
And then there are others—just as smart, just as credentialed—who consistently push people away without even realizing it. These attorneys struggle to hold onto jobs, alienate colleagues, lose clients, and are passed over for promotions or partnership. I've watched careers unravel not because of a lack of ability, but because of unaddressed, toxic behaviors that quietly sabotage everything.
The good news is that these behaviors can be identified—and corrected. The most powerful thing you can do for your legal career is to recognize whether any of these behaviors apply to you and commit to changing them now. Because in this profession, the people who succeed are not just the best lawyers. They are the ones others believe in, trust, and want to be around.

1. Constantly Needing Validation
One of the most destructive patterns I see among attorneys—especially those in the early to middle stages of their careers—is the constant need for validation. It shows up in subtle ways: needing praise from partners, constantly seeking reassurance from clients, obsessing over peer recognition, or chasing external accolades just to feel a momentary sense of worth. On the surface, it may seem harmless—even normal—but underneath, it’s often driven by deep insecurity. And in the long run, it can quietly erode your potential, your credibility, and your peace of mind.
Many attorneys come into the profession believing that if they work hard enough, earn the right degrees, get hired by prestigious firms, and hit certain milestones, they will finally feel whole—finally feel seen. But what they discover is that the legal profession rarely offers the kind of validation they’re really looking for. It’s a high-pressure world, and no matter how good you are, the approval you crave is always conditional and fleeting. One mistake, one bad review, one missed origination goal—and it can all feel like it’s slipping away.
This need for validation often begins long before law school. It’s rooted in childhood—perhaps in feeling unseen, unworthy, or not good enough. Many attorneys were the overachievers growing up, using performance and accomplishment as a way to gain attention, affection, or acceptance. But once you’re in the world of law, the stakes are higher, and the approval much harder to come by.
If you’re operating from a place of constantly needing to be liked, admired, or applauded, your emotional state will rise and fall based on how others treat you. You’ll take criticism personally, fear being overlooked, and burn out trying to prove yourself again and again. You’ll also make poor career decisions—taking or leaving jobs based on how validated you feel, rather than what’s truly right for your growth and well-being.
Here’s the hard truth: if you are driven by the need for validation, you have a serious obstacle standing in your way. You won’t find lasting fulfillment in this profession—or in any area of life—until you break free from this pattern. The first step is recognizing it. The second is doing the difficult inner work to build a sense of worth that isn’t dependent on applause, status, or anyone else's opinion. Only then can you truly lead, stand out, and sustain long-term success in law.
In my career as a legal recruiter, I have always been amazed when I meet the people who are the most successful. The people who graduated first in their class from a top law school and have had a series of stunning accomplishments throughout their lives rarely feel the need to brag. Deep down, they are very secure with who they are. These people never tell others about their accomplishments, and their success (more than often) comes from within.
This is one of the most powerful lessons any attorney can learn. The legal field is full of impressive resumes, prestigious titles, and high-stakes victories—but what separates those who quietly thrive from those who constantly struggle is often a matter of internal confidence. The most respected attorneys don’t seek out praise or attention. They don’t need to be told they’re smart or successful. Their sense of self-worth is internalized, stable, and independent of external feedback.
Years ago, I had a childhood friend with low self-esteem that used to send me a three-page email each week about what he had done. No one liked him growing up because he was always talking about himself. I would generally read his email over briefly and offer a few comments:
- “Great job on that date!”
- “Looks like you are getting closer to another promotion!”
- “I told you that they would really like you!”
After years of being friends with this person, he did something pretty shocking that violated my trust, and I told him I could no longer be friends with him. He realized there was no way I could be friends with him either. To my astonishment, though, after a few weeks he wrote me the following email:
“I really miss being able to send you an email about my week and have you comment on it. I do not know why, but I need this. I realize you cannot be friends with me anymore, but could I continue to email you each week?”
What this person was doing, of course, was emailing me because he needed validation and approval. His self-esteem was literally dependent on my weekly feedback. In this person’s life, he did things mainly in order to get approval. He also based how he felt about himself on how he was perceived by others.
I’ve met many attorneys like this—brilliant, accomplished individuals who are constantly chasing the next accolade or affirmation, not because they love the work or are driven by purpose, but because their self-worth depends on being admired. These attorneys often burn out. They struggle with rejection. They fear criticism. And they make career decisions based on how they will be perceived, not what is genuinely fulfilling.
Your self-esteem should come from within and not from getting validation from other people. Your life is about the process and not each and every step, acquisition and achievement. If you constantly need validation, work through this with a therapist, take a course, read a book or something along those lines, but do not involve others in your need to feel good about yourself.
In the legal profession—where stress is high, judgment is constant, and feedback is often critical—you must build an internal foundation of self-belief. Otherwise, every setback will feel like a crisis, and every success will only provide temporary relief. Attorneys who succeed long-term are those who do the work for the sake of the work, not for the applause.
When you need validation from others, you drain them of their energy. This is especially true in the legal profession, where emotional and mental demands are already high. If you constantly need to prove your worth and accomplishments to others around you, they are not going to like you. In fact, they’ll begin to avoid you. Not because you aren’t accomplished—but because your need to be seen as accomplished consumes the room. It doesn’t make others feel good about themselves when you are acting like this all the time. It makes them feel smaller, unseen, and exhausted.
This kind of behavior is more common in the legal industry than many realize. Attorneys often feel pressured to lead with their résumé, to project superiority, to constantly justify their value. But ironically, the people who are most secure—the ones others admire most—rarely say much about themselves at all.
I once sat on an airplane next to a famous Olympic athlete and talked to her for over three hours without knowing who she was. She did not once bring up the fact that she was an athlete or famous. It was as if I was talking to just an unknown friendly, outgoing, nice young lady.
In contrast, I have sat next to people who felt the need to tell me what great colleges they went to, what impressive companies they worked at, how much money they made and more within a few minutes of meeting them.
Which person do you think I liked more?
We’ve all encountered people like this—people who make us feel like they are performing, not connecting. Attorneys who lead with ego instead of authenticity. You likely know colleagues or acquaintances who:
- Constantly talk about who they know
- Talk about how big their house is
- Always have the latest and greatest of something and brag about it
- Are constantly talking about their latest promotion or accomplishments
- Dress and act in a way that gets them constant attention
People who are like this are using the approval of others as a measure of their own self-worth. These people have a hole in their lives and do not have a deep down sense of their value.
In law, where image and perception often carry heavy weight, it can be tempting to try to stand out by signaling success. But this kind of behavior almost always backfires. It makes clients uneasy, alienates colleagues, and blocks meaningful relationships with mentors, peers, and even friends. People sense when you’re operating from insecurity, and over time, it repels them.
While the need for love, respect and admiration is instinctual and is something that is important for many people, it is draining on others to give you this constant praise.
The attorneys who go far in their careers are the ones who make others feel good about themselves—not the ones who make others feel like they have to constantly affirm them. If your sense of identity is based on how others react to you, it’s time to take a deeper look inward. Because no title, no firm name, no courtroom win will ever fill a void that only internal self-worth can satisfy.
See Related Articles:
- Narcissistic Entitlement Syndrome among Attorneys: Why Narcissism Destroys Young Attorney Careers
- The Four Types of Attorneys Inside of Law Firms: Are You a Finder, Minder, Binder or Grinder?
- What You Need to do Immediately if You Lose Your Attorney Job: Take these Actions Right Now
2. Thinking Nothing But Negative Thoughts
One of the most damaging patterns I’ve observed in attorneys is a persistent tendency to focus on the negative. It’s more common than people realize—and often more professionally destructive than any résumé gap or lack of experience. There are a tremendous number of people out there who cannot stop being negative. They constantly speak about:
- negative things that have happened to them,
- how people have treated them poorly,
- why a given situation is bad,
- how things are not as good as they were before.
All of this negativity is something that is not fun to be around. In fact, it’s toxic. And in law, where morale can already be strained under high stress and pressure, it creates an environment others want to flee. This negativity is upsetting to the people around us. It affects the culture of a firm, poisons collaboration, and erodes trust.
I was at a party before for someone celebrating their wedding anniversary. I was standing next to another man, and he was talking about how cheap the wine tasted and how insulting it was that he was being served such bad wine. I was about ready to walk away when the husband having the party walked over to speak with us. He was friendly and we spoke for a few minutes. When he walked away, the man standing next to me said:
“He looks terrible and as if he is about to die. He should not be having a party.”
The husband looked fine to me.
I was again about ready to walk away and get away from this negativity when another man walked up and started chatting with us about his new career in the financial services industry. We had a pleasant talk for a few minutes, and then he too walked away. The man standing next to me said:
“He looks like he got his suit from the Salvation Army. No one is ever going to give him any money.”
I instantly disliked and wanted to get away from the negative man. What is the point spending time with someone who has nothing but bad things to say about others?
Now imagine someone like this in a law firm—constantly criticizing their colleagues, complaining about clients, griping about firm leadership, or always pointing out why something “won’t work.” These people become social liabilities. They aren't seen as leaders, but as distractions. They don’t build teams—they fracture them. And when firms start making cuts or passing people over for advancement, these are almost always the first to be let go or left behind.
At work, there are always people that are more than happy to talk negatively about their employer. These people are generally the first to lose their jobs when things are not going well.
Attorneys must be especially careful of this trap because negativity often disguises itself as intellect or insight. But being critical is not the same as being discerning. A constant focus on what’s wrong doesn’t make you smarter—it makes you harder to trust and less desirable to work with.
You need to be positive. People are attracted to and want to be around those who are positive and not negative. Clients want lawyers who inspire confidence. Partners want colleagues who energize a room. Law firms grow when they’re filled with people who believe in what’s possible—not just what’s flawed.
Negative people sap the energy out of the organizations they are a part of and create problems. If you want a lasting legal career, you need to be the person who lifts the room, not the one who pulls it down.
3. Always Acting Like a Victim
One of the fastest ways to stall or even destroy a legal career is to adopt a victim mindset. I’ve seen this over and over again—attorneys who might have immense talent but can never seem to move forward because they’re too focused on blaming others for where they are.
I know a woman who constantly talks about how awful her father was to her 20 years ago. I’ve known more people than I can count who love to obsess about how terrible an ex-wife or lover was. Many people blame the circumstances of their lives on others. I would estimate a significant portion of the population does. I know a man who was a cocaine addict for a few years back in the 1980s, quit in 1990 and for the past quarter century, has been blaming this former drug addiction for every problem he has ever experienced in his life.
In the legal profession, this mindset is especially dangerous. If you are acting like a victim, you are putting the responsibility for your life on someone (or something) outside of yourself. You’re essentially saying: “I have no control.” And once you internalize that belief, you stop growing. You miss opportunities. You alienate those who might otherwise help you. You are basing your life on various assumptions about what “should be” rather than what “is”. This also makes you seem powerless.
No law firm wants to promote or retain someone who is constantly talking about how they’ve been wronged—by prior employers, clients, colleagues, or the system itself. It drags down morale and signals a lack of resilience. Law is a profession that rewards ownership, responsibility, and forward motion. If you can’t accept where you are and take charge of your next step, you’ll be passed over every time for someone who can.
People are attracted to and want to be around those who are self-directing, have power over themselves and do not drag others down with stories about how bad the world and others are. Employers want to hire people who can make things happen.
And the truth is, some of the most inspiring people in the world are people who have overcome great obstacles and misfortunes to become extremely successful. They’ve been through trauma, loss, discrimination, addiction, poverty—but they didn’t stay there. They used their challenges as fuel, not as excuses.
Attorneys who take responsibility for their lives—regardless of what has happened to them—stand out. They lead. They inspire. And they build reputations based on strength, not self-pity. If you find yourself constantly telling stories where you are the victim, it may be time to rewrite your narrative. Because the legal world doesn’t reward victims. It rewards problem-solvers, fighters, and those who take full ownership of their path forward.
See Related Articles:
- Top 32 Reasons Attorneys Lose Their Jobs Inside of Law Firms
- What to Do if You Are Fired as an Attorney from a Law Firm (or Worried You Are Going to Lose Your Job)
- The Most Important Characteristic Attorneys Need to Succeed and Why It Is Almost Impossible for Them to Keep It
4. Do Not Take Things So Personally
In the legal profession—where egos run high, tempers flare, and criticism is often blunt—it’s incredibly easy to take things personally. Many attorneys do. They internalize every offhand comment from a partner, every negative review from a client, and every silence after a networking event as a reflection of their worth. And that kind of thinking can slowly destroy your confidence and career.
Many people become incredibly unhappy and unfulfilled based on things outside of their control. Most people who are unhappy and difficult to be around think that every negative thing that happens to them is about them (and not the other person). In reality, most people are far more concerned about themselves than you at all. Very little that people say often applies directly to you. If you see everything as a reflection of yourself, your self-worth is coming from somewhere external.
Attorneys who take everything personally tend to live in a heightened state of defensiveness. They second-guess themselves. They hold grudges. They build narratives around slights that never actually happened. And worst of all, they react emotionally in environments that require calm, objective thinking. This damages relationships with colleagues, makes them difficult to manage, and causes their careers to plateau.
Years ago, I took a girlfriend of mine to party in a large townhouse in New York City. The girl having the party was not too friendly (to anyone) and, as we were walking away getting a cab, my girlfriend asked:
“Why do you think she was so rude to me?”
“I do not think she was just rude to you. I think she was rude to everyone. In any event, she probably thought she was richer and better than you or something.”
To my astonishment, my girlfriend went absolutely ballistic. She started screaming at me, called me various names and in no uncertain terms told me that she was much higher class than me. She then proceeded to rattle off the names of several of her wealthy relatives and why they were so great.
My girlfriend then took my statements about the party host (who simply was not very nice) very personally and made it 100% about herself. In reality, the host and my actions had nothing to do with her.
This kind of reaction is common among people with low self-esteem. They take things that have nothing whatsoever to do with them very personally. And attorneys with this mindset can sabotage even the best professional environments. Instead of focusing on legal work, they obsess over office politics, comments in meetings, or who did or didn’t acknowledge them in an email. Their energy gets misdirected, and their performance suffers.
I was walking through New York City years ago with a man from a suburb of Detroit (where I am from) and we were looking at art galleries in SoHo. The man kept commenting that the suburb also had art galleries that “were just as good.”
We went back to the apartment and the man commented that there were apartments and “lofts” in the Detroit suburb that “were just as cool.”
We went out for dinner and the man commented there were restaurants in the suburb that “were better.”
You get the idea. The point is that the man was taking everything in New York City personally as if it were in competition with his identity and where he lived. If your self-esteem is this low, and you take this many things personally, there is something wrong.
In the workplace—especially in law—this is an even bigger issue. If you take every piece of feedback, every firm policy, or every passing comment as a personal attack, you will burn bridges, alienate allies, and constantly feel under threat. This isn’t sustainable.
In general, if people are very insulting to you and put you down (or otherwise do things to upset you), it is about them and not you. They are the ones with a problem. Do not let their issues drag you down and create problems for you. When confronted with their nastiness, just walk away.
If you want to succeed and be someone people enjoy working with, you need emotional resilience. You need the ability to separate who you are from what others say or do. Because in law, the people who thrive are not the ones who take everything personally. They’re the ones who stay centered, calm, and focused—no matter how chaotic the world around them may be. One of the most important lessons you can learn as an attorney is this: very little of what happens around you is actually about you. And even if it is, it often doesn’t matter. The more successful you become, the more you’ll need to master the ability to stay centered and not take things personally—especially in high-pressure, competitive environments like law firms, courtrooms, and client boardrooms.
Years ago, I was in the asphalt business. As part of this, I used to go to a factory to pick up hundreds of gallons of asphalt sealer every few days. There would traditionally be a line of trucks towing tanks at the plant each day having their tanks filled up.
There was an older man who had been in the asphalt business for 40+ years who generally would cut the line and drive right past a row of waiting trucks to the front of the line. He had been in the business a long time and felt he deserved the respect of others there.
At least a couple of times per year, someone who did not understand the ways of the plant (and was new to the business) would get out of their truck and start yelling, swearing and fighting with the old man. When this occurred, others in line (who gave the older man respect) would all hop out of their trucks and come to the old man’s defense. These screaming (and in a few cases “pushing”) matches would go on for several minutes and would always end with the person who challenged the old man being forced to apologize (or, if not, he would storm away from the plant).
What was interesting about this was that the old man was cutting the line for reasons that had to do with him. It never had anything to do with the people who got upset about it. The people who got upset were taking it personally.
This kind of dynamic plays out constantly in the legal profession. A partner doesn’t respond to your email. A colleague is short with you in a meeting. A client questions your recommendation. It’s easy to internalize these things, to assume they’re an attack on your competence or worth. But most of the time, they’re not about you at all. The partner may be overwhelmed. The colleague may be dealing with pressure at home. The client may just be trying to protect their own interests.
Most things are generally not about you. Even if they are, it is irrelevant. As an adult in the working world, your self-esteem and identity should be such that you know exactly who you are and where you are going (even if someone insults you).
Attorneys who take everything personally are constantly thrown off course. They lose focus. They let emotions guide their decisions. But those who learn to stay grounded—those who can separate their identity from the noise around them—develop a kind of quiet strength. That strength makes them reliable under pressure, resilient in the face of criticism, and respected by clients and colleagues alike.
In the end, your success in law won’t just come from your ability to argue, research, or write. It will come from your ability to remain calm, composed, and inwardly secure—no matter what’s happening outside of you.
5. Not Having Empathy for Others and Not Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Position
One of the most dangerous characteristics an attorney—or any professional—can have is a lack of empathy. In a field as adversarial and competitive as law, empathy is often mistaken for weakness. But the opposite is true: it’s one of the most powerful traits an attorney can develop. Without it, you risk not only damaging others—but ultimately undermining your own career.
There are many people out there who have a complete lack of concern and feeling for others. They are more than happy to tear others down, make others feel bad about themselves, humiliate others anonymously online in a cowardly way, or just be plain cruel to others because they have the opportunity to do so.
This kind of behavior is not just unethical—it’s toxic. And while it may appear to grant temporary power or superiority, it always backfires in the long run. People remember how you make them feel. And in the legal world, your reputation—especially your character—follows you everywhere.
One of the best ways to judge people is by how they treat others beneath them. In restaurants I have often been with people who constantly leave very low tips and treat servers horribly. I have seen people demean others who are working for them as maids, gardeners and so forth. I have known women that took pleasure in humiliating men and men who took pleasure in demeaning women.
As an attorney, how you treat staff, assistants, paralegals, junior associates, receptionists, and even opposing counsel matters more than you may realize. Firms are watching. Clients are watching. And the people around you are forming opinions that will shape your future opportunities.
When I see others who treat other people horribly and talk poorly about others, it upsets me. It makes me believe that these people will do the same to me (and they usually do).
Years ago, I had an employee working for me that took pleasure going onto blogs and writing anonymous (and cruel) comments about other lawyers and his former law firm. I never thought much of it, but I remember it made me uncomfortable. Years after he stopped working for me, he started doing the same thing to me and tried to do damage to me.
This is always how it works. If someone has a pattern of cruelty toward others, it’s only a matter of time before that behavior is turned on you. People with a lack of empathy will eventually damage every relationship they’re a part of—professional or personal.
If you have a mean streak in you and like to hurt others, others will see you as toxic and avoid you. This will end up doing far more harm to you in the long run than it is worth.
In law, empathy is not just about being kind. It’s about understanding clients’ needs, building real relationships, earning trust, and working effectively in teams. The best attorneys can see through others’ eyes. They can anticipate concerns, navigate difficult personalities, and defuse conflict—not escalate it. Those are the attorneys who build lasting careers.
If you want to be successful in this profession—not just on paper, but in life—learn to put yourself in the other person’s position. Develop empathy. Lead with compassion. Because in the end, your ability to elevate others will define how far you go.
Conclusion: Your Behavior Is Your Brand—Change It, and You Change Everything
In your legal career—and your life—how you make others feel will determine the trajectory of your success far more than your résumé, your pedigree, or even your raw intelligence. The most accomplished attorneys I’ve known are not just brilliant legal minds—they are people others want to be around. They lift others up, not drag them down. They take responsibility, not refuge in blame. They project confidence, not insecurity. They bring calm, not chaos.
Toxic behaviors—whether it’s needing constant validation, thinking like a victim, radiating negativity, lacking empathy, or taking everything personally—may seem small in the moment, but over time, they compound. They corrode your relationships, your reputation, and your professional momentum. They turn opportunities into obstacles and push away the very people who could help you grow.
But the good news is this: every behavior that pushes people away can be unlearned. Every mindset that limits you can be replaced. Self-awareness is the beginning, and intentional change is the path forward.
In law, where the stakes are high and the pressures relentless, those who master themselves are the ones who ultimately master the game. The most powerful move you can make isn’t in the courtroom or the boardroom—it’s in choosing to become the kind of person others trust, respect, and want to support.
Because when others believe in you, everything changes. But it starts with how you show up, every day, when no one is watching.
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.
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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.
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.
Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.