The story is a fairly incredible one. I reached out to this candidate with a specific job posting many months ago, and he added me on LinkedIn, but we didn't start working together at that time because he wasn't yet ready to begin his lateral firm search. Then, he emailed me in October, around six months later, and asked to speak with me about his search. He had been at his small to mid-sized, multi-office California firm in LA since graduation, for about two years, and was looking to make an upwards lateral move to a larger firm, ideally a Big Law firm. While I knew that I would be able to help him make an upwards lateral move to a national, multi-office firm, I wasn't sure if we would be able to break him into an Am Law 100 or Am Law 200 firm. His firm is decent, but usually Am Law 100 firms want to see candidates coming from peer firms. He also went to a strong public law school, and did decently will there, but his GPA was below a 3.5. A lot of Am Law 100 firms want to see candidates who were in the Top 10% or Top 15% of their law school graduating class, especially if they're coming from a law school that isn't in the Top 10. He did, however, attend a top public school for his undergraduate studies, so it helped that he had attended two strong schools for both college and law school.
The candidate has been at his firm since his 2L summer, which I feel also gave him a slight leg up. Firms like to see candidates that summered at their current firm, were given an offer, joined the firm and have shown loyalty by sticking with that same employer, especially in the case of someone who has been at the firm post-law school for more than two years like this candidate. Finally, this candidate was also on Law Review during law school, and is Hispanic. So, while he didn't attend a Top 10 law school, wasn't at the top of his graduating class in either college or law school and isn't currently at a prestigious national firm, he did have several things going for him.
This candidate was so set on going to a top national firm that he initially only wanted to approve one firm through me. I encouraged him to consider other firms, but he wanted to start with one, and see what happened. I applied the candidate to the one Am Law 100 firm, and they passed rather quickly, saying that the candidate didn't have at least a 3.5 GPA (he had a 3.4 or so). This is where it can help to use a Recruiter that has a good relationship with his or her firm clients. At that point, I responded to the RC, and explained that if he looked closely at my candidate's grades, he would notice an upwards trend, with the candidate achieving a 3.7 or so for the last several semesters of law school. I also reemphasized that this candidate is diverse. The RC thanked me for the explanation, and said that he would present my candidate to the partners. Low and behold, while his GPA was indeed a bit low, Law Review set my candidate over the edge, and they gave him the interview!
Because my candidate was already borderline, and was lucky to get the interview in the first place, I knew that he'd really have to hit it out of the park to have any chance of getting the offer. And that is exactly what he did. He did extensive research on all of his interviewers before each interview, and came up with detailed, thoughtful, well-researched questions to ask each of them about their cases, their practices and the firm in general. He even read one of his interviewer's complaints on a case that that partner was handling! Talk about going above and beyond! After meeting with about twelve people in the Litigation and Labor & Employment groups at this Am Law 100 firm, the RC informed me that my candidate was the candidate that everyone wanted to see join the firm, and he got the offer! My candidate was absolutely ecstatic and over the moon, and of course accepted.
So, the morals of the story are that diversity matters, Law Review matters, upwards trends in grades matter, showing a commitment to your law firm employer / not being a firm hopper (if possible) matters, and the more time and effort you put into your interviews, the better they will go. I could not be any happier for this candidate, as he is landing at a top-notch, national firm, and I know that he will blow them all away when he gets there!
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.
