A Letter to BCG Attorney Search Recruiters from Harrison Barnes: Thoughts on BCG Attorney Search

   

Harrison Barnes

The BCG Attorney Search Philosophy

The success we have achieved — individually and collectively as a firm — is attributable to our shared concept of what a recruiting firm should be. It is based on four simple principles:


First, we must achieve excellence in everything we do. Hands down, we need to be the absolute best at what we do. Second, despite day-to-day business differences, everyone here is part of a family. Third, every attorney's contact with BCG Attorney Search should be a meaningful experience. Fourth, this business must be run for the long term so that it can continue to grow and adapt in all economic environments.

I know that organizations often pay lip service to these types of ideas. These ideas underscore how this business has been run to date and how it will always be run. It is not run "fast and loose," and it is not run for the benefit of any one individual but for everyone here and for our long-term interests as a group. This level of conservatism and focus upon the group — and not individuals — is something that benefits us all.

First, achieving excellence in everything we do is about a lot of things. It is about:
 

• how the business is branded;
• how the business relates to law firms and candidates;
• how well the business markets itself;
• how well the business is continually improving itself;
• the benefit of having multiple people in multiple areas throughout the United States creating "buzz" for the business;
• how well the business is led and whether the business and its leaders are constantly pushing the recruiters and the business in the right direction;
• how people feel about working here (from the highest-paid recruiter to the lowest-paid service person);
• how financially responsible the business is;
• how well the business advertises (more than $10,000 a week on average in advertising alone);
• the quality of our database and computer programmers;
• the quality of the people who gather and post jobs;
• the quality of our designers;
• the quality and shared vision of our recruiters;
• the quality of our writers;
• the quality of our accountants and bookkeepers;
• the quality of our faxes and word processors;
• how innovative the business is in terms of the steps it takes;
• how well we police the quality of the work that is going out in multiple cities;
• how well we educate attorneys and law firms about the placement market;
• the quality of the articles we write and the quantity of articles we write;
• how honest we are with the world;
• how innovative we are in making submissions;
• how focused our recruiters are; and
• staying in touch with all of our recruiters on an ongoing basis to ensure they are focused and continue to grow.

Most importantly, though, achieving excellence is about how well we support one another and how seriously we all consider ourselves part of a profession of the highest order. We realize that this profession creates an obligation on our part to attorneys everywhere.

Most great law firms were founded on a drive for excellence — as a firm. They achieved success because of the way the lawyers practiced as a firm. These organizations grew because they valued their attorneys' legal skills, not just because they were good at selling themselves. In my opinion, there is no other legal recruiting firm out there like BCG Attorney Search that shares our drive for excellence at the highest level.

Despite our organization's wide array of personalities, the vision for BCG Attorney Search is something of a throwback to this older law firm concept. The quality of our work and our profession are paramount. We want to reward recruiters for the quality of their work and their efforts on behalf of the profession as a whole. We should have a cooperative environment where the pursuit of excellence is more important than the pursuit of individual glory and wealth.

This philosophy works. This is how this business has been run to date, and this is how it will always be run. We hope to continue to expand and get better at what we do, and this philosophy of excellence will be behind everything we do — whether we have one office or 10 offices.

Second, everyone here should be supportive of one another. For recruiters not working in our main office in Los Angeles, it is probably difficult to envision the level of support you are receiving. As an organization, we have literally run through millions of dollars in placement fees in the process of establishing who we are, learning what works and what does not, and doing multiple things on a daily basis to ensure that we stand out from the crowd. The things we do are almost too numerous to mention. The point of everything we are doing is to ensure that the sum of what we do as a group is far, far greater than what any of us could achieve individually.

As a group, we can do many, many things we could not do alone. We can afford to pay several people to post ads and refresh them on a daily basis. We can afford to make programming changes to our database on a daily basis. We can afford to market with newsletters and books to tens of thousands of people. We can redesign websites, write countless articles for the public, refer people to other related businesses that allow us to help even more people and afford even more advertising, pay numerous people to enter in (manually and 24 hours a day) every resume we receive via email and the Internet, support the founding of new offices and support offices in slow periods, have our accounting done, and more.

A third thing about BCG Attorney Search is so important and fundamental to who we are that a lot of recruiters do not understand it, either here or outside this firm: when attorneys find BCG Attorney Search, their experiences are likely to be meaningful for them. On our website, they will get all the information they could ever need. If they apply for one of our jobs, they will continue to receive useful information throughout their careers. If we cannot help them, we will ensure that we refer them to a source we know about that can help them get a job. We know these businesses can help get attorneys jobs because we worked to start them to correct deficiencies in the current market.

This is more significant than you may realize. As a group of individuals, we are all motivated toward the greater good. We can all feel good about the work that we do because just by existing, we are making a meaningful difference in the world through both our thoughts and our actions. There is no other recruiting firm in the world that takes the step of ensuring that everyone who contacts it gets a job.

Finally, BCG Attorney Search is built for the long term in all respects. By having multiple offices and being supported by multiple businesses, we are working to ensure that we can withstand economic changes and continue to grow. The business is also not dependent upon any one recruiter — or even itself — to continue and grow.

A Role in Shaping a Work in Progress

We are a work in progress. Each of us plays a part in shaping the firm that we will become. All of us are working to create a legacy that will leave a significant long-term footprint on the world's legal landscape.

BCG Attorney Search is less than a decade old. This is a young recruiting firm by any standard. We have achieved a lot in a short period of time — probably more than any other legal recruiting firm in history. We have achieved all of this because we are entrepreneurial, willing to think differently, and actually care about our role in the world and the lives of attorneys everywhere.

I wanted to share these ideas with you about the company so that you could gain a greater understanding of what we are doing and what we want to become.
   

Interested in Learning More About Legal Hiring? Read the Definitive Guide: How to Hire a Legal Recruiter for Your Law Firm: How Law Firms Recruit Attorneys Using Legal Recruiters

 

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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.