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
Harrison Barnes is a prominent figure in the legal placement industry, known for his expertise in attorney placements and his extensive knowledge of the legal profession.
With over 25 years of experience, he has established himself as a leading voice in the field and has helped thousands of lawyers and law students find their ideal career paths.
Barnes is a former federal law clerk and associate at Quinn Emanuel and a graduate of the University of Chicago College and the University of Virginia Law School. He was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist at the University of Chicago and a member of the University of Virginia Law Review. Early in his legal career, he enrolled in Stanford Business School but dropped out because he missed legal recruiting too much.
Barnes' approach to the legal industry is rooted in his commitment to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. He believes that the key to success in the legal profession is to be proactive, persistent, and disciplined in one's approach to work and life. He encourages lawyers to take ownership of their careers and to focus on developing their skills and expertise in a way that aligns with their passions and interests.
One of how Barnes provides support to lawyers is through his writing. On his blog, HarrisonBarnes.com, and BCGSearch.com, he regularly shares his insights and advice on a range of topics related to the legal profession. Through his writing, he aims to empower lawyers to control their careers and make informed decisions about their professional development.
One of Barnes's fundamental philosophies in his writing is the importance of networking. He believes that networking is a critical component of career success and that it is essential for lawyers to establish relationships with others in their field. He encourages lawyers to attend events, join organizations, and connect with others in the legal community to build their professional networks.
Another central theme in Barnes' writing is the importance of personal and professional development. He believes that lawyers should continuously strive to improve themselves and develop their skills to succeed in their careers. He encourages lawyers to pursue ongoing education and training actively, read widely, and seek new opportunities for growth and development.
In addition to his work in the legal industry, Barnes is also a fitness and lifestyle enthusiast. He sees fitness and wellness as integral to his personal and professional development and encourages others to adopt a similar mindset. He starts his day at 4:00 am and dedicates several daily hours to running, weightlifting, and pursuing spiritual disciplines.
Finally, Barnes is a strong advocate for community service and giving back. He volunteers for the University of Chicago, where he is the former area chair of Los Angeles for the University of Chicago Admissions Office. He also serves as the President of the Young Presidents Organization's Century City Los Angeles Chapter, where he works to support and connect young business leaders.
In conclusion, Harrison Barnes is a visionary legal industry leader committed to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. Through his work at BCG Attorney Search, writing, and community involvement, he empowers lawyers to take control of their careers, develop their skills continuously, and lead fulfilling and successful lives. His philosophy of being proactive, persistent, and disciplined, combined with his focus on personal and professional development, makes him a valuable resource for anyone looking to succeed in the legal profession.
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.
