The story that led me to this placement is an interesting one. I worked with a plaintiff-side Labor & Employment and consumer class action attorney about two years ago, but she found a position on her own, at a plaintiff-side lemon law firm in LA. She had been at this boutique lemon law firm for about two years when she contacted me again, and told me that her current boss was a monster, that he worked his attorneys into the ground and that she was desperate to get out. She referred three other attorneys from the same firm to me as well, all of whom had already left the firm months prior, had been laid off due to the pandemic or were similarly miserable and desperate to get out. Of these three, I placed one at a boutique lemon law firm within a week of submitting him to firms, I placed the candidate herself, the referrer, within about two months of submitting her and I just placed the third of her referrals at another boutique plaintiff-side lemon law firm in LA (all different lemon law firms!).
This candidate is, dare I say it, quite a clunky candidate. She went to a low-ranked law school in Seattle for law school (although she was cum laude there), and a well-ranked public school in California for her undergraduate studies. After graduating from law school, she worked at a litigation boutique in Seattle for two years, a well-respected firm in LA for four years but as an eDiscovery attorney (this is a career killer normally), a boutique litigation firm in LA for about two years, a top Big Law firm as an eDiscovery attorney, another top Big Law firm as an eDiscovery attorney and then she finally landed at her current firm, a plaintiff-side lemon law litigation firm. Incredibly, she was only at her most recent firm from May 2019 through March 2020, so for less than a year, and I'm not sure if she was laid off or left the firm. At any rate, she only has less than a year of lemon law experience! This candidate has also bounced around a lot, as she has been at six firms in ten years, and she has been off-partnership track several times as an eDiscovery attorney.
I've noticed that it's very hard for eDiscovery and contract attorneys to land jobs at firms that are looking to fill a traditional associate or attorney role, as most firms will expect that, at some point, you begin to generate business and that you will make partner if you stay long enough. Someone who has been off-partnership track record several times raises red flags in terms of whether they can cut it long-term at a law firm and in a traditional role.
But, of course, there are always exceptions to this general rule, and this candidate is one of them! This candidate got lucky in many ways. We only submitted her to two firms, and one ended up interviewing, offering and hiring her. Those are incredible stats! Normally a candidate won't even get an interview until I've submitted them to around ten firms. So to get an offer after applying to only two firms in just incredible. She also got lucky because lemon law is so niche and it's so hard to find attorneys that practice this, that the lemon law firm that hired her was able to look past her clunky background and just focused on the fact that she had ANY lemon law experience. Finally, she got lucky in that this particular firm seems to have a very active need, and is indeed looking to hire other lemon law attorneys. They seem to have more work than they can handle.
The lemon law boutique that ended up hiring her did one phone interview with her, one Zoom interview and gave her an offer two days later. While the offer was lower than what she was making at her last lemon law firm, she loved the lead partner and the firm and recognized that a lot of firms can't afford to pay a lot right now during a pandemic. She was ecstatic to accept the next day, and I really couldn't be any happier for her!
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
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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.
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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.
