I have now placed four candidates at the same national hospital network in the greater Los Angeles Area. Three are health care / managed care reimbursement litigators, and one is a health care / Labor & Employment litigator. This candidate that I just placed was the fourth that I've placed at this hospital network, and she is by far the most junior, as she graduated from law school in 2015, whereas the others have been out of law school for at least nine years.
She is a strong candidate because:
1) She has been at one firm, Helton Law Group, APC, for more than three years, since her graduation from law school, 2) she has obtained great, substantive litigation experience for someone of her class year, 3) she has received excellent comments and year-end reviews while at Helton, 4) she bills 2300 hours on average per year, 5) she has a demonstrated, long-standing interest in health care litigation, 6) she did well at her law school, serving on its Law Review and serving as a Teaching Assistant for First-Year Legal Research & Writing and 7) she attended a strong liberal arts college for her undergraduate studies, graduating with a double major and
completing a Senior Thesis with Honors.
Helton is a recognized health care firm in Los Angeles, and so even though it is small, it is wellrespected. My candidate does a specific niche of health care litigation, namely managed care reimbursement litigation, so I wasn't sure how this was going to play out. While it is good to be niche as a candidate, especially as you get more senior, there is definitely such a thing as too niche.
It was also remarkable to me that she had been at one firm since her graduation from law school. Believe it or not, it is rare for a 2015 graduate of law school to have stayed at their firm since they began practicing in 2015. By now, most of these candidates have made at least one, if not two lateral moves. So the fact that she had stayed at her prestigious health care boutique since graduation speaks very well of my candidate, in terms of her commitment to staying in one place (in other words, firms / companies wouldn't view her as a flight risk).
She also has gained great, substantive litigation experience for a Class of 2015er. She has: first chaired four arbitrations, second chaired two arbitrations, argued motions, taken one deposition, and defended two depositions. She has also made various court appearances and has won an exparte application.
This candidate applied to work with my company, but it turned out that I had also messaged her on LinkedIn about a month ago, asking her if she'd be interested in a lateral firm switch. This is because I saw that she worked at Helton, and one of the other three candidates that I've placed at the national hospital network also worked at Helton before coming to the company, so I knew that
the company likes candidates from this law firm. This candidate responded to my message on LinkedIn several weeks later, telling me that she was indeed interested in a lateral firm switch and in working with me. I messaged her on March 26th, she messaged me back on April 17th and I placed her at the national hospital network on May 3rd. This is, by all accounts, a very quick placement!
I did the same with this candidate as I do with all of my strong candidates: set up a time to chat on the phone, chatted with her for about 15 minutes about her background, experience, practice and why she was looking to make a lateral move, asked her to send me her materials, she sent me her resume and transcript the same day, I did a search for her and sent her all of the firms that I was seeing in her regions of interest (LA, the OC and SD), and also included the national hospital network (I had actually mentioned the company on the phone to her, and she had given me her verbal approval to submit her there even before I got her written approval). She approved firms and the company just a few days later, on April 22nd, and I submitted her the next day, on April 23rd. She got interviews from a boutique firm in the OC the same day, as well as the national hospital network.
She received offers from both the firm and the company on the same day that she interviewed with them in-person. This is very, very rare. The firm only conducted one in-person interview between her and the Managing Partner of the firm, and she got an offer about an hour after the interview finished. The company conducted a phone interview with her, and then brought her in for a callback about two days later, and she also got an offer either that day or the next day. I think that the company moved fast because I had mentioned to them that she had an offer from a firm with a short expiration date. Having an offer from one firm can definitely help to move things along with another, if the latter is really interested in a candidate's candidacy.
She ended up choosing the company, which I think was a wise decision because the Managing Partner of the firm at which she got an offer and whom she interviewed with is known to be difficult to work with, and the firm has a high turnover rate (both of which I told her, as I want my candidates to have all of the information before making a decision).
From submission of this candidate to acceptance of offer, less than two weeks passed. This is a very, very quick placement. It is not as fast as one of my most recent placements, which was literally four days from submission to acceptance. But it's very quick in the world of Legal Recruiting. Placements can take a year or more in some cases!
This placement taught me several important lessons: 1) there are not many openings in health care / health care litigation in CA, but there are always a handful, 2) solid health care candidates will probably get traction, even despite the few openings in CA, 3) managed care reimbursement litigation is apparently not too niche and 4) having one offer can speed things along with another firm or company that is interviewing a candidate, if that firm or company is really interested in the candidate.
If only every placement were as quick and easy as this one! This candidate was also very grateful, friendly, honest, open and responsive, which made my job that much easier. A dream candidate and a dream placement!
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.
