|
|
| Harrison Barnes |
Introduction: Learning from One’s Past
One of the biggest misperceptions attorneys have is that they can practice law on their own terms, being the person they are most comfortable when making hiring decisions being, and still work for a major law firm. I believe law firms expect a high degree of conformity. They do not want their employees to be “too different” because that is unwanted baggage and opens the door to problems involving control. Many law firms want to hire people with whom they feel comfortable, and this means, despite policies to the contrary, they can seek to impose a certain type of uniformity in the way they hire and advance their attorneys.
I have been studying, writing about, working in, and working for law firms for most of my career. As an observer, my interest in law firms has always been why certain people get hired and others do not. As the head of a legal recruiting firm, I work to give people an “edge” with law firms, and I do everything in my power to make sure they get hired. If a law firm says it’s interested in diversity, so am I. I want my candidates to have every advantage they possibly can.
In addition, I have strong personal reasons to support diversity in law firms. My personal life story, as well as my professional life, have been touched and influenced by issues related to diversity. I grew up near Detroit, a city populated by all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. This was in the seventies and eighties, and my family moved about, broke apart, reconnected, and moved up and down the ladder of economic success throughout my early years. After my parents divorced, I lived with my mom for a time and then with my dad in a steady succession of new neighborhoods and new schools. I experienced diversity from many different vantage points, including what it meant to be marginalized and different from my peers and what it meant to be part of the mainstream majority group. From a young age, I learned how a person’s background, upbringing, exposure, experiences, and cultural milieu combined to create that unique person, with various motivations, a certain sense of class consciousness, and an ingrained set of values and beliefs that affected that person’s prospects. For a detailed look at how these divisions play out across U.S. law firms, see our article The Most and Least Diverse Law Firms in the United States.
I believe women, people of color, people of any gender and sexual identity, and all the other unique individuals out there no doubt deserve equal access to participating in the legal profession. Different people bring to bear different viewpoints and experiences that help firms better navigate in today’s global society.
My recruiting firm makes hundreds of permanent placements in law firms of all sizes each year, so my team and I are uniquely positioned to see what law firms favor and do not favor in applicants.1 We provide ample support for attorneys seeking jobs; we collect immense amounts of data, filling databases that track the pulse of the legal profession, to help our candidates find the jobs they want. I also write articles and share what I learn about the current state of employment in law firms across the nation, and my articles are read by tens of thousands of attorneys per week.
Every day headlines across the nation blare the negative consequences of racism, sexism, classism, and every other kind of -ism. At every turn, someone is calling out discrimination or injustice or disadvantage or entitlement. It seems our society is divided along innumerable lines and truly intolerant—despite all the talk about embracing diversity—of all the ways we are different from each other.
The goings-on inside law firms reflect what is happening in the larger society. Race, gender, and social economic divisions are the most toxic and inflammatory subjects we can try to discuss.
Diversity is a complicated and multifaceted issue, with intellectual, practical, ethical, moral, and deeply personal aspects. I share the more personal parts of my story with you because they influence the way I see the diversity issue. They also influence the way I handle—perhaps unwittingly at times—my legal recruiting and related businesses.
There are two main themes of this book. The first relates to the growing problem of censorship and apparent demand for ideological conformity when it comes to discourse on controversial issues such as diversity.
- While diversity factors play a huge role, showing up remains a universal differentiator for those who thrive in firm environments.
The second theme relates to my efforts to reconcile market economics with diversity goals. I believe in diversity, and I know that many of my candidate attorneys and client law firms certainly do as well. At the same time, I understand that not every diversity initiative is compatible with the way law firms operate. However, there are concrete ways law firms can better meet diversity goals without fundamentally altering the way they do business. The goal of this book is to expose the issues surrounding diversity inside law firms and propose solutions that may help remedy diversity concerns.
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.
