Description
In this Q&A video, Harrison Barnes explains how law firms' expectations for specialization vary depending on market size. He notes that in major markets like New York, clients pay a premium for highly specialized attorneys, making deep expertise in a specific practice area essential. However, in smaller markets like Cleveland, attorneys are more often generalists due to limited demand for narrow specialties. Barnes advises that while firms value in-depth experience, demonstrating adaptability and a strong foundation in a practice area can help attorneys transitioning into niche markets establish credibility and secure opportunities, especially when full specialization isn’t practical due to market limitations.
Question:
I've heard that law firms are increasingly looking for partners with specific industry expertise. If I transition to a niche market where I have some experience, but not extensive expertise, how can I demonstrate credibility and expertise to a firm in that space?
Answer:
Attorneys are becoming more specialized in their practice areas because clients, particularly in large markets like New York, are willing to pay a lot of money for highly specialized expertise. This would typically be the role of an associate, senior associate, or even income partner. However, if you move to a smaller market like Cleveland, you might be handling general corporate work, private equity, or other broad corporate matters, making you more of a generalist. That’s typically how it works in smaller markets. While there are firms in Cleveland where attorneys specialize in areas like securities, it’s more common for attorneys in smaller markets to be generalists. Firms will appreciate in-depth experience in one practice area, but the work often isn’t available to support a highly specialized role in smaller markets. Generally, in niche markets, it’s easier to get jobs, but in smaller markets, generalist roles are more common due to the lack of enough work for specialized attorneys.
