Why Lateral Attorneys Leave and What You Can Do About It | BCGSearch.com \n

Why Lateral Attorneys Leave and What You Can Do About It

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How successful has your firm been with its laterals? Even if your firm has few problems luring qualified lateral hires, retention among this group is more of an issue than it is with homegrown practitioners, law firm leaders tell BCG Attorney Search. One reason, according to the people we contacted, relates to problems with general integration.
Why Lateral Attorneys Leave and What You Can Do About It


This is confirmed by one survey of law firm recruitment professionals that found 50% of respondents concluding that laterals "underestimate the importance of fitting into a firm's culture." In many instances, lateral associates feel isolated and have a dearth of relationships with people outside of their departments. This sounds like a problem that's simple enough to remedy. Indeed, when we asked for their solutions, law firm leaders responsible for lateral recruitment in firms across the U.S. offered myriad suggestions. Their insights on integration, 10 of which we've outlined below, should help you devise a plan for addressing lateral attrition and also for facilitating the transition for all your new lawyers. The suggestions:
  • Encourage attorneys to reach out to new hires. After the mandatory lunches come to an end, try instituting a bimonthly luncheon series. Here, senior partners can discuss the firm's history, culture, and practice specialties, and explain the little things, like office protocol and evaluations. Pair lateral associates with home-grown class members and legal assistants as part of a team. This way laterals get to work and bond with the associates who will move with them as they advance. They'll also learn the ropes from the staff they'll come to work with in the firm. Laterals gain confidence when a new class of laterals comes in and they can help others out. And staff members benefit from the acknowledgement that they're an integral part of the firm's team.
     
  • Counter partners' false assumptions that lateral associates are fully-trained lawyers who can simply be put into an office to do their thing. Require lateral associates to compile a list of background skills (find out if they've been to trial, drafted a deposition, etc.) during their first week of orientation. Distribute lists to their assigned partners to help ease laterals' stress levels and assist partners in identifying areas where training is needed.
     
  • Address compensation disparities that leave laterals feeling isolated when your home-grown associates assume they are being paid one thing, while laterals are paid what the market will bear. Consider a plan that brings laterals in with a specific track to partnership. Then agree to pay them compensation commensurate with their class level, as well as a bonus for exceptional performance.
     
  • Set up a training program specifically for lateral associates. Have them take basic sessions on writing, deposition skills, oral advocacy, and the like. Afterward, try putting laterals into your existing in-house training program cycle, depending on when they come in during the calendar year. Then, have them start over again with the fall class until they've completed all components of the firm's training program.
     
  • Departmentalize your firm's mentoring program. Department chairs can assign and oversee the firm's program so all lateral associates have a mentor assigned in their area of interest. Teaming up laterals with lawyers from a different practice group may mean they're left with someone who has little interest vested in their development.
     
  • Conduct bimonthly surveys of lateral associates to check on their progress in the firm. And once you gather input and identify problems, use e-mail updates to keep partners in charge apprised of problems.
     
  • Create an impromptu lateral committee, akin to your firm's associates' committee. This way, laterals, too, can give input on issues that affect their stay in the firm during their first year.
     
  • Distribute bios and pictures throughout the firm before your new lateral hires arrive. This will help your existing attorneys establish ties that may facilitate the transition process.
     
  • Walk the halls to gather input from laterals. Many will be reluctant to admit they feel neglected. But ask anyway, and be sure to follow up on problems immediately.
 
 
Interested in Learning More About Legal Hiring? Read the Definitive Guide:

How to Hire a Legal Recruiter for Your Law Firm: How Law Firms Recruit Attorneys Using Legal Recruiters


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.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

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:

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
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

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.

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.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here

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.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

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.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were "too experienced" to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • 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.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

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.

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.


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