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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 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.
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
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.
Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.