties justice, or it just will not work. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60322 bcg352 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT There are several methods that law firms typically use to make acquisitions at the partner level. These methods are as follows: (1) waiting for candidates to approach them (either through contingency recruiters or otherwise) or (2) retaining search firms to assist them with these acquisitions. Out of the two methods, the one means that law firms universally find to be the most effective is the retained search. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60323 bcg353 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT When Richard Costigan graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Alabama in 1991, he never dreamed that a mere 12 years later he would be one of the top aides to the governor of one of the largest states in the union. From November 2003 to November 2006, Costigan served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Affairs Secretary for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Costigan's achievement illustrates that one doesn't have to be a graduate of a big-name Ivy League law school to become hugely successful in the legal field. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60324 bcg354 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Just this past Monday, news broke of New York law firm Simpson Thacher's plans to hike first-year associate salaries to $160,000. Since then, David Lat's Above the Law has been abuzz with news of other firm increases, including Weil Gotschal; Fried Frank; Dewey Ballantine and Morrison & Foerster. And increases aren't limited to New York, either. Today, from Legal Pad comes news that Quinn Emanuel is also matching the $160,000 starting salaries in New York. The post explains that Quinn is concerned about losing talent to New York firms and that other California firms will need to consider this new trend. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60325 bcg355 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Hiring organizations are often surprised to learn that more than 50 percent of the work done by our professional search consultants involves screening candidates. Before you ever meet a candidate of ours, one of our search consultants has already dedicated many hours to answering one fundamental question. After reviewing all of our basic screening factors (which we will explore in more detail below), you must ascertain whether the candidate has the potential to become a truly valuable resource to your legal-hiring organization. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60326 bcg356 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT As an undergrad at the University of Texas at Arlington in the early 1990s, Shaun Clark aspired to have a career in the entertainment industry and believed that pursuing a career in law would be the best way to reach his goal. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60327 bcg357 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT It's November. The season is changing from fall to winter. First-year associates have just started their full-time legal careers. It is a very exciting time for the class of 2007. Unless you are one of the members of the class of 2007 without a job. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60330 bcg358 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Top 10 Reasons to Use a Professional Search ConsultantThere are numerous reasons to use a legal recruiter. In choosing a legal recruiter, it is extremely important that you know what to look for. Good legal recruiters are firmly established as some of the most valuable fixtures in the legal community. Through their aggressive research, instinct, and knowledge of the legal-job market, a good recruiter affects the lives of attorneys, the lives of their families and friends, and the success of entire law firms. A good legal recruiter can also make the difference between your career's stalling and taking off. With so much effort put into becoming an attorney, it is of utmost importance that you choose a legal-recruiting firm that takes your career as seriously as you do. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60332 bcg359 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT On a recent Thursday night in October, my colleagues and I were enjoying an evening at the Harvard Club in midtown Manhattan. After hearing about a subject of continual value for anyone even remotely involved in the legal placement world, we left the club that evening with our minds full of substantial subject matter ripe for discussion over a nice pasta dinner in Times Square. Somewhere between the breadsticks and linguine, however, our subject matter drifted from ethics to performance to motivation. What motivates people to perform ethically? Rules? Instinct? Morals? What motivates people to perform, period? I was still thinking about this issue as I hopped on the local uptown train and headed home to sleep. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60333 bcg360 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Managing Director of BCG's New York office Danice Kowalczyk delivers an in-depth expose on women and corporate success. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60334 bcg361 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT A. Good Recruiters Do Market Research Recruiters stay current with all the news. They read articles about the legal market and hiring trends both nationally and in their respective regions. Recruiters are able to determine and predict when a practice area of law is going to pick up or slow down based on the number of positions the law firms are submitting to the recruiters. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=611&id=60264 bcg362 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Introduction The legal recruiting industry is unique. With the goals of placing attorneys in new positions and, most importantly, helping attorneys' careers progress by finding the appropriate match, there is an important responsibility that falls on the shoulders of legal recruiters. However, unlike the practice of law, the legal recruiting industry is not regulated by the states. No licenses are needed. Therefore, anybody who wishes to become a legal recruiter (whether a former car salesperson, captain of a cruise liner, or an exotic dancer with good people skills) can easily hang out a shingle and call him/herself a recruiter. No licenses, tests, or ethical-fitness qualifications are necessary. "Not an attorney, and you have no knowledge of the legal market? No problem!" http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=620&id=60265 bcg363 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Growth is essential to the long-term survival of any business. American and foreign law firms have grown by marketing to the public, acquiring lateral partners with portable practices, merging with other firms, and starting branch offices. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60266 bcg364 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Yes, if you want a search firm that's focused and instinctively knows the appropriate steps to take while conducting your job search. Our recruiters are usually able to promptly locate excellent opportunities that produce the types of offers our candidates want to receive. However, when a candidate is looking for a somewhat unusual position, we are prepared to work with that individual for a period of months or even years. Rest assured that we do not simply scatter your resume all over the country, blindly hoping that we can find you a job in that manner. Our goal is to help you find the job you want, no matter how long it takes. Most of our candidates really do find jobs or receive attractive offers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60267 bcg365 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Labor and employment litigator Adam Levin said he likes to comb through all the details and facts of a case, taking them apart and putting them back together like the parts of a three-dimensional puzzle. And he also loves a good mystery. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60268 bcg366 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT When Amar Thakur graduated from law school back in 1995, he initially wanted to go into business law but ended up going into intellectual property law instead. Thakur said he first got into IP law because of his technical background. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60270 bcg367 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Law firm recruiting managers are called upon daily to handle a myriad of responsibilities for their firms, including coordinating fall recruiting programs at law schools, planning and managing summer-associate programs, managing lateral hiring, professional development, and conducting partner and associate evaluations. Some of these professionals also handle human resources and marketing functions. These professionals are highly skilled and most often overworked. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60271 bcg368 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Before becoming an attorney, Andrei Iancu was an award-winning engineer at Hughes Aircraft. He said he always had an interest in law and decided to go to law school after working at Hughes for four years. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60272 bcg369 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Don't panic. Stay positive, build relationships, and put spare time to use.This financial crisis is on a scale that this country has rarely seen. This could be a 100-year flood. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=612&id=60273 bcg370 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Numerous books, articles, and training materials have been written on the subject of how to successfully interview for a job. Most of this information is geared toward the job candidate, instructing him or her to dress professionally, arrive on time, anticipate difficult questions and prepare responses, maintain eye contact, avoid slouching, and generally make the best impression on potential employers. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60274 bcg371 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Before he decided to become an attorney, Arturo Gonzalez was interested in another branch of law: law enforcement. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60275 bcg372 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Employment litigator Barbara Johnson had already established a solid career before going into law. She worked as an analytical chemist and instrument engineer for The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, MI, for five years prior to becoming an attorney. She said two attorney friends piqued her interest in law while she was working at Dow. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60276 bcg373 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search has recently opened an office in Atlanta, our second office that services the Southeastern United States. Located in the heart of Midtown, the Atlanta office is headed up by Raffaele Murdocca, an experienced and established attorney recruiter in the Atlanta area. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60278 bcg374 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT At BCG Attorney Search, it is one of our goals to always be expanding. We feel that being able to represent clients locally from various cities all over the country is a great benefit to our clients, who can be sure that the regional recruiter that they are working with is familiar with the local market. To that end, we are proud to announce that our efforts have spawned yet another office. The Orange County office, located in Newport Beach, California, will help our Los Angeles office to better serve the busy Southern California legal market. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=613&id=60279 bcg375 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Continuing our national expansion efforts, we are pleased to announce that BCG Attorney Search has opened an office in Philadelphia, our second office in the Northeastern United States. The Philadelphia office will specialize in attorney placements in the tri-state area, Boston and abroad. Dan Binstock currently serves as Managing Director of our newest location. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60280 bcg376 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search has recently opened an office in San Francisco, our third office in California. We hope that this expansion will allow us to better serve our Northern Californian law firm clients as well as the vast number of our candidates interested in living in the Bay Area. Recruiter James Fant is heading up the new office. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60281 bcg377 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the little-known secrets of the legal-recruiting industry is that a select few are not, in fact, attorneys. For some, this is deeply unsettling. How could a person who never attended law school, passed the bar, or billed 2,500 hours a year at a top firm possibly understand, help, or even deserve to play a role in the legal profession? In this view, a legal recruiter without a law degree is at best a poseur, at worst a rank amateur. One could imagine Woody Allen in Zelig sitting in a partners' meeting, nodding gravely in a hiring-strategy discussion, despite not having finished high school, or even knowing what a law is. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60282 bcg378 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT When J. Bennett Clark joined St. Louis-based Senniger Powers, the largest intellectual property firm in Missouri, he had very little knowledge of intellectual property law. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60283 bcg379 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT One of the most important steps to successfully making a move as a partner is to prepare a proper business plan that documents what you will bring to the table. As someone with a portable book, the ''flavor'' and quantity of that book plays an important role in maximizing your attractiveness to the firm or firms that you are targeting. This is true both in the early stages of job hunting and later on in the process. Executed properly, this document becomes the ne plus ultra of calling cards. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60284 bcg380 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT With many associates placing less of an emphasis on reaching equity partnership, law firms are responding by creating new tracks that still allow for career advancement to keep them interested. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60285 bcg381 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Question:I am scheduled to have a lunch meeting with a firm next Friday. This firm is known for having a casual Friday dress code (e.g. jeans, polo tops, etc.). I don't want to look overly dressed or stuffy at my interview; should I attend this interview in something more casual as well? -H.D. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60286 bcg382 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT With many large law firms in growth mode, we take a look at some of the reasons that many partners choose to leave their firms â€" and how the right move can benefit your career. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60287 bcg383 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT BCG has just released its annual publication, The BCG Attorney Search Guide to Class Ranking Distinction and Law Review Admission at America's Top 50 Law Schools. The book is designed to help hiring personnel at law firms to have a way to gauge the law school performances of their applicants with a concise comparative tool, and this year's edition makes that task easier than ever. By expanding the book to include 25 more schools and including more information on each school than last year, we have worked very hard to make sure we can answer every possible question about all the top law schools. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=611&cat_id=625&id=60288 bcg384 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT I. Introduction I admit that the phrase ''happy lawyer'' seems like an oxymoron and is likely to induce snickers and scoffs, but these words share one another's company more often than you might think. In my seven years of practicing law and five months as a legal recruiter, I am delighted to report that I've met more happy lawyers than wretched ones. What's the secret that these happy lawyers share? If you're not a happy lawyer now, can you become one? Based on my experiences and observations, I have a theory about the first and can provide recommendations for the second. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=616&id=60289 bcg385 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT There is a pervasive opinion among attorneys and firms that all recruiters work out of a spare room in their lofty mansions, pocketing 100% profit from their commissioned attorney placements. While some legal recruiters do indeed operate like this (usually minus the lofty mansions), BCG Attorney Search incurs many traditional and many more "invisible" costs, most of which go into solidifying our clients' position in the legal market. Recruiting businesses, like all businesses, have expenses-advertising, payroll, office overhead-that are sunk costs. Additionally, all businesses have the choice of how to allocate the rest of their funds, with the traditional options being putting those funds straight into the President's pocket or reinvesting them in the company. Putting the time and effort (and money) back into the company in our efforts to provide the most full-service legal-recruiting agency is what sets us apart. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60290 bcg386 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Cynthia Cwik already knew what she wanted to do at an age when most of her peers were still trying to decide if the Easter Bunny was real. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60291 bcg387 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Minter Ellison, the only Australian law firm with an office in the United States, has experienced significant success in San Francisco. From the start, Darren Gardner, Managing Partner of Minter Ellison's San Francisco office and head of the firm's international employment and labor law practice, has been a key player in the firm's U.S. prosperity. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=624&id=60292 bcg388 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT Bob Wade, a healthcare partner at Baker & Daniels in Indiana, discusses with BCG his move from an in-house position back to private practice. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60293 bcg389 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT IntroductionBCG Attorney Search maintains the largest and most up-to-date database of attorney job opportunities inside law firms in the world. BCG Attorney Search-in good economic times and in bad-is built upon the simple core belief that better research leads to better placements. Research is, by far, the most important function a first-rate legal recruiting firm does. In fact, BCG Attorney Search does so much research that our efforts have spawned several independent research-based companies including Legal Authority, Law Firm Staff, LawCrossing and MBA Authority, among others, which collectively assist tens of thousands of individuals both inside and outside the legal profession every year. From our foundations as a Los Angeles-based legal recruiting firm, to our current state as a core group of legal recruiters spread throughout the United States, we have expanded through elevating research to its very highest level. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60294 bcg390 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=0&id=60295 bcg391 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT 01. Southern California 02. Northern California 03. The Northwest 04. The Northeast 05. The Mid-Atlantic Region 06. The Southeast Region 07. The Southwest Region 08. The Midwest Region 09. International: Europe 10. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60463 bcg392 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler may be a New York institution, but the nomination of Michael Mukasey for U.S. attorney general may well put the law firm on the national map. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60494 bcg393 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT K&S Raids Kilpatrick Last month King & Spalding's D.C. office didn't have an intellectual property practice. Kilpatrick Stockton did. So King & Spalding decided to conduct a little raid. Three former Kilpatrick partners, including George Marcou, the firm's D.C. managing partner, started last Monday in King & Spalding's intellectual property group as patent prosecutors. Marcou brought with him partner Dawn-Marie Bey and partner-elect Michael Dimino. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60495 bcg394 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT 01. Southern California 02. Northern California 03. The Northwest 04. The Northeast 05. The Mid-Atlantic Region 06. The Southeast Region 07. The Southwest Region 08. The Midwest Region 09. International: Europe 10. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60464 bcg395 Tue, 08 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT Los Angeles, CA-BCG Attorney Search, the largest national legal recruiting firm dedicated exclusively to placing associates and partners in law firms, is proud to announce the appointment of Tricia McGrath as recruiter in the New York office. BCG's New York office is one of the top performing recruiting agencies in the area. "I am very excited to accept this position and look forward to a good year for BCG and my clients." said Tricia. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60496 bcg396 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:00:00 GMT a. Southern California (Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego) b. Northern California (Silicon Valley and San Francisco) c. The Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Olympia, and Vancouver) d. The Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC) e. The Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, South Carolina, Miami and South Florida, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Northern Virginia) f. The Southwest (Texas, Utah, Denver, Phoenix, Reno, and Las Vegas) g. The Midwest (Chicago, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio) h. International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60801 bcg397 Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County) 2. Northern California/Pacific Northwest (San Francisco, Sacramento, Silicon Valley) 3. The Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Olympia) 4. The Northeast (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC) 5. The Southeast (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Miami) 6. The Southwest (Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas) 7. The Midwest (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit) 8. International: Europe 9. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60461 bcg398 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT Washington-based Venable widened its national footprint this week, opening a 20-lawyer Los Angeles outpost with lawyers from boutique litigation firms Gorry Meyer & Rudd and Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60497 bcg399 Wed, 26 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT Blank Rome has partnered with Brussels-based public affairs firm Interel, saying the goal is to help international clients coordinate their government relations and legal needs between Washington, D.C., and Brussels. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60498 bcg400 Wed, 26 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT Firms continue to tackle the problems of 'work-life balance' and lack of leadership training. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60499 bcg401 Mon, 26 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT When looking at the Pennsylvania legal landscape, many in the industry would say that Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Dechert are the ''big two,'' but some may now consider it a ''big three'' state following Reed Smith's latest acquisition. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60500 bcg402 Fri, 16 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California/Pacific Northwest 3. The Southwest Region 4. The Mountain Region 5. The Midwest Region 6. The Northeast Region 7. The Mid-Atlantic Region 8. The Southeast Region/Florida 9. International: Europe 10. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60460 bcg403 Fri, 05 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT Post & Schell has opened up an office in Washington, D.C., with the addition of another Morgan Lewis & Bockius energy partner. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60501 bcg404 Thu, 30 Mar 2006 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California/Pacific Northwest 3. The Southwest Region 4. The Mountain Region 5. The Midwest Region 6. The Northeast Region 7. The Mid-Atlantic Region 8. Texas 9. The Southeast Region/Florida 10. International: Europe 11. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60462 bcg405 Tue, 14 Feb 2006 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Southwest Region 4. The Mountain Region 5. The Midwest Region 6. The Northeast Region 7. The Mid-Atlantic Region 8. Texas/New Orleans 9. The Southeast Region 10. International: Europe 11. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60808 bcg406 Fri, 18 Nov 2005 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Southwest Region 4. The Midwest/Mountain Regions 5. The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regions 6. The Southeast Region 7. International Europe 8. International Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60795 bcg407 Wed, 17 Aug 2005 05:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Northwest - Seattle 4. The Southwest 5. The Midwest 6. The Northeast 7. The Mid-Atlantic 8. The Southeast 9. International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60789 bcg408 Tue, 03 May 2005 05:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California/Pacific Northwest 3. The Southwest Region 4. The Mountain Region 5. The Midwest Region 6. The Northeast Region 7. The Mid-Atlantic Region 8. Texas 9. he Southeast Region/Florida 10. International: Europe 11. International: Asia http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60798 bcg409 Thu, 10 Feb 2005 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Northwest 4. The Northeast 5. The Southeast 6. The Southwest 7. The Midwest 8. International (Europe and Asia) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60806 bcg410 Tue, 09 Nov 2004 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Northwest 4. The Northeast 5. Washington DC Metro Region 6. The Southeast 7. The Southwest 8. The Midwest 9. International http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60807 bcg411 Thu, 13 May 2004 05:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California 3. The Northeast 4. Washington DC Metro Region 5. The Southeast 6. The Southwest 7. The Midwest 8. Other http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60331 bcg412 Wed, 04 Feb 2004 06:00:00 GMT 1. Southern California 2. Northern California and the Pacific Northwest 3. The Northeast 4. Washington DC Metro Region 5. The Southeast 6. The Southwest 7. The Midwest http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60329 bcg413 Thu, 06 Nov 2003 06:00:00 GMT 1. The West Coast2. The East Coast3. The Midwest4. The South http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60328 bcg414 Mon, 11 Aug 2003 05:00:00 GMT As I currently approach my 4th month of unemployment after being laid off from a major firm, I am wondering if there is anything I can do to increase my marketability to law firms? I cannot change my past work experience or my law school credentials, obviously, but is there something else I could do that I am overlooking? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60467 bcg415 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT At what point in a lawyer's career does experience outweigh grades and class rank? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60468 bcg416 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Before entering law school next Fall, I will have a year of high-tech patent prosecution experience as a patent engineer. How much will this experience benefit me when seeking an IP/Patent associate position with the big firms? Can it make up for not being top of my law school class or not being from a top 25 law school? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60469 bcg417 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Can you provide me with guidance as to how a Partner should proceed when moving his or her practice to another firm? What is the procedure for giving notice, contacting clients, and duties to my existing firm? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60470 bcg418 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Do law firms generally have hiring freezes during the holiday season, or is this as good a time as any to aggressively pursue a new job? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60471 bcg419 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT How valuable is earning an LL.M. in a particular field (such as international business and trade law, or intellectual property law just to cite two examples) in improving an entry level lawyer's marketability? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60472 bcg420 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I am a fourth year criminal prosecutor. How difficult is it right now to transition from a government position to private practice? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60473 bcg421 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I am a fourth year lawyer who is considering working overseas or possibly in Australia. What are the kinds of challenges that North American lawyers need to consider when trying to find employment as a lawyer in these countries? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60474 bcg422 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT How attorney choose law firms http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60475 bcg423 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Q: I am an associate with a top firm on the West Coast. I am interested in moving to a New York City firm; however, I don't know how to go about carrying out the interview process. I know I need to take a few days off, or call in sick, in order to fly across the country to interview. However, aren't I putting my current job at risk by taking time off? In other words, how can I interview for a new job when I'm worried about risking my current job? I'd like to just phone it in and schedule telephone conferences. Do firms do that? Otherwise, can I schedule all of my interviews on the same day or two and limit my time away from the office? - Jenny, Los Angeles, CA. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60476 bcg424 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I am currently working in a mid-sized firm and am on track to become partner. Being a fairly new firm, there is no maternity leave and part-time policy in place. I am considering having a child, but still want to be considered for partner, while at the same time pioneering the path for a good maternity policy. Do you think I'll be able to achieve this, and, if so, how do I go about it? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60477 bcg425 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I am from Akron, OH, but I'd love to work in New York or Los Angeles. Do big-city firms only hire those whose past experience was gained in other large cities? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60478 bcg426 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I have a Ph.D. in molecular genetics with an emphasis on population biology. I have been a post-doc for several years and I am interested in changing careers and moving into law. I have thought about law school but I am intimidated by the thought of acquiring more debt, at least for now. I have been told that patent law is in need of technical specialists in the sciences and that this might lead to financial assistance later for law school. What is the reality of this and how much of a need is there for someone with my background in IP? My training is suitable for cases involving forensic evidence, as well. What are the opportunities there? How difficult might it be for someone who has spent most of their career in an academic setting to make the transition into law? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60479 bcg427 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I have a law degree from a Tier 2 school in California and I'd like to move to New York, what are the chances that I'll get a good job? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60480 bcg428 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I have been offered a clerkship with a state court of appeals. Will taking that position enhance my marketability? Currently I am a 2L, top 10%, in a second-tier law school. Thanks for your help. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60481 bcg429 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I have been unable to secure a permanent position since I passed the bar last year, and I have been considering taking temp opportunities until I can find something, but everyone has been telling me that taking on contract work can doom your career. Is this true? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60482 bcg430 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I have been working in small firm in New Jersey practicing labor and employment law since I graduated from Rutgers in 2003. I was in the top third of my class and was on Law Review. I really want to make the jump to a top-tier New York firm, as I feel I have developed my skills to a point where I can excel at a higher level. Is there any chance I can transition to a top labor and employment practice in New York City? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60483 bcg431 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I just graduated from law school this past May and found out that I passed the bar! Can you help me find a job? (From T.P., Los Angeles) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60484 bcg432 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I would like to transition back to law firm life after working in house for the last six years - what kind of hurdles should I expect? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60485 bcg433 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT I'm a litigator living in Boston and work at a large firm. I'm unhappy with my current firm environment, and I want to relocate to San Francisco since the market is picking up a bit and I wanted to practice in S.F. as soon as the market got a bit better. I have strong credentials, but have not passed the California Bar. I do have ties to the area since I was born there, have family there, and my girlfriend is working there as well. What are my chances to successfully make the lateral move to San Francisco? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60486 bcg434 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Q: I'm thinking of making a move to another firm that will give me a drop in pay, but I feel it will be less stressful. In your experience, is a 20% pay cut worth it if I end up happier? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60487 bcg435 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Suppose you spend 7 years at a law firm and don't make partner. I know that not making partner does not always mean that you did crappy work, especially if they kept you there for 7 years. But where can a person take their career at that point. Do you leave? Are your chances of making partner anywhere greatly diminished. Suppose you don't want to be an in house counsel for a corporation. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60488 bcg436 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Is it ok to leave a recent law firm job off my resume if I only worked there as an associate for about four months? I am concerned that it will look bad, and since it was only four months, I'd rather leave it off. What are your thoughts? (From R.K., Boston) http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60489 bcg437 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT My current firm is loathe to let go of me - when I went to the partner in charge of my practice group to ask for a reference for my job search, he offered to match any salary that any firm offers me. How should I handle this? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60490 bcg438 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT My firm offers flex time and reduced hours options and, since the long hours have been driving me insane, I am somewhat intrigued. How legit are these plans in general and what will it mean if I actually take my firm up on the offer? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60491 bcg439 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT The law school that I am thinking of attending offers a joint JD/MBA program that I could theoretically finish in the same time it would take me to get my JD. Should I take this opportunity? How would this increase my chances of getting a law firm job, since this is what I am sure I want to do? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60492 bcg440 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Q: Will an LLM help my legal career? http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=609&cat_id=610&id=60493 bcg441 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT Los Angeles, Jan. 23 /Daily Journal/ â€" Latham & Watkins can't be expected to make decisions as quickly as its smaller brethren. http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=652&cat_id=0&id=60502 bcg442 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT BCG Attorney Search, the Premier Legal-Recruiting Firm, Opens its Third Office in Southern California http://www.bcgsearch.com/article/index.php?utype=610&cat_id=612&id=60809 bcg443 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 GMT