An increasingly complex, time sensitive legal environment means more and more companies are recruiting in-house counsel to handle the majority of their legal work and only turning to outside counsel for specialized advice. Why?
Reduced Legal Fees
It just makes "cents". Companies spend large amounts of money on outside legal bills every year. As salaried, fixed cost employees, in-house counsel can mean significant savings on legal fees.
Competitive Advantage
Today's business/legal environment is sophisticated, complex and deadly. Timely practice advice from company wise in-house counsel helps fast moving companies stay out of trouble and well ahead of the competition.
On-site Advice
As an insider, the in-house lawyer knows the company's objectives and environment and can provide more customized and relevant advice.
Proactive vs. Reactive
Being internally located, in-house counsel are better able to anticipate and diffuse potential legal problems before they turn critical. Even when problems do explode, in-house counsel tends to be better positioned to deal with the matter quickly and effectively.
Even with in-house counsel, a company may still need highly specialized outside legal services. The in-house lawyer is an excellent liaison between the company and the law firm. In-house counsel understands the legal issues facing the company, is able to provide more effective instructions, knows what to expect from the firm and can translate complex legal reports into readable information for management.
Cost Control and Audit
Most in-house lawyers will have an understanding of a law firm's billing practices. This means in-house counsel can ensure the outside law firm employs only the level of lawyer resources which are necessary, suitable for the job and fairly priced.
Why Top Lawyers Move In-house
Law school was grueling. Articles were little more than indentured servitude. Well paid lawyers with reputable law firms often find themselves asking "is this as good as it gets?"
Private practice is not for everyone. Even top lawyers complain that:
- they would like to be involved in more business issues;
- that they would like more client interaction;
- that they would prefer a more team oriented approach;
- that it would be nice to have more control over their work hours; and
- that they would not miss the constant law firm time billing and marketing pressures.
Practicing in-house is different. Typically, the hour requirements are more reasonable. Production targets are more flexible. The "client" consists of senior management and internal users. Client interaction is increased and much of the lawyer's day is spent in proactive "troubleshooting" through meeting or speaking with members of the company. The in-house lawyer is able to concentrate on the practice of the law itself and minimize many of the other distractions associated with private practice. For lawyers, practicing law on the inside can truly be the best of both worlds.
The Ideal Profile
The in-house lawyer will be called upon to assess many diverse, sophisticated and complex situations and to work closely and in a team fashion both with internal and external groups. For this reason, the desired profile of an in-house lawyer tends to include:
- a sophisticated generalist with a good business sense;
- experience in some area of specialization;
- good training in general commercial law; and
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Hiring mistakes are costly. The trend toward in-house counsel means more companies are using legal recruitment specialists to find the right candidate.
Who They Are
Top legal recruiters are generally former practicing lawyers. Legal recruiters understand the demands of practice and appreciate firsthand what makes a lawyer good and what it takes to move such a person in-house. See BCGSearch.com for a good example of a top legal recruiting firm.
What They Do
Firms and corporations rely upon legal recruiters to help them identify and recruit qualified candidates for a specific position. In some cases, the position itself needs to be defined. As recruitment consultants, we are often requested to provide advice in defining the role the new counsel will take. This can be especially tricky where there is confusion as to what level of lawyer is required, how much they should be paid and to whom he or she will report to.
To find qualified candidates, recruiters tend to rely primarily upon three sources:
- proactively targeting (headhunting) specific lawyers;
- file search of the current candidate resume database; and
- advertising in popular legal publications, the internet and newspapers.
Companies hire a legal recruiter for a number of key reasons:
They Understand Your Culture
Legal recruiters take the time to know and understand their client's business and needs. They will know the personalities of the company and what the candidate wants to ensure a good fit between the two.
They Save You Time
By delegating this process to professionals, the general counsel or VP can concentrate on their own jobs.
They Present Quality Candidates
They do this by presenting the company with top candidates from which to choose. Companies literally receive thousands of resumes when they advertise positions. It is left to the company to then sort through the resumes for qualified candidates. The recruiter takes this job of sorting off the company's hands.
NOTE: IN-HOUSE JOBS ARE OFTEN SO IN DEMAND THAT COMPANIES DO NOT NEED RECRUITERS AND CAN GET A PLETHORA OF WORLD CLASS CANDIDATES SIMPLY BY POSTING JOBS ONLINE:
They Manage the Hiring Process
A sloppy process means a bad reputation, turned off candidates and a risky hire. Often, candidates apply to positions on their own and never received an acknowledgment. Legal recruiters frequently manage the whole process and can help ensure that the candidate does not fall between the cracks. The legal recruiter can provide the company with a quick turnaround so that general business is not interrupted.
They Target Top Candidates
Legal recruiters are essentially job brokers and can provide candidates with candid information and feedback about the job market and their marketability.
They Maintain Confidentiality
Candidates are usually concerned about confidentiality because of the smallness of legal communities. Legal recruiters maintain confidentiality in the job search by ensuring there is interest from a specific employer prior to giving the employer the candidate's name and background.
They Work on Contingency
Finally, it is usually a no risk/no cost exercise.
More and more companies are turning to the expertise of legal recruitment specialists such as BCG Attorney Search for their in-house counsel hiring needs.
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:
- Immigration Law
- Workers Compensation
- Insurance
- Family Law
- Trust and Estate
- Municipal law
- And many more...
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.
- 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.
- His placement success is unmatched-see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
- He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.
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.
