Action: Approve firms now. Momentum starts the moment you say yes.
BCG's system replaces guesswork with a disciplined, repeatable process. Instead of waiting for posted roles and hoping a portal forwards your resume, we create access across the entire market and present you directly to partners with a focused narrative that fits their needs.
| Step | What BCG Does | Why It Matters | Your Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Discovery | Structured debrief of your experience, strengths, constraints, and goals. | Finds the "hire me" signals that get attention. | Share wins, advocacy examples, writing samples, references. |
| 2) Market Map | Build the universe of target firms: posted roles, unposted needs, and adjacencies. | Expands opportunity surface far beyond job boards. | Approve broadly; do not self‑reject. |
| 3) Narrative | Craft firm‑clustered messaging: why you, why now, why them. | Converts background into a partner‑friendly business case. | Align on themes; supply matter lists and quantified impact. |
| 4) Submission | Coordinate targeted submissions and proactive recruiter follow‑ups. | Beats portals; creates timely conversations. | Keep weekly approvals to sustain momentum. |
| 5) Prep | Role‑plays and objection handling specific to each firm/practice. | Turns screens into callbacks and offers. | Practice concise stories using issue‑approach‑impact. |
| 6) Offers | Advise on compensation, start dates, conflicts, and transition. | Optimizes upside and goodwill. | Be transparent on priorities; decide promptly. |
| 7) Onboarding | References, conflicts clearances, integration tips. | Sets up a strong first 90 days. | Document early wins; stay coachable. |
Every search is unique, but patterns repeat across thousands of candidates. The biggest predictor of interview volume is not GPA or pedigree alone; it is disciplined approvals across the full relevant market, paired with recruiter‑led messaging and follow‑ups.
| Profile | Approvals | First Interviews | Offers | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmLaw 100 Associate (2–4 years) | 120–220 | 5–12 | 1–3 | 2–6 weeks |
| Midsize Litigator moving markets | 180–280 | 4–9 | 1–2 | 3–8 weeks |
| Senior Counsel (practice leadership) | 90–160 | 3–7 | 1–2 | 4–10 weeks |
| Re‑entry after a break; niche practice | 200–350 | 3–8 | 0–2 | 4–12+ weeks |
Relocations succeed when approvals expand faster than the inevitable frictions of bar timing, housing, and family logistics. We widen the map to adjacent cities and commuter corridors while we coordinate interviews around your availability.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Quantify, organize, and prioritize recent/high‑impact work. | Dump exhaustive lists without emphasis or outcomes. |
| Use clean, portal‑safe formatting (PDF). | Exotic fonts or templates that break in HR systems. |
| Tailor by firm cluster; include relevant sample(s). | Send the same generic package everywhere. |
| Approach | Strengths | Limits | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG Full‑Market System | Unposted access, partner‑level narrative, structured follow‑ups, interview prep. | Requires consistent approvals and collaboration. | Primary strategy for interviews and offers. |
| Job Boards | Fast scan of posted roles. | High competition; portal black holes. | Supplement when aligned with BCG outreach. |
| Direct Firm Applications | Signals initiative. | Often screened by portals; limited follow‑up. | Use when BCG flags a specific posting. |
| Cold Networking | Builds relationships; insight on culture. | Time‑intensive; inconsistent conversion. | Parallel track amplified by BCG submissions. |
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| "I should wait for the perfect posting." | Hidden demand often hires first. Approvals put you in the room before postings exist. |
| "Approving many firms looks unfocused." | Firms see only targeted submissions. Breadth is invisible to them and essential to you. |
| "Networking alone will do it." | Networking helps, but recruiter‑led submissions to the full market produce more interviews, faster. |
The market rewards candidates who create more at‑bats with clear, partner‑oriented narratives. That is exactly what BCG’s system is designed to do. If you approve firms broadly and consistently, we will do the heavy lifting of positioning, outreach, follow‑up, and preparation. Interviews and offers follow because the process aligns with how firms actually decide.