Keep Your Story Simple as an Attorney

Lawyers are thorough people. We deal with complicated concepts. We are trained to leave no stone unturned. We look for contingencies; we think constantly about what-ifs. We are constantly imagining scenarios that may or may not occur. And we are afraid to tell an incomplete story.

Job-hunting is nothing like lawyering. When you interview, you are selling a product: yourself. And in sales, it is important to keep the sales pitch succinct and simple. We must resist the urge to tell the listener every single fact about us that they might someday want to know. This is counterintuitive to many of us lawyers. However, whether on paper or in an in-person interview, you should always strive to keep your story as uncomplicated as possible.


Keep Your Resume Simple.

Before you get an interview, you send your resume to a target company or firm, where it is looked at, along with 10,000 other resumes, by someone who is probably tired of looking at resumes. If you send a resume that is overly long, overly complicated, or for some reason does not make crystal clear who you are in about 5 seconds or less, your resume will go in the trash.

Here are some quick tips to remember when making a simple resume:
 

1. Avoid long narratives. Instead, use bullet points. Long narratives almost never get read. Resume readers do not want to read paragraphs. They want to glance at the page and immediately know what kind of a lawyer you are. Don’t make them dig to figure it out.
2. Don’t list everything you have ever done. List the most recent and most relevant experience first. Older jobs and older skill sets should be shortened or left off completely. DO NOT simply expand an old resume without shortening what was already there.
3. Yes, keep it short. The fewer words on the page, the better. There is no magic page number, but the longer the resume is, the harder your reader has to work to figure out who you are. The harder your reader must work, the more likely your resume will end up in the garbage.

Keep Your Cover Letter Simple.

The purpose of your cover letter is to explain things that are not on the resume. For example, why are you targeting this new city? This firm? This practice area? Why is there a gap on your resume? Why are you currently unemployed? The cover letter functions to answer questions that cannot be answered in the resume.

However, it is important to know that the cover letter is also not a place to tell the reader every little thing about you. The cover letter’s goal is to put the reader’s mind at ease about any questions that may arise from reading the resume. Once her questions are satisfied, you might be invited in for an in-person interview.

Keep Your Interview Simple.

Interviewers want to talk to you face-to-face to determine several things: a) whether your skill set fits with their needs; b) whether think they can trust you, and c) whether they like you and want to talk to you every day.

When talking about your skill set, be familiar with the job description you are interviewing for. Try to get a feel for the group’s clients and the kind of work they do. Then try and highlight the things you have done that will be interesting to the people you are meeting with. Do not talk about things that are not relevant to the firm or their practice (your animal rights pro bono work, or a practice group you no longer belong to). Make sure that everything you discuss could be useful to the firm from a business standpoint. Do not overcomplicate matters by talking about every fascinating thing you may have done over the course of your career.

They are also looking to see whether you inspire confidence. Be friendly, but think carefully about what you are going to say before you open your mouth. This is a trap a lot of lawyers fall into, especially young attorneys. They want to see your professionalism and demeanor in addition to learning about your personality, so don’t talk without thinking.

Last, they want to know whether you are someone they might like to know for a period of years. If you talk too much, if you are interested only in yourself, or if you try too hard to impress them with what a fascinating person you are, they will not hire you. Be friendly, but keep it simple. Relax a little, but don’t let it all hang out. Don’t forget to ask questions and try to get to know them a little too. Don’t do all the talking.

It is important to make everything in this process as easy as possible for your potential employer. Resist the urge to be overinclusive at any stage. Simplicity is key.
 

• See Simplifying the Complications in Your Story for more information.

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.