Have You Gone For Your Annual Career Checkup?

Granted, along the way you will need to pay your dues; but even when you get to a place in your career where things seem to be going well, you owe it to yourself to periodically evaluate whether there is anything you can improve upon.

If you take the time for self-reflection on a regular basis, you will be less likely to hit a career crisis and you will have time to initiate change gradually when the early signs of dissatisfaction begin to show.


Put another way, achieving career satisfaction takes ongoing work. For one, your needs and interests will evolve as you move through different phases in life.

In your late 20s, your focus may be proving yourself at work, while in your late 30s, you may be trying to balance work with the needs of a young family.

Furthermore, in the economy of the 21st century, expect the unexpected. What is working well today may not exist tomorrow. The law firm environment you have come to appreciate may be merged out of existence. The clients you enjoy working with may run out of cash. Partners you like may leave. Your practice area may experience a significant slowdown.

There are many ways to be reflective. To get you started, I have devised a simple list of questions that you can get through with minimal effort; however, getting out of your office and speaking with more seasoned attorneys is an important next step.

Thinking you would like to pursue a new practice area may be a well-reasoned conclusion. But it is a good idea to do a reality check and find out more from those who practice in this area (i.e., to see if your perceptions about the new practice area are correct and to gauge whether or not the new area holds some promise).

20 Questions To Help Evaluate Your Potential Need For Change
 

• Does your work provide you with enough intellectual challenge? Too much?
• Do you enjoy your work?
  
  In a law firm, even the most senior partner has to put up with things he does not like doing. But it is reasonable to want to enjoy what you do 75 percent of the time.
• Do you find your work meaningful?
• Is your work consistent with your values?
  
  Do you value a quality work product? Bottom line results for clients? How employees are treated? Is integrity high on your list of values? How about serving the needs of others? Being part of a mission protecting the environment, providing legal services to the poor, promoting civil rights, etc.? Efficiency? Getting paid top dollar for your skills? Having a lot of free time available for personal interests/family? How does your current job measure up against these values? (e.g., If producing a high-quality work product is an important value to you, you will probably be unhappy in a work environment where you are rewarded for moving a high volume of cases as quickly as possible.)
• Is work that is more consistent with your interests available at your firm? Have you asked for it?
• If you have asked for more challenging, enjoyable or meaningful work and you have not been given this work, is the work likely to get more challenging, interesting or meaningful as you get more senior? Can you tolerate the you are doing until this happens?
• Can you find more meaning in your work by supplementing your regular caseload with pro bono work or work from fee-paying clients who cannot afford the regular firm rate? Can you spend some of your time on marketing so that down the road you will have the kind of work/clients you want?
• If the work is not likely to improve, is your current position worth sticking with because it is a stepping stone to the job that you do want?
• Is the job worth sticking with because the salary you are earning will help pay off your debt and give you more career flexibility in a shorter period of time?
• If you do not have time for volunteer/pro bono work, can you get satisfaction by providing financial support to the causes that interest you?
• Are you satisfied with the hours that you work? With the predictability of these hours?
• Does the firm allow you to work part time and/or telecommute? Have other associates or partners in your department had a positive experience working in this capacity?
• Are you happy with the level of collegiality in your firm? Do you like the partners and associates with whom you work? Is it possible to avoid the partners you do not like working with?
• Do you receive constructive criticism on your work and sufficient career guidance from colleagues? Can you ask for more?
• Are you given ample opportunity to attend internal and/or external CLE programs?
• Are you happy with the level of professionalism in your organization?
• Would you have more career satisfaction doing the same work in a different environment? Does such a workplace exist?
• Would you be happy if you could do the same work for fewer hours? Is it possible to do this kind of work in fewer hours?
• Do you like the firm's clients? Can you avoid working with the clients whom you do not like?
• Are you satisfied with your compensation? Could you find a comparable work situation that pays more?

There is some overlap in the questions that have been posed and there are many other questions that you can ask yourself. If you are in a career crisis, you may want to consider getting some career counseling with a trained specialist.

Just don't expect miraculous epiphanies or instant results, though. Real career happiness takes a lot of work to achieve and continuous work to maintain. But the payoff with respect to your emotional health is large.


About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
• Workers Compensation
• Insurance
• Family Law
• Trust and Estate
• Municipal law
• And many more...

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.