While I really wanted to help this candidate, it is often incredibly difficult to place first year candidates and I was dubious. I told him as much but he insisted that he needed out and that even if it took a year he wanted to start his search immediately. I can certainly relate to being incredibly unhappy at work and so I told him I would do everything within my power to place him.
Most firms won't hire first year associates because they want to hire associates that have at least two years of experience and as one law firm partner told me recently, "why would I hire a first year? That's what our summer associate program is for." Moreover, firms are skeptical of candidates that are already looking to leave a firm during their first year. Are they problematic people who can't get along with others or who can't "fit-in" culturally? Are they being asked to leave already? Are they incapable of doing the work? The list goes on. In reality, some attorneys know immediately that a certain lifestyle or firm culture is simply not for them. I've always admired these types of people because when I was a practicing attorney, even though I knew that certain jobs or firms weren't for me, I stuck with it. Sometimes it's hard not to think, what if I had left sooner?
Perhaps it's also a generational thing because I have a lot of first year candidates who know they want to make a move and are not willing to stick it out. I think so long as they are realistic that placing them may take a long time, good for them for being pro-active.
This particular candidate was also a hero of mine since he immediately knew that the NYC Big Law firm lifestyle was not for him and he was not seduced by the promise of power and money, as many who live and work in New York are (I am a native Manhattanite so I can say this). He wanted me to look in two very different markets. One market was upstate New York and the other back on the West Coast near where he went to law school.
I submitted this candidate in late June of 2020. I heard back from a few firms saying that he was a great candidate but that he needed more experience for them to consider him. Finally in late August I heard from a firm that the candidate had said would be his ideal firm and in his ideal location in upstate New York where he grew up. We were both giddy that the firm wanted to interview him and set up in-person meetings. Our excitement, however, was premature. Even though the firm had initially expressed interest in late August and he had completed all of his interviews, including with the heads of the firm and his practice group by early October, the firm's internal Human Resources director who I had been communicating with all along, became non-responsive. I followed up a week later and heard back that yes they were very interested but that she would let me know more next week. I followed up the following week and was told the same thing. This back and forth lasted another two months. As one can imagine, my candidate got frustrated, as did I. But one thing I've learned is that persistence pays off. Every two weeks I would check in and she would say "no, please tell him we are still very interested but we are just trying to sort things out." Again, I would have to tell my candidate not to lose hope. In reality, I also was beginning to doubt the sincerity of the firm's intentions. For those in a similar position, our Q&A article How Can I Make a Move as a First-Year Associate without Ruining My Relationship with My Current Firm? offers actionable advice on handling transitions professionally and maintaining strong firm relationships.
Finally, in mid-December I received a call from the firm's HR director saying she had offered my candidate a position at the firm as an incoming second year the day before. This was such wonderful news, I was beyond happy for my candidate. After all this had been his ideal firm, doing the work he wanted to be doing and in the exact location he wanted to be in. She then told me that the firm had really wanted this candidate but that their reason for delaying had been because the practice group head had had to get approval from the firm's executive committee to justify his hire. There are many important lessons to be learned by this candidate's experience. First, simply because the interviewing process is accelerated doesn't mean that an offer is going to follow shortly. Second, persistence pays off. Third, there may be many behind the scenes factors that may lead to a delay in the hiring process. And Fourth, just because a firm is slow in making an offer doesn't mean they've lost interest.
In the end my candidate turned down another offer he had received for almost twice the money at a firm in New York City to follow his instincts and go to a firm where he knew he wouldn't just be a another cog in the wheel. A firm that cared about his development as an attorney and who would want to make him partner as soon as possible. A firm where his billables were 1750. A firm where he would be encouraged to develop his own book of business. A firm that afforded him a work life balance. In the end, this candidate realized what many fail to, money isn't everything and isn't worth one's happiness. I was really touched by this candidate and wholeheartedly know he made an excellent career move.
About Harrison Barnes
The Architect of the Hidden Legal Job Market
For most lawyers, an attorney job search begins with public job postings, law firm websites, and job boards. Harrison Barnes knows that the best opportunities are often found elsewhere—in the hidden legal job market, where confidential firm needs, quiet practice expansions, and customized roles are never publicly advertised.
As the Founder and CEO of BCG Attorney Search, Harrison has spent more than 25 years helping attorneys access opportunities before they reach the public market. He understands that law firms often hire strategically and confidentially, especially when seeking highly marketable lateral talent, replacing underperformers, or expanding key practice areas.
Harrison’s insight into law firm recruiting comes from firsthand legal experience. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, a former federal law clerk, and a former associate at Quinn Emanuel. Early in his career, he saw that traditional legal recruiting was often reactive and overly dependent on posted openings.
To change that, Harrison built BCG Attorney Search into one of the most comprehensive legal recruiting platforms in the country. Over the past two and a half decades, he has invested heavily in proprietary law firm intelligence, attorney market data, and a nationwide recruiting team. This infrastructure helps identify legal career opportunities before they become visible to most candidates.
Harrison and his team do more than match resumes to job descriptions. They help attorneys understand their legal career options, improve their marketability, and position themselves as solutions to a law firm’s specific needs. Whether advising a junior associate, a senior associate, counsel, or a partner, Harrison focuses on aligning each attorney’s strengths with the right firm, platform, and long-term career path.
Through this approach, Harrison has helped place attorneys in thousands of law firms nationwide, from Am Law 100 firms to specialized boutiques and growing regional practices. His work has helped attorneys make career moves that many believed were impossible.
Today, Harrison Barnes is recognized as one of the legal industry’s leading recruiters and career strategists. His legal career advice, articles, webinars, podcasts, and resources such as The Legal Career Insider Substack are followed by attorneys across the country.
Harrison believes the best legal careers are built by finding doors others cannot see. Through BCG Attorney Search, he gives attorneys access to the hidden market—and helps them move toward the career they truly want.
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.
