Address
23410 Civic Center Way, Suite E-10, Malibu, CA, 90265
Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Virginia Law School
Bachelor of Arts, University of Chicago
Details
Harrison Barnes is one of the world’s most successful, respected and sought-after legal recruiters. His most recent contribution to the legal community is Outplacement Attorney Resources (OAR.com), which directly teaches attorneys and law students the best ways to find legal jobs. With thousands of placements under his belt, contacts in every echelon of the legal world, an uncanny ability to draw out the best in his candidates, and a tireless drive to not quit, Mr. Barnes is the guy you go to when you need a legal job. He truly is an example of what an outstanding legal recruiter should be.
BCG’s number one core value is “We Must Get Attorneys Jobs” and the company averages more than one placement a day. Mr. Barnes and his BCG team place more attorneys in law firm jobs than any other recruiting firm in the world.
Mr. Barnes is so devoted to his mission that along with BCG Attorney Search he has created a network of over 500 technologically-advanced and research-based companies and websites geared toward helping lawyers and professionals find jobs. His companies collectively comprise the largest legal career company in the world and include LawCrossing, a job board that has been twice-listed on the Inc. 500 and several others.
A prolific author on everything related to getting a job as an attorney and succeeding in the legal profession, Mr. Barnes writes a daily career-advice blog that circulates to 800,000 readers. He and his companies also publish a host of books, including BCG's Guide to America's Top 50 Law Schools; BCG’s Comprehensive Guide for Law Firm Partners; BCG’s Guide to Practice Areas; Attorney Resume Secrets Revealed; and The Perfect Legal Job Search Book.
Mr. Barnes went to college at the University of Chicago, where he earned his B.A. in Public Policy Studies and was awarded multiple academic honors. He attended law school at the University of Virginia, where he was an editor of the Virginia Law Review and managing editor of the Journal of Law and Politics. At Chicago, Mr. Barnes co-taught a college-level class on race and society.
After law school, Mr. Barnes clerked for United States District Judge Robert H. Cleland in Bay City, Michigan. Then he headed to Los Angeles and worked as a litigation associate at both Quinn Emanuel Urquart Oliver & Sullivan and Dewey Ballantine. He also taught professional responsibility at Whittier Law School, an experience that ultimately inspired him to elevate the ethical standards of the recruiting profession by implementing BCG’s Code of Conduct.
While at Dewey, Mr. Barnes found himself at a career crossroads. He turned to several legal recruiting firms to help him consider career options and find a new job. But he was dismayed to realize that these firms did not seem to care about him or his future, could not identify even a fraction of the leads Mr. Barnes found on his own, and would not return phone calls. They also sent out letters and candidate materials riddled with typos and inaccurate information. Mr. Barnes felt he – and other attorneys who had worked so hard and had so much to offer – deserved better. So he founded Barrister Consulting Group (now called BCG Attorney Search) and found his calling as a legal recruiter.
Mr. Barnes has true passion for helping attorneys get jobs. Even more, he genuinely wants to help his candidates find fulfillment in every aspect of their lives. He spends a great deal of time helping clients figure out what career path makes the most sense for them from both a professional and personal standpoint. Mr. Barnes believes that his job is to advocate for his attorney-clients with the same zeal and tenacity that his clients advocate for their clients. He works tirelessly – leaving no stone unturned or angle unconsidered – until each and every candidate secures the job that best matches his or her unique skills, experiences and mindset.
Through Mr. Barnes’ leadership, BCG has set itself apart from other recruiting firms. For one thing, BCG specializes in law firm placements and does not handle in-house or contract assignments. BCG recruiters devote all their energy to mastering law firms and have unparalleled expertise in, and connections with, law firms of all kinds and sizes throughout the world. There is simply no other recruiting firm anywhere that knows law firms like BCG.
Because Mr. Barnes demands excellence in everything he does, he hires recruiters who have similar expectations of themselves and their work product. Most BCG recruiters are attorneys with degrees from top-tier schools and have either worked as lawyers or recruiters in premiere firms.
The BCG culture is marked by collegiality and a sense of purpose. The common goal is getting attorneys jobs and Mr. Barnes personally mentors each new hire. Recruiters participate in weekly roundtables to exchange information and benefit from frequent coaching and evaluation sessions. They stay active in the legal community by writing articles, meeting with law firms and attending networking events. Each year, the recruiters reconnect, brainstorm, and hone skills at the week-long BCG College.
But not even the most dedicated recruiter can do it alone, and that’s why the company employs hundreds of professional researchers, writers, designers and proofreaders who work behind the scenes to make sure BCG candidates have the competitive edge when it comes to their job searches. BCG has a data scientist on staff whose job is to follow legal market trends. The company has over 100 researchers who comb through every law firm employment possibility in every market across the globe. Staff writers, designers and proofreaders ensure that each cover letter and candidate package lands on the hiring partner’s desk in the most thorough, compelling, and flawless manner possible.
Thanks to Mr. Barnes’ high expectations and commitment to creating the infrastructure necessary for world-class job searches, as a BCG client you will never worry that your recruiter will miss an opportunity, fail to return your phone call promptly, treat you with disrespect, or send out your materials with typos.
Whether it is a partner with $3-million in business trying to move into a firm that requires $5-million, or someone without the “right” law school or other credentials trying to move into a better firm, Mr. Barnes has an innate desire to fight for people who are trying to better themselves and become something more. He understands the social dynamics entailed with “not quite” being good enough—because he has both witnessed this and grew up around it—and he fights tirelessly for people trying to better themselves.
When you become part of BCG Attorney Search, you will quickly see how Mr. Barnes instills in you the need to become something more, not be held back and be the person you were meant to be. BCG Attorney Search is a different type of attorney recruiting firm. It is one of substance and one that wants you to be everything that you are capable of being. It is about awakening the power that is within you so that the good and power inside of you can come out and make you everything you were meant to be.
Eventually, Mr. Barnes started a paving contracting business and hired his workers from the inner city and from drug rehabilitation centers. He enjoyed mentoring these men who sought to “repave their lives” as much as he enjoyed running the company. Still today, a highpoint of Mr. Barnes’ recruiting work is helping people get back on their feet and negotiate the complex and daunting world of law firms. Nothing brings a smile to Mr. Barnes’ face like watching a candidate succeed in law and in life!
In his free time, Mr. Barnes surrounds himself with positive activities, energies and influences. He practices Kundalini yoga and has studied yoga with masters in India.
A dedicated athlete, Mr. Barnes runs eight miles a day and also swims in his pool and the ocean. He enjoys traveling and reading business and history books.
Mr. Barnes lives in Malibu, California.
Articles Contributed
Legal Career Advice
Legal Job Interviews/Offers
Getting a Legal Job
Being the Best Attorney
About Legal Recruiters
About BCG Attorney Search
Employer Resources
Sales and Goal Setting
General Career Advice Articles
Advancement
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Employment Do's and Don'ts
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Finding a Job
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Goal Setting
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How to Succeed
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Job Market
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Keeping a Job
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Life Lessons
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Staying Positive
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Publications
Testimonials
CASE STUDIES
My experience with BCG Attorney search was very good. They were very proactive and very helpful. BCG did all the work and are right on top of my list of recruiters I have ever worked with.
Georgetown University Law Center, Class Of 1995
Placed at Thoits LawMy favorite thing about working with BCG was I like their way of presenting you with various opportunities, with the database and when I worked with other recruiters, they didn't do that. The way that...Read More
UC Berkeley School of Law, Class Of 2016
Placed at Bradley R. Kirk & Associates, Inc.My favorite thing about working with BCG Attorney search was the constant communication. This really helped me to stay on task and gave me deadlines. Oh, and the fact that they got me the job!
South Texas College of Law, Class Of 2019
Placed at McGlinchey Stafford PLLC.The advocacy was my favorite part of working with BCG Attorney Search. Especially when they were negotiating salary and terms, they were advocating for me and they were on my side. This made my job se...Read More
University of West Los Angeles School of Law, Class Of 2007
Placed at Levinson Arshonsky & Kurtz, LLCMy favorite thing about working with BCG Attorney Search and Harrison Barnes was that they provided a really comprehensive list of potential employers and it was simple for me to apply to those employ...Read More
Villanova University School of Law, Class Of 2020
Placed at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.Location: Colorado - Denver
Location: California - Los Angeles
Location: Texas - Austin
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I enjoyed speaking with my recruiter today. She seems to be an excellent recruiter and is certainly a pleasure to work ....Read more >
BCG has recruiters that make up a fantastic team. They helped guide me through the entire job search and had great tips,....Read more >
My legal placement professional was always really quick about responding to my questions when I had them in the intervie....Read more >
This was a real great find that I did not know much about, but I believe is a great fit!Thanks again.
[BCG was] very pro-active. I thought [they had] expansive thinking as far as different options, and [I appreciated the] ....Read more >
University of California, Berkeley, Class Of 1989
Placed at Newmeyer & Dillion, L.L.P.I have worked with her 3 times and it has been a great experience each time. I love her enthusiasm and her ability to fi....Read more >
University of San Francisco School of Law, Class Of 2002
Placed at Saltzman & Johnson Law Corporation