Look Ahead and Plan Accordingly

For many attorneys, the law is their chosen career, and they came into it with particular goals or aspirations.  In your own case, perhaps you wanted to work in the Department of Justice, prosecuting wrongdoing, or maybe you wanted to become a top corporate partner at a large New York firm.  From my long experience in talking with fellow classmates as a law student, law firm colleagues as a practicing attorney, and now lateral job seekers as a legal recruiter, I can also tell you that a very significant number of our profession did not have any particular goals or aspirations coming into the practice of law.

Many law students end up in law school because it can function as a catch-all graduate school with the promise of gainful employment upon graduation (of course, anyone who has been paying attention to the legal market this past decade knows what a generally dubious line of reasoning this has turned out to be, even among middle-tier law graduates).  They aren’t entirely sure why they are there, or what they want to do with their legal education, they just know it is a “useful” degree , and that going to a good law school and getting good grades is a relatively straightforward set of next steps for the average overachiever who isn’t sure what else to do with themselves.


Even those who go into law school with a purpose may find that their anticipated or desired goals simply aren’t realistic and/or won’t pay the bills (wanting to be an “international human rights lawyer” is one of the most common instances I see among aspiring would-be and current practicing attorneys).  Yes, there are many jobs out there that require a legal education, including hanging your own shingle, but in terms of being personally rewarding and achievable, it is very surprising to me how little thought most attorneys give to both their short- and long-term career plans, and what will bring them both financial success and/or personal happiness.

An incredibly simple, useful, and astonishingly underutilized thought exercise, no matter where you are in your career, is to look for those attorneys who are at least a couple years, if not 5-10 years, ahead of where you are on your current path (or who have taken the path you hope to take moving forward in your career), and take a hard look at the positives and negatives of what they are doing in terms of their work and their life.

For instance, pretend you are a 4^th year litigation associate at a mid-size or large firm.  Your current career path will take you on the road towards partnership, with the obvious caveat that you perform well and start to develop business.  Don’t just look at the partner mentor at your firm that you like and enjoy working with.  Look at all the partners, the type of work they do, the tasks their days are consumed with, the hours they work and the life they lead.  Will you be happy in that situation?

Yes, the pay can be great, there is a great deal of associated prestige that comes from making partner, and you might not have to trudge through tedious document review or write research memos anymore.  But the flip side of the coin is that the hours can be just as long (or sometimes longer), there is a lot of extra work on top of simply litigating (billing, collecting, delegating, partner meetings, client development, being the bottom line for the entire case and not just a couple aspects of it, etc.), and there is a never-ending pressure to attract and retain more clients and to bill more work each and every year to expand the firm’s profits.

If you are realistic about what lies ahead on your current career path, and it is something you feel you will enjoy and be able to accomplish, then by all means, continue on!  Based on my experience, you are one of the lucky ones.  But if you look down the road and things do not look rosy, it may be time to consider another firm, or another career path.  It can be easy to put in the time for a couple years just to collect those paychecks, but in the legal market, there always comes a time where you must go up or out, or when you simply cannot take it anymore, and you will thank yourself if you have been thinking about this issue and have a couple exit strategies in mind.


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.