What was so amazing about this candidate from beginning to end was his patience, eternal optimism, and understanding of the reality of the market. He looked at every interview he received, big firm small firm major firm as a gift and was thrilled with everyone he got to speak to. He was also incredibly flexible on location, which ended up landing him a job in big law in the end during a pandemic when no one was landing big law jobs in corporate during the pandemic. He and I worked together for months, and he never once lost faith in BCG, me or the process and he kept with it, and as a result he had really strong results.
Now about the candidate. This candidate is amazing, and comes from really strong credentials, and was a 4th year associate. He earned his J.D. from a top 10 school in 2017, so he had a really strong background, which certainly helped him ultimately land a really great position.
He started his career as an associate in the corporate group of a Vault top 20 extremely well known firm where he focused in a wide range of corporate areas including private equity. As noted above, he made a move early in his career (about two years in) as the firm he was at has a reputation for being a very difficult place to work, and it proved true for him, and so he decided to leave since he knew he would not remain there long term. I worked with him on that search, and we ended up landing him in a really strong position.
He also provided a deal sheet - corporate attorneys sometimes do not appreciate the power of a deal sheet, but a strong one in the corporate world can make the difference between landing an interview, and not. It helps firms to really see the depth of your experience and is another way to really highlight how strong of a candidate you really are and to show the type of matters you worked on. In this case, he had worked on deals in the millions to billions for a wide range of companies from Fortune 500 companies to private equity funds to both public and private and domestic and cross-border deals.
This candidate's experience was really impressive in this regard. As noted above, his practice focused on corporate and private equity including representing domestic and international private equity fund. He had also lead diligence, and drafted, negotiated and reviewed purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements, resolutions, diligence schedules and memoranda and term sheets. This type of corporate background is usually gold, but during the pandemic, corporate has been hurting most of all.
This candidate and I worked together and over the course of our time together, got him out to many firms, and he continued to expand into different regions as he really was open and was most focused on landing a position for his career. There were a couple of cities he would equally be happy to live in as well, so he targeted those, and importantly stepped outside only focusing on the top of the top markets.
While he landed a lot of interviews at smaller boutique firms, which he was very interested in, he eventually landed an interview at a top firm in a regional market. This opening, despite being a regional location, was extremely competitive, and I understand the firm interviewed a lot of people for the role. The candidate's natural optimism and good nature and combined with his amazing credentials helped land him the job, and he accepted the offer immediately.
The message here is just because you have been laid off due to COVID, it does not mean your career is over. He was focused, optimistic, and stuck with me, and we worked really well together, and he is now starting in an amazing big law top paying job this week! What a great placement for this candidate!
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.
