Corporate Attorney (General)

What Does a Corporate Attorney Do?
 

• This practice area focuses on general corporate work. Corporate law includes entity formation and corporate governance.
• Corporate work includes the creation of different kinds of entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships, as well as helping companies comply with ongoing governance and regulatory issues.
• Corporate generalists typically deal with multiple different types of corporate-related work.
• On the West Coast (particularly Silicon Valley), corporate attorneys tend to work more with private companies; they counsel technology companies, do venture work, securities, and IPOs.
• On the East Coast, there tends to be more public company-related work and the practice area tends to be much more specialized.
• Many generalists serve as outside general counsel to companies.

Why Do Corporate Attorneys Enjoy Their Jobs?
 

• Attorneys enjoy being generalists because the work tends to be quite collaborative.
• There is a lot to learn to be a corporate attorney (it can take several years), and this creates a high barrier to entry in the field.
• This is a good practice area for people who like business, money and working directly with companies.
• Corporate attorneys are the most likely to be able to get in-house positions.

What Are the Difficulties of Being a Corporate Attorney?
 

• The work that corporate attorneys do is often referred to as "glorified clerical work" because the work is often quite clerical in nature.
• The best corporate attorneys excel at finding the things that can go wrong in transactions, contracts, and other deals.
• Because they are trained to see the negative, they are often viewed as hindrances to getting things done.

How Easy Is It to Move Laterally as a Corporate Attorney?
 

• When the economy is good, corporate attorneys are often in strong demand.
• Regarding the ability to lateral between states, cities and even countries, corporate is probably the best practice area to be in.
• This is also a good practice area for attorneys interested in business and making a lot of money.
• When the economy is slow, it can become more difficult for corporate attorneys to move laterally and there are a lot of layoffs.
• This is a very difficult practice area to start a career in because attorneys can get laid off and lose their jobs early in their careers and never get the training needed to become seasoned attorneys.
• This is the best practice area for attorneys interested in building a book of business.
• Because corporate attorneys tend to advise their clients on an ongoing basis about a variety of issues, they typically can get spin-off work (litigation, real estate, tax and so forth) that they can send to other attorneys in their firm.

 
See the current Corporate job openings we are recruiting for here: Corporate Attorney Jobs

• Junior BigLaw Corporate Associate Moves to a Smaller Firm for a Better Life
• Experienced Attorneys Should Consider Unconventional Firms if They Hit a Dead End on the Partnership Track
• Candidate lands big law position despite COVID lay off
• Strong Mid-Level Corporate Associate Moves Home and Secures Position with Strong Firm
• Cap Markets Specialist Moves to a Broad Based Corporate Position
• Junior Corporate/ Transactional Attorney Finds New Opportunity with Highly-Regarded Regional Firm
• Senior Sophisticated Corporate/ Transactional Candidate Makes Move from In-House Back to Private Practice
• Senior Corporate Attorney Looking for a Role Back at a Firm
• Big Law California Associate Moves to Regional Market
• Mid-Level Tax and Corporate Candidate Finds New Opportunity Upon Geographic Move for Family
• Delaware Corporate Associate Placed at Top Am Law 100 Firm in Silicon Valley
• Senior Corporate Attorney Makes Move to Big Law With Class Year Flexibility
• Placement of Junior Corporate Associate Relocating Home to Boston from California with Arent Fox
• Start-up Former Big Law Attorney Returns to Top Big Law Firm
• Placement of a Junior Corporate Associate in Kentucky with a Boutique Firm in NYC
• Unemployed Attorney With Strong Background Moves to Am Law Top 200
• Placement of Senior Solo Practitioner with $100k Portable Book with Prestigious Regional Firm
• Elite Mid-Level Corporate Associate Finds New Opportunity Upon Move Back to Midwest
• Mid-Level Corporate Candidate From Regional Southeast Firm Moves to Vault Law 100 Firm in Colorado
• Elite Corporate Candidate (Class of 2016) Finds Opportunity upon Relocating to Home in Midwest
• Strong Corporate Candidate in Missouri Secures Data Privacy Role at Top Am Law 100 Firm in San Francisco
• Class of 2017 Business Litigation Associate Candidate Placed in Corporate/Transactional Associate Role at National Law Firm
• Corporate LLM Candidate Placed at a Top Am Law 100 Firm in Silicon Valley
• Corporate Attorney From Texas Placed in San Diego
• Attorney Goes to Business School After Losing their Job and Wants to Return to a Large Law Firm in New York City
• Junior Corporate Associate in Los Angeles Interested in a Larger Law Firm
• Niche Area Corporate Attorney in Washington, DC Interested in Relocating to New York
• Candidate in Europe Wants to Relocate Home to the US
• Attorney Moves From The Bay Area To The Pacific Northwest

About Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes is a prominent figure in the legal placement industry, known for his expertise in attorney placements and his extensive knowledge of the legal profession.

With over 25 years of experience, he has established himself as a leading voice in the field and has helped thousands of lawyers and law students find their ideal career paths.

Barnes is a former federal law clerk and associate at Quinn Emanuel and a graduate of the University of Chicago College and the University of Virginia Law School. He was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist at the University of Chicago and a member of the University of Virginia Law Review. Early in his legal career, he enrolled in Stanford Business School but dropped out because he missed legal recruiting too much.

Barnes' approach to the legal industry is rooted in his commitment to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. He believes that the key to success in the legal profession is to be proactive, persistent, and disciplined in one's approach to work and life. He encourages lawyers to take ownership of their careers and to focus on developing their skills and expertise in a way that aligns with their passions and interests.

One of how Barnes provides support to lawyers is through his writing. On his blog, HarrisonBarnes.com, and BCGSearch.com, he regularly shares his insights and advice on a range of topics related to the legal profession. Through his writing, he aims to empower lawyers to control their careers and make informed decisions about their professional development.

One of Barnes's fundamental philosophies in his writing is the importance of networking. He believes that networking is a critical component of career success and that it is essential for lawyers to establish relationships with others in their field. He encourages lawyers to attend events, join organizations, and connect with others in the legal community to build their professional networks.

Another central theme in Barnes' writing is the importance of personal and professional development. He believes that lawyers should continuously strive to improve themselves and develop their skills to succeed in their careers. He encourages lawyers to pursue ongoing education and training actively, read widely, and seek new opportunities for growth and development.

In addition to his work in the legal industry, Barnes is also a fitness and lifestyle enthusiast. He sees fitness and wellness as integral to his personal and professional development and encourages others to adopt a similar mindset. He starts his day at 4:00 am and dedicates several daily hours to running, weightlifting, and pursuing spiritual disciplines.

Finally, Barnes is a strong advocate for community service and giving back. He volunteers for the University of Chicago, where he is the former area chair of Los Angeles for the University of Chicago Admissions Office. He also serves as the President of the Young Presidents Organization's Century City Los Angeles Chapter, where he works to support and connect young business leaders.

In conclusion, Harrison Barnes is a visionary legal industry leader committed to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. Through his work at BCG Attorney Search, writing, and community involvement, he empowers lawyers to take control of their careers, develop their skills continuously, and lead fulfilling and successful lives. His philosophy of being proactive, persistent, and disciplined, combined with his focus on personal and professional development, makes him a valuable resource for anyone looking to succeed in the legal profession.

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.