Choosing a Recruiter: Red Flags to Watch Out For

The job market has vastly improved for attorneys in 2015. That means that many attorneys are thinking of making a move; seeking a better salary, a better lifestyle, a different city, or another practice area.  You may be getting multiple cold calls during the workday, most of which you quickly dismiss.  But how in the world do you go about vetting a recruiter, and deciding which one you want to work with?

Probably the most reliable way to get a great recruiter is through friends or colleagues who have worked with her.    However, not everyone has access to someone through these channels, or they don’t know who to ask.  If you feel you need to choose from among the recruiters who are contacting you, or the ones you can find online, here are some red flags to definitely watch out for.
 

1. She Asks You For Money.

If you have never worked with a recruiter before, know this: a good recruiter will never, ever ask you for money.  Reputable recruiters have law firms for clients.  They pay us well, and you pay us nothing.  Recruiters who do not have law firm clients paying them are probably not recruiters you want to be working with. While some services like resume services or job boards with exclusive listings may require payment, legal recruiters do not make their money by charging the attorneys we place. In short, if a recruiter has to ask job-seeking attorneys for a fee, they are not making their money making placements, and you should probably keep looking.
 

2. She Doesn’t Understand The Legal Market

Many legal recruiters are former practicing attorneys or have a background as placement coordinators in law firms.   This enables them to truly understand what attorneys do.  Ask your recruiter if all they do is place within the legal industry (preferably only attorneys).  If they are also placing accountants, IT people, restaurant and zoological workers, they probably don’t truly know what you do all day as a Derivatives, ERISA or IP attorney.  Handling multiple industries is just too much for a recruiter to really understand them all.  If they handle more markets than just legal, please proceed with caution, and make sure they understand your profession as well as you do.
 

3. She Doesn’t Know Your Geographic Area

Similarly, many recruiters attempt to handle the whole country, or even the whole world.  I clearly remember when I was an associate at a major law firm, I was approached by a recruiter who was working out of his home somewhere in South Florida.  I was trying to make a move from DC to Chicago, and it quickly became clear that he didn’t understand where I was coming from (DC is a very special legal market), and was attempting to market me as someone I wasn’t.   He just wanted to get a hold of my resume and plaster it all over Chicago without understanding which firms might actually be interested in someone with my background.


While no recruiter is going to be able to know each and every firm, she should have an idea what type of firm you are coming from, what practice areas your firm is known for, what types of clients it services.  Then she can assess, using her knowledge of the firms in your target geographic area and her research skills, where you might fit.  Beware of recruiters who don’t seem to understand what type of practice you are coming from, and are sending you openings where you obviously would not fit.
 

4. She Is Pushy and You Don’t Feel Comfortable

A great recruiter is flush with great candidates and great connections.  She makes a comfortable living doing what she does, and is not desperate to make a quick placement; she’s more interested in her long-term reputation in the community, so placing you in a position where you will be happy long-term, and where the law firm will be happy with you, in her long term interest.  A good recruiter is not trying to make a quick buck by placing you in a position where you will not last.

While I often encourage my candidates to keep an open mind and talk to as many firms as possible, even ones you think you don’t want to work at, you should also listen to your gut feeling.  Here are some things to be very cautious of: Is the recruiter trying to push you to fudge your skill set?  To exaggerate your book of business?  When you say you are not interested in a particular opening, will she not take no for an answer?  Do you feel like she is trying to sell you something you don’t want?  Here’s my advice: If your gut tells you something is fishy in the way she conducts business, run a mile.

In sum, a good recruiter should know almost as much about your practice area as you do.  She should know which firms in your target geographic area might be interested in someone with your specific background.  She should truly listen to what you want and, while it is great for her to be overinclusive in presenting options to you, she should listen when you say no, and move on.  She should not pressure you to pretend to be someone you’re not so that she can make a quick placement.  A great recruiter will not try to sell you anything you don’t want, and is happy to take her time to ensure the right fit for you.


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.