Didn’t Go to a Top Law School? Here’s How to Level Up Anyway

Description

In this Q&A video, Harrison Barnes discusses how attorneys who didn't attend top law schools or work in prestigious firms can still access valuable networks and mindsets later in their careers. He emphasizes that law is a lifelong profession, with opportunities to grow at any stage. Barnes advises seeking out specialized courses, joining relevant bar associations, and networking with practitioners in different fields to gain exposure to new opportunities and strategies. He stresses that it’s never too late to level up, start a new practice, or improve through continued learning and active engagement with professional communities.

Question:
How can someone who didn't attend a top college or law school still access the same kinds of networks and mindsets later in their career? I've worked in smaller firms and didn’t have much exposure to top-tier mentors. Are there specific strategies or environments I should seek out to simulate that kind of influence and start leveling up my thinking—or to make up for that kind of early professional conditioning?

Answer:
Okay, so if you graduate from law school at the age of 25, you have roughly 50 years to practice law—that’s twice the amount of time you’ve been alive so far. I’ve seen attorneys in their eighties still practicing. So what do you do? You can learn about different practice areas. You can take courses on how to become a trusts and estates attorney, for example. There are online courses that teach people how to get business in various practice areas. You can do all of these things and become any type of attorney you want. You can start your own firm and improve by actively learning and joining different bar associations with attorneys who do the kind of work you want to do. If you want to be a trusts and estates attorney, join that specific group in your city and learn from the people already succeeding in that area.