How to Spot Law Firms That Truly Hire Partners Without a Book of Business

Description

In this Q&A video, Harrison Barnes discusses how to identify law firms that are open to hiring partners without business, versus those primarily focused on revenue generation. He explains that firms experiencing growth in specific practice areas and hiring a lot of partners may be more willing to bring on partners without business. Barnes advises applicants to broaden their search, noting that it’s difficult to determine if a firm will be open to hiring a partner without business unless they apply. He also points out that firms with senior associate positions may be more likely to hire partners, as they likely have the workload to accommodate them.

Question:
What are some signs that a law firm is generally open to hiring partners without business, versus those who claim to be but are actually focused on revenue generation?

Answer:
Signs that a law firm is open to hiring partners without business include that the firm is growing in a specific practice area, and a lot of partners are being hired, even if they may not have their own business. Firms that are expanding in certain areas may be more open to hiring partners without business. However, when applying to firms, you need to broaden your search because you can’t always know if they will be open to hiring you unless you try. You have no way of knowing if they have enough work, so you often need to apply to senior associate jobs. If they have senior associate positions available, they may also be open to hiring partners because they likely have the type of work that can be delegated. That’s one thing to look for.