Federal Circuit Court Law Clerk From a Fourth Tier Law School with the Dream of Working in a Major City | BCGSearch.com

Federal Circuit Court Law Clerk From a Fourth Tier Law School with the Dream of Working in a Major City

119

Print/Download PDF

Font Size

By 

 from  Office 

Rate this Case Study

16 Reviews Average: 4.8 out of 5

A senior lawyer for a federal appellate District judge in a small market wanted to relocate to a major market and work as an associate. Normally, this would not seem like something that would be that difficult. In this case, however, this attorney had gone to a fourth-tier law school and did not have any law firm experience. Like many law clerks, this attorney had been more of a “career clerk” than a one-time clerk for a judge. This meant that the attorney’s background made it seem like they were avoiding working in a law firm and were more of a government employee.
Federal Circuit Court Law Clerk From a Fourth Tier Law School with the Dream of Working in a Major City

Despite this apparent drawback, the attorney continued to clerk for the federal appellate judge. There are not a lot of federal appeals clerks, and regardless of the law school an attorney attends, being a federal clerk is always something an employer will find impressive. Also, this particular attorney had a high degree of enthusiasm and was very excited about the possibility of leaving the world market in which they worked to live and practice in a major US market. This enthusiasm is infectious, and when I see attorneys like this, there’s nothing more that I want than to help them achieve their dreams.
 
A. Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes

To market this candidate, I had to cut a wide swath of firms in the East Coast market this attorney was interested in. Because the attorney was clerking, I needed to look at not only openings but also firms that I knew of which previously hired federal appellate clerks, some of whom are still on staff. There are law firms that respect the value of clerkships and are eager to hire people who have held clerkships.
 
Because the attorney was interested in a large law firm, I had to be careful about not contacting firms with centralized recruiting systems more than once in various cities. A centralized recruiting system means that the law firm will see the candidate’s application depending on which location they’re interested in. So, for example, if an attorney is interested in Washington DC and New York this would be reflected in the law firms database. Conversely, many law firms do not use centralized databases for their recruiting, and this means these law firms run each office individually and do not know if the candidate is applying to one office or another. From a practical standpoint, law firms that do not use centralized recruiting systems because the candidate will typically get looked at by each office and its departments. The candidate will not be evaluated by only one person in the firm. This gives them twice as many options.
 
In the case of my candidate, I was able to get the candidate a position at a firm that matches exactly what they were seeking. To overcome the obstacles of the candidate's background, I spoke with over hundred law firms in a three-week spam. The East Coast, Washington DC and New York City are very competitive markets where it can be difficult to get a position. Despite this, my candidate was able to get a position with a top law firm that typically does not hire candidates from the law school this candidate attended.
 
Also, before this attorney started to work with me, the attorney sent their resume to almost every large law firm they found online in which they had been unable to secure interviews. When I became involved, I marketed the candidate to several law firms and sold the candidate in a way they had not been able to sell themselves.


View BCG Attorney Search’s Recent Placements
Read BCG Attorney Search Reviews


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.
Download the BCG Attorney Search App for the Latest Articles

AGREE/DISAGREE? SHARE COMMENTS ANONYMOUSLY! We Want to Hear Your Thoughts! Tell Us What You Think!!

More Case Studies

View All
We've changed thousands of lives over the past 20 years, and yours could be next.

When you use BCG Attorney Search you will get an unfair advantage because you will use the best legal placement company in the world for finding permanent law firm positions.