The candidate that I just placed at a top Am Law 100 firm in San Francisco is a very strong candidate, but her practice is mixed. In terms of this candidate's very positive attributes, she is Class of 2015 (which is a great class year), has been at a well-respected Am Law 200 firm since her graduation from law school in 2015, did very well in law school (and was at a Top 20 law school), did very well in undergrad (although her undergraduate university is not well-known) and was on law review in law school. I found it particularly impressive that she has been at only one Am Law 200 firm since her graduation from law school, for the last four years. This is exceedingly rare. By now, most candidates of her class year have made at least one, if not two or more lateral law firm moves. She also has great academic credentials and was even on law review, even though she is a corporate candidate. This candidate's only potential Achilles' heels in my mind, were the fact that she has a very mixed practice, and that she isn't barred in a lot of the states to which I and my fellow Recruiters in other regions were applying her. In terms of her practice, she does about 40-50% tech transactions and data privacy, and the rest of her practice is mainly corporate governance, securities and a bit of M&A. When deciding how to market this candidate, I realized that she was likely to get the most traction in either tech transactions or data privacy, as these are very very hot practice areas right now, it is very hard to find candidates with sophisticated experience, top academics and top firm credentials to apply to the open positions in these practice areas at top firms and her corporate experience is not in M&A or venture capital, which is mainly where the need is at top firms.
I was working with this candidate in California, mainly SF and Silicon Valley, but she was also interested in the East Coast, the Midwest (where she is currently based) and the South. As a result, my company had a West Coast Recruiter, an East Coast Recruiter, a Midwest Recruiter and a Southern Recruiter all working on her file. We submitted her to around ten difference cities, and she ended up getting around 15 interviews, mostly at elite boutiques and Am Law 100 firms nationwide. This candidate got interviews in Charlotte, DC, SF, Silicon Valley, Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis and Northern Virginia. This is despite the fact that she is only barred in Missouri, where she is currently based, and Illinois! The experience of working with this candidate solidified in my mind the idea that very strong corporate, tech transactions and / or data privacy candidates do not necessarily need the bar license of the states to which they are applying.
In terms of my own experience with the candidate, she ended up getting callback interviews at three top Am Law 100 firms in San Francisco. One of the positions for which she was interviewing was a General Corporate position, one was a Tech Transactions position and one was a Data Privacy position. She ended up getting an offer from the firm with the General Corporate position, but they wanted her to take a two-year class year haircut, because as mentioned above, the candidate doesn't have M&A or VC experience, and would probably require extensive training in these areas. The firm for which she was interviewing with the Tech Transactions team didn't end up giving this candidate an offer, because her background is not technical enough / she doesn't have a technical undergraduate or graduate degree. I think that this firm really wanted technical attorneys that also had sophisticated experience drafting IP agreements, which, to be honest, I think will be hard for them to find. Finally, her first choice firm, the firm whose offer she ended up accepting, had advertised that they were looking to fill a tech transactions / data privacy position, but in the end, the position ended up being almost exclusively data privacy! This candidate has, to my knowledge, substantially more tech transactions than data privacy experience, but she is an author for her current firm's data privacy blog, and she does have some experience in this practice area (although she doesn't have any of the relevant certifications). Still, the firm offered her an Associate position with only a one-year class year haircut! She is the second attorney that I place recently in a data privacy position for whom a minority of her practice is data privacy. Just goes to show that data privacy is hot hot hot right now, especially in California, and attorneys with any relevant and sophisticated experience in this practice area may get some truly amazing traction at top Am Law 100 firms!
This candidate received the offer from the Top Am Law 100 firm for the data privacy position just this past Friday, and she accepted today, early Monday morning. She is so very excited to move to SF with her husband, and to lateral from an Am Law 200 firm to a top Am Law 100 firm, and in the cutting edge and exciting practice area of data privacy! I couldn't be happier for this candidate, and I know that she will excel at her new firm home!
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.
