However, there is no substitute for doing your own research - it will get you more actively engaged, you will retain the information better, you may find some information the recruiter missed (or came online since the recruiter looked into things on your behalf), and really, at the end of the day, it is always best to take ownership of your search no matter how good of a recruiter you are working with - being actively engaged in the process will pay dividends in terms of your lateral success.
That being said, what are some resources you can use to research potential firms to the fullest extent?
The Firm Website
The firm website is the most obvious source of information about a firm, but there are generally a couple tips and tricks that will help you find the most relevant information for your particular job search or interview:
- Take a look at the full office roster of attorneys so you can gauge the size of the office as a whole. There can be a large variation in the size of firm offices, even for the largest international firms, and this can have a dramatic impact on a number of relevant factors to your search including: office environment and culture, how broad or narrow your work opportunities will be (i.e., how many and which partners you will likely work for), and perhaps most importantly your opportunities for future promotion (smaller or satellite offices typically have less "pull" when it comes to hiring and promotion decisions during firm-wide partner committee discussions, unless that office happens to house a particularly influential rainmaker).
- Also be sure to look at how many attorneys that office has in the particular practice group for which you would be working, especially the partner profiles. If there are only a couple of partners in that practice group in that office, you are almost guaranteed to be working for them - take a look at their bios and practices and see whether you feel as if there will be a good fit. If there are only a few partners, or even one partner, it is possible you will be taking assignments from partners in other offices - this is a good question to ask in terms of assignment staffing when you are in an interview, and it is particularly common for more "national" practices like patent or corporate transactional work (less so for litigation, which tends to be more local in nature).
- Take a look at the general background information for a particular office. You might be surprised at how recently an office was founded - many firms were in a process of rapid expansion leading up to the recent economic depression, and a number of offices are on the newer and smaller side, even in major cities like Los Angeles. If a firm has a relatively new presence in a market, this may mean the work is less stable, which could be a deterrent. The flipside of this is that the office may be more entrepreneurial or poised for rapid growth, and you could be in an excellent ground-floor position that can rocket you to promotion and seniority faster than working your way up through the ranks of a larger, more established office. It really depends on the nature of your practice, how your matters are staffed, and how aggressive you are willing to be with grabbing practice opportunities and developing a client base. Either way, this is important information to have.
- Absolutely look at the news/press release section of the firm's website for both the particular office at which you are interviewing, and for the practice group firm-wide. You want to be aware of whether the group is expanding, if there have been recent major lateral hires that represent significant new practice opportunities, and whether there are any major recent successes you can bring up in an interview, particularly if they involved any of the attorneys you are speaking with - I probably don't have to tell you that attorneys love being reminded of their successes in practice!
Publications like JD Journal, ABA Journal, The American Lawyer, the National Law Journal, Vault, the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog, and even Above The Law can all be excellent resources for researching both specific firms and general legal industry trends. Most of them have searchable website archives where you can search for your specific firm in order to see news, press releases, and even gossip relevant to that firm.
- See Top Ten Interview Questions for more information
It is good to know how the overall market is doing, as well as your particular practice area market, in order to gauge why and to what extent your background and experience may be in demand at any given point in time. It is also good to know how your potential firm is positioned in this market, and any major moves or shake-ups that might be relevant to your long-term prospects with the firm. Did they recently lay people off? Did a group of partners and associates in your practice area recently depart for another firm, and perhaps that is what is driving their current hiring? Did a firm recently make a significant partner or practice group acquisition in order to expand their business in your practice area (which demonstrates a long-term commitment to servicing clients in that sector)?
While I definitely do not recommend bringing up a firm's recent layoffs or partner departures in a first round interview, it is definitely helpful to develop a current profile of your target firm's recent movement as it pertains to their staffing, hiring, and retention in your practice area. You do not want to land at a firm only to find that the reason so many attorneys in your practice group have departed recently is because the firm management has de-prioritized your practice group. I have seen too many attorneys land somewhere and have to look for yet another position within a few short months due to this particular chain of events.
Classmates and Colleagues
One of the best sources for information about a firm is clearly the people who work there. To the extent you have classmates or former colleagues who work at a given firm, it is definitely worth reaching out them to get their take on the overall firm culture, a particular office, or ideally particular partners (LinkedIn is a good source for researching this, and many firm websites allow you to search for attorneys by the law school they attended). Even if you do not have a direct contact at a particular firm, you may have a friend-of-a-friend there to whom you could be introduced.
Regardless of whether you end up interviewing, or even applying, to a particular firm, this sort of fact-finding mission is an excellent excuse for networking, and you will reap the benefits of being more visible in your practice group community, making new contacts, staying in touch with classmates and colleagues, and potentially finding out about other opportunities through the proverbial grapevine. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard stories of attorneys finding great lateral jobs seemingly at random or by accident through networking, meeting friends-of-friends, or even just getting back in touch with old law school classmates or former colleagues, but the common denominator to all of these stories is that those attorneys were out there actively speaking to people in the market, not just sitting behind their desk clicking a mouse. Putting yourself in front of people, whether it is in person or over the phone, is an excellent skill to develop, maintain, and improve, and it will help you in your long-term career.
Conclusion
There are other ways to find out information about particular firms, but these are the main sources, and the most fruitful in terms of solid intel you can use in your job search, application, and interview process. At the end of the day, the law is a human institution and a human enterprise, and the more information you have about the people, culture, office, and practice group at a particular firm, the more targeted your search will be and the more successful you will be in the interview process. In this competitive market, it is not enough to simply fire off a resume to the website of all the AmLaw 200 firms and hope for the best, even if your credentials are stellar. Putting in the extra leg work to do your own research will not only help you land a new job, it will help you make sure that job is the right one for many years to come.
Learn why attorneys usually fail law firm phone-screening interviews in this article:
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.
