How Do Legal Recruitment Agencies Work?

How do legal recruitment agencies work?

Legal recruitment agencies are there to help you achieve your career goals and take the pain and stress out of the job searching process. For many, finding a new job can be an irritating and time consuming. This is especially true for those who are already working hard in their current role and seeking employment outside of their work hours.
 
For this reason, many people choose to work with a legal recruitment agency to pass the workload onto someone else. Working with a legal recruitment agency means that you get to relax and continue working in your current role, whilst the recruiter matches you to your ideal role and company.
 
So, what happens when you work with a legal recruitment agency? And what are the main steps in the process?
 

 

What does working with a legal recruitment agency involve?

 
Working with a legal recruitment agency couldn’t be easier for a candidate, and is perfect for someone who is in a junior role, studying, or unfamiliar with the job search process. All you need to do is submit your resume to a legal recruiter who will contact you to understand more about your job search. When working with a legal recruiter, they should not share your information without your consent.
 
A legal recruiter will then use their knowledge and expertise to contact law firms with openings that suit the candidate. They act as the middleman between candidate and employer and help the candidate show off their strengths, whilst matching them to a role that they will enjoy.
 
To learn more about working with a legal recruitment agency, take a look at our frequently asked questions about legal recruiting.
 

What are the steps of working with a legal recruitment agency?

 
There are the steps that normally occur when working with a legal recruitment agency:
 

• Submit your CV
• Discuss your resume and desired role with a recruiter so they can evaluate you
• The recruiter will research available openings and the candidate will pick firms to apply to
• The recruiter will use their industry links to place you in front of the right people
• An interview is organized by the recruiter
• You go through the recruitment process with the law firm
• Background checks are done
• Once an offer is on the table, the recruiter helps with salary negotiations and contract signing

 
As you can see, the process couldn’t be more simple. If you want to learn more about the process of working with a legal recruitment agency then take a look at our summary of the law firm recruitment process. 

Beyond recruiters, attorneys can benefit from the Top 10 Legal Job Search Strategies, which outlines actionable steps for a more effective and targeted search.

 

How do legal recruiters make a living?

 
Professional search consultants receive fees from the law firms that take their candidates and this is how working with a legal recruitment agency works. The fees that are charges by legal recruitment professionals vary and are usually set between the recruiter and the hiring organization before the recruitment process takes place. Our standard fee is lower than most legal search firms and BCG Attorney Search has placed candidates for as little at $1,000 or no fee at all when working with smaller firms.
 

• Understanding the mechanics is one thing—but exploring the gap between candidate expectations and reality offers critical insight, which you’ll find in Expectations vs. Reality in Legal Recruiting Careers.

 
Working with a legal recruitment firm shouldn’t be about paying huge fees, and we’ve always believed that legal recruitment agencies that ask for huge sums (up to 40% of a salary!) won’t last. Our priority is always linking the best talent with the best law firms.
 

• Agencies can also guide firms toward fairness by applying effective strategies for bridging salary gaps in legal recruitment.

 

How do recruiters conduct a professional legal search?

 
It’s important to make sure that you’re working with a legal recruitment firm that priorities a personal touch over a number game. Finding a candidate the perfect role means understanding their needs and experience so that the recruiter can place them in front of people confidently.
 
Look out for dodgy legal recruitment firms who will use your CV as an introduction and send it round to many law firms. This can make you look really bad and achieve negative results. Instead, choose to work with a legal recruitment firm that is reliable, professional and interested in conducting a job search that is personal to you.
 

How to get your legal recruiter to work for you

 
A big part of knowing how to work with a legal recruiter is being able to get them to work for you. The attention of a good recruiter can seem hard to get, but if you want to get your CV to the right law firms you will need their help.
 

• Many assumptions about recruiters are incorrect; What Everyone Gets Wrong About Legal Recruiters breaks down the realities.

 
Get a legal recruiter to focus on your job search by:
 

• Being enthusiastic about your job search
• Being open to suggestions
• Being honest about your career

 
To find out more about why you should work with a legal recruitment agency, take a look at the placements that BCG Attorney Search have made recently. You can also browse the things that Attorneys and Law Students need to remove from their resumes to prepare you for working with a legal recruitment agency.
 

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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.