This candidate reached out to me on LinkedIn about a year ago, last December 2017, wanting to make a lateral move to a larger market, ideally SF or LA, but he was also interested in the OC. He is currently located in a smaller market in California, where his parents live, and when he reached out to me, he had only been at his current firm for a little over a year. He currently works at a small to mid-sized firm in this smaller market, and was already working with another Recruiter. I started submitting him last December, and submitted him to regular batches of firms between last December and this February. This candidate would really only approve Big Law firms and top Labor & Employment firms in California, such as Littler, Jackson Lewis, Fisher Phillips, and Seyfarth Shaw. He did attend a top law school, and received decent grades there. He also was not on law review. He had, however, been at only one firm post-graduation, had gained some strong substantive experience there, and seemed like a smart, driven, nice candidate.
We did get him one phone interview / screener in December, but then nothing else for several, several months. I think that in December, when he applied to work with me, he was just too junior. In my experience, candidates really only start to become marketable once they have been at their first firm for about two years. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, especially in the case of top candidates at reputable, national, mid-sized to Big Law firms, with decent / good to strong grades at their law school, Law Review, etc. However, for a candidate like this one, who was a good candidate but perhaps not a top, top candidate, I figured that it might take longer to get traction, especially given the caliber of firms that he was approving.
This candidate became less responsive to me between May and about August. I think that he was busy with work, and he was probably also disillusioned. After all, I had only gotten him one interview when we first started working together, back in December, and then nothing for several months. However, rather than giving up on this candidate, I continued to follow-up and reapply him to firms that he had approved between December and May. I would also periodically reach out to him and ask him what he thought of specific opportunities. For example, I have a strong boutique law firm client in LA at which I recently placed a candidate, and whom I knew was looking for a candidate like this one. The boutique firm was, in fact, interested in interviewing him, but he had his heart set on mid-sized to Big Law firms. This is an example of how I try to keep my candidates warm, and try to show them that I am here working for them tirelessly behind the scenes, even when they lose steam or burn out on their search.
I think that this candidate started getting excited about his search again when I got him a great Big Law interview in SF in September, and then another in October. Neither of these interviews worked out - he had initial interviews with both firms, but not callbacks - but still, I think that getting this candidate these great interviews re-instilled his faith in me as a Recruiter.
I actually applied this candidate to the firm that ended up hiring him for the first time in December 2017 (their OC office), and again in July, October, and December (their SF office and their OC office multiple times). I actually placed another strong Labor & Employment candidate at their SF office in August, and this candidate was too junior for their OC opening, which I think called for around four years of experience. When I saw a new opening pop up in his small market where he is currently located this December, I immediately applied him, as he had told me in passing that he had interviewed with another top L&E firm in his current small market very recently. Interestingly enough, up until a month or two ago, I hadn't realized that he was also interested in the smaller market that he is currently located in. I do think that his goal long-term is to move to SF or LA, but I think that his primary goal is to break into a great national firm, regardless of the market.
The firm moved very quickly, because they have had great experiences with candidates that they have hired from my candidate's current firm, and because I think that it is hard to find decent / good candidates in this smaller market. Whereas I'm not sure whether or not my candidate would have been hired by this firm in SF, he was very competitive as a candidate for this smaller market. They reached out to me on a Wednesday, conducted a phone screen on Thursday, had him into the office for a callback on Friday, and gave him an offer the following Wednesday. This is the fast that I've ever seen a firm move, between initial phone screen and offer.
I learned a few lessons from this placement. Firstly, even if a candidate has high expectations and burns out on his or her search, one should always keep working behind the scenes to find great opportunities for one's candidate, and even re-apply one's candidate to firms from which we had never heard back from. Secondly, it's a good idea for us Recruiters to regularly check in with our candidates, either with new lists of firms and job openings to consider, a specific job order or opportunity that we think would be perfect for the candidate, or just to make sure that their geographic preferences haven't changed. If my candidate hadn't mentioned to me that he was also interested in his current smaller market, and was interviewing with another top L&E firm in this smaller market, I would have never thought to apply him to the office of the firm that ended up hiring him. We Recruiters and our candidates need to keep each other up-to-date on the candidate's experience, geographic preferences, and firm search! Everyone wins when the Recruiter and the candidate have all of the 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.
