Some Basic Advice on How to Best Navigate the Growing Legal Market in 2011

Make Sure Your Next Move is a Good Fit

Many associate and partner level attorneys have been biding their time at their current firms for the last couple of years, patiently (or perhaps frustratedly) waiting for job openings to start appearing. Now that there are more active job openings, it will be tempting to go after the first opportunity that comes your way. Ideally, you'll have more than one opportunity to consider but, either way, it will be important to fully weigh any one opportunity.
 

Be certain the firm is a good fit for your personality, your work experience, and your long-term career objectives. You'll want to avoid developing a ''jumpy'' resume - one that shows a lot of lateral moves in a short period of time - so make sure that the firm you choose to lateral to is a place you can see yourself practicing at for at least the next few years. It should be a place that you feel will provide you the growth and development you need, one which will allow you to develop your business and build a long term home and/or will appropriately set you up for your next career move.
Be Open-Minded


The more options you consider, the more interviewing opportunities you will get. You will also become much more aware of what is a good fit if you have more than one option on the table. Often, people end up falling in love with a firm they didn't even think they would like (and had to be convinced to interview at in the first place!).

While it may be tempting to focus your search on the elite, larger firms, consider expanding your search to include smaller, lesser known firms, or even regional firms, that are taking steps to grow and expand their practice. If you can get in early at the next great thing, you will have infinite possibilities to gain invaluable experience and become an integral part of an expanding firm.

Be Inquisitive and Use Your Business Savvy

Indeed, these days, many smaller, regional firms and local satellite offices of larger firms are working hard to put in place business models and business development programs to help grow and sustain against possible future economic downturns. So pay attention to the career development programs in place at each firm you are considering and be sure to inquire about each firm's business development strategies and plans for growing and sustaining business in the current economy. You'll also want to make sure that any firm you may join is taking appropriate steps to develop the skills and legal acumen of their associates. Whether you're a partner or associate-level candidate, remember that associates are the future of the firm - if a firm is not taking steps to grow their associates and develop their skills, than you'll likely want to factor this in to your ultimate decision.

Play to Your Strengths

Recruiters occasionally get calls or emails from associates wanting to entirely switch practice groups. For example, a general corporate associate may contact us to seek assistance transitioning to entertainment law. I don't want to dissuade anyone from pursuing their dreams; however, generally speaking, this is not the market for trying to break into a new practice group, especially if it is far removed from your current one.

Rather, this is a market for playing to your strengths. Focus on openings that fit your particular areas of expertise and your substantive skill sets. If you have an interest in expanding your practice base, consider applying to firms that do work in both the practice area you are experienced in and the practice you are interested in exploring. Once you get the gig, you can try to get staffed on a project in this other practice area. This is also a safe way to explore your interests prior to switching practice areas, which is always a good idea if you have not yet worked on any matters in that particular practice area.

Focus On the Important Things

The legal market is showing strong signs of bouncing back in early 2011. While this most likely means that there will be more job opportunities, and perhaps more room to negotiate with prospective employers, I would encourage you to not let title, money or ego get in the way of making a decision that will benefit your long term objectives. If you allow salary or title to guide your decision-making process, you may end up passing up a great opportunity. Salaries and titles change over time, so be willing to be flexible in title and be open to taking a cut in salary or class level to get the right experience. It's important to take the ''long view'' when making your next lateral move. If you focus on the big picture rather than the immediate future, you'll be much more attuned to your long-term best interests and less focused on immediate gratification.


About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

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Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
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This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

• Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
• Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
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He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success - The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison's legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

• His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
• He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
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Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

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With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

• Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
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This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

• Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
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• Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options-only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
• Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

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Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.