Treat Your Job Search As a Full-Time Job

Many associates get their first job by summering at a law firm during law school, and joining that firm upon graduation. Failing that, they search for a job closer to graduation and jump at the first offer. Neither of these methods is a particularly effective way to forge a satisfying career path, as these decisions are often based upon a dearth of information. Now that you have put in several years into your career, what will your next move look like? The approach often taken by practicing attorneys is similar to that of many law students: simply apply for open positions, and choose from among offers. But will this method bring you greater job satisfaction than it did when you chose your first job?

A job search that will yield a more satisfying result takes time and effort on your part. The first step is accepting this, and making a deal with yourself to make the time and put in the work. Recruiters can be great resources when it comes to gathering information on the fiscal health, culture, salary, client base, and lifestyle of certain firms. There is a lot of preliminary work you need to do before you even get to that point. Figuring out what will be the best opportunity for you will help ensure that your next move is your last.


1. What Kind of Practice Do I Want to Have?

First, assess the skills you have and ask yourself what you have enjoyed about the practice areas you have experienced. Think about the work itself, the future of the practice area (is it growing?), the lifestyle it offers (what do I need, as a practical matter?), the partnership and client development potential, and think about how these considerations fit with your own wants and needs. Then you can begin to figure out what types of practices you might want to target.

If you are an attorney who has dabbled in several areas, now might be a good a time to ask yourself what you might like to specialize in. For example, I recently worked with an attorney who was in the litigation group of her firm, but had spent some time practicing in white collar/internal investigations. She loved it, but her firm could not provide her with that type of work full-time, so she sought a firm with a prominent white collar practice. Similarly, I recently placed an attorney who was practicing in both transactional real estate and real estate litigation. He first decided that litigation no longer fit his family-focused lifestyle, then targeted, eventually securing, a position in transactional real estate.

2. How Do I Find the Firms that Practice the Kind of Law I Like?

A recruiter will know many of the firms you will want to target. We tend to know the highest-caliber practices in a particular area. However, if you are not working with a recruiter, or you are targeting the types of law firms that recruiters may not work with, there are resources you can, and should, utilize yourself to find the best firm for you.

a. Martindale.com.

www.martindale.com

Martindale is a great resource for getting the lay of the land in a particular practice area. After accessing the website, click on advanced search under the "Law Firms" tab. You can search by city, firm size, and practice area, among other searches. This initial search will give you a starting point in figuring out which firms might be interesting to you.

Martindale searches are extremely time consuming, as the lists kept on this site are comprehensive. They are also not 100% accurate; just because a firm claims to practice in a particular area does not mean that the practice is robust or thriving. Law firms can choose to include themselves in a particular practice area, and sometimes these self-categorizations are a product of wishful thinking. You should go to the website and of each firm claiming to practice in that area, and research how many attorneys actually practice in that area, and whether they do it full time.

I prefer to use Martindale as a jumping off point for further research. Even with these shortcomings, it is an excellent tool for getting started in your research.

b. Chambers & Partners

http://www.chambersandpartners.com/

This site allows you to research, by practice area, the top practices in a particular practice area. You can search by state (not city), but, for some reason, when you choose a state from the pull-down menu, the practice area search options become limited. For example, "ERISA Litigation," which is an option if you do not select a state, disappears as an option once you do. Therefore, if want to search more specific practice areas, you may need to do so without selecting a state, and you will end up with a national search.

Chambers also allows you to search law firms, so that once you have come up with some firms that appear to practice in your area of interest, you can access the firm's profile. Not all firms have profiles listed. If there is a profile, it will give you basic information on the firm (size, locations, and main areas of practice).

It is also worth noting that Chambers' listings are international, rather than just US firms.

c. Career Services at Your Law School

Even if you have been out of law school for some time, it is worth paying a visit to your career services office at your law school. Many law schools designate a person to work with alumni. Career Services Counselors often have access to many positions that legal recruiters do not have, specifically, smaller firms, government, and non-profit positions in addition to large law firms.

If you are not practicing in the city where you went to law school, call your career services office and ask if they can arrange for you to access the career services office of a local school. This is done quite often, although it can take a couple of months. Still, it is worth having access to local job boards and the knowledge of local career services counselors.

Need an "in" to a great practice within a particular law firm? Law schools sometimes keep lists of alumni who have gone on to certain positions who may be willing to talk to you about their practice. This is where your networking skills come in. Call the person (the school may have a policy of contacting the person for you), ask them to lunch, and discuss their practice with them, as well as other notable practices in town. They will certainly know who the players are, and may well turn out to be your best source of information.

3. How Do I Find In-House Jobs?

One resource that I constantly find myself recommending for in-house job seekers is the Association of Corporate Counsel, www.acc.com. They have a job board with in-house positions around the country. It is worth noting that many of these are actually posted by legal recruiters, so you may end up applying to a recruiter and speaking to them about a mystery employer before they will tell you anything about the job. Recruiters can be especially tight-lipped about in-house positions, as they are not always published.

The bad news is that very little published information is available about in-house positions in terms of salary, culture, fiscal health, etc. If you interview for these positions, again, your best bet may be to get ahold of an alumnus from your law school who works or has worked for that company, and get their honest opinion. Again, this is a time-consuming process that will require a long-term approach on your part

See How to Make a Lot of Money Practicing Law​ for more information

4. Conclusion

The bottom line is that there are excellent resources available to help you determine where you might best fit, but a quality job search that will bring you long-term job satisfaction is a big time commitment, and you need to give it the attention it deserves. It well worth putting in the work it will take to ensure the best fit for you.


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.