Simplifying the Complications in Your Story

As a legal placement professional, a big part of my job is helping people present themselves to law firms in their own best light. You are a competent, polished, accomplished professional who will make a seamless transition from your current situation to a new law firm. This is the simple, uncomplicated story that every law firm wants from its new hires. Right? But what if the story isn’t that simple? Your goal is to deconstruct any complications in your personal story. The simpler your story, the more likely you will get hired.

 
Law firms get many, many applications. If your application presents barriers to hiring you, you are less likely to get hired. Such complications include: changing practice areas to an area in which you have no experience, moving to a state where you have no connection, and looking for a job after a layoff. Much of my job involves helping you to deconstruct these barriers so that law firms will understand that they don’t present a problem. The more you can do to simplify your own story the more likely you will get hired. And there is plenty that you can do.
 
Changing Practice Areas
 
I get plenty of candidates who want to change practice areas, especially in difficult economic times. Many have excellent credentials but simply have no experience in their desired practice area. Asking a law firm to train you in a new area is asking that firm to take a risk on you. That is a complication for the firm. Here are some things you can do to convince a law firm that investing in you while you learn a new practice area will actually be pretty simple.
 
The first thing you can do is choose a practice area that is underserved. The legal market is constantly changing, and it will help you greatly if you can gain a sense of what practice areas are hot right now. A skilled legal placement professional will be able to help you with this. If a market sector is flooded, as litigation was during the downturn, with excellent, qualified and experienced attorneys, there is no way a law firm is going to invest money in someone to make the transition to that area. The opposite is also true; if a legal market is underserved, you have a much better chance that a law firm will be willing to train someone who is simply sharp and enthusiastic.
 
After you figure out which areas are underserved, you need to figure out which practice areas are practical for a transition for someone like you. Choose a practice area that makes sense with your current skill set. To use the same example as above, during the downturn, I had many out-of-work litigators trying to transition to another practice area. Some areas, like bankruptcy litigation and labor and employment litigation, make sense for litigators because they tend to involve at least some litigation. Positions involving contract drafting and negotiations also make sense for those litigators who have experience with contract disputes. However, areas like transactional tax and corporate law do not make much sense because the litigator would need to be trained basically from scratch, as these types of positions involve very little litigation. Law firms recognize this. A transition to a practice area that makes no sense complicates your story, and may well keep you from getting what you ask for.
 
Third, to the extent you are able, gain some experience in your desired area. Even if it is just pro bono experience, do what you can to get exposure to the issues you seek. If you become aware of a matter in your group that touches issues or intersects with issues in another practice group, ask to be included in that matter. You may be able to begin the transition in your own firm, and you can hunt for a new job with some small amount of experience under your belt.
 
See the following articles for more information:
 

• How Can I Change Practice Areas Early on in My Career as an Attorney?
• A Realistic Approach to Changing Practice Areas
• Is Changing Practice Areas within a Law Firm a Good Move?
• Biglaw Associate Thinking of Changing Practice Areas

 
Changing Geography
 
Moving to a new area of the country adds additional risk, costs and inconvenience for a potential employer in that they often pay for relocation and bar expenses. They assume a risk that you are just taking the job so that you can live in that city, but after a year you’ll look for a better job. Also, they assume a risk that you (or your family) may not like that area of the country after all. I once worked with an attorney who moved to a new a city for a job that he loved, but his poor daughter developed terrible environmental allergies and they had to go back to where they came from. Asking an employer to assume these risks makes an employer less likely to hire you. What can you do to ease the risk for a potential new employer?
 
There are several things you can do. The first and perhaps most important is to convince the firm that you already have enough experience with their city that you understand what living there will be like. Every city has its own quirks and culture, and firms run a risk in relocating someone that you will be caught by surprise by their city’s particular character. Tell them about any friends, family or visits you have made there. Don’t hold back. If at all possible, schedule a visit there and tell employers the dates you will be in town. If they can see that you are already at ease in their city, it amounts to one less complication in your story, and one less risk they must bear.
 
Another thing is to clearly explain why you are targeting their particular firm or group. If you can put a firm’s mind at ease that you are not just looking for someone to pay your moving expenses and serve as a base as you establish better connections in town, that is also one less risk they will need to assume.
 
Last, you can always take the bar exam or waive in to your target jurisdiction. Some states value this more than others. Similarly, it is more important in some practice areas than in others. A knowledgeable legal placement professional will be able to advise you on whether admission to a state’s bar is necessary for you.
 
See the following articles for more information:
 

• A Comprehensive Guide to Bar Reciprocity: What States Have Reciprocity for Lawyers and Allow You to Waive into the Bar
• How Can I Make Moving to the West Coast from a New York Law Firm Easier?
• Relocation! Relocation! Relocation!
• What’s the Best Way to Convince a Firm That I Am Serious about My Geographic Move?
• How Do I Get a Job in a City Where I Have No Local Connections?
• What Do You Need to Know If You Are Planning a Move to the West Coast?

 
Layoffs
 
A layoff significantly complicates anyone’s story. There are several things you can do to make it significantly simpler.
 
First, come prepared with neutral reasons for the layoff. You must understand that firms are worried that you were actually fired for cause, or that if you were more valued, you would not have been let go. The more you can make the layoff not about you, the more you simplify the story. Did a major client leave? Were many others laid off along with you? Know what happened, and be able to talk about it in neutral terms. The worst thing you can do is say, they didn’t really give me a reason, and I don’t know what happened. This creates all kinds of questions in the mind of a potential employer that are likely to keep you from getting hired.
 
Second, come with multiple, glowing recommendations. If there was one person who gave you bad reviews, or didn’t like you or your work for whatever reason, simply do not offer that person as a recommendation. By the time a firm is reviewing your recommendations and checking references, they have usually already decided they want you and may be willing to overlook one black mark on your record, should it come up. This is especially true if other recommenders are very enthusiastic about you and your work.
 
Third, always be positive about the layoff. If you say negative things about your former employer, or if any bitterness comes out, it will become clear to the firm that your being laid off is a more complicated story than you may be letting on. Think about what you learned at the firm, discuss projects you loved and praise partners who were good to you and liked your work. If you have positive things to say about a firm that let you go, you give the impression that you were not the reason you were let go. The potential employer will then understand that the story is a simple one, and it had nothing to do with you.
 
See the following articles for more information:
 

• How to Handle a Big Law Layoff
• What to Tell Your Recruiter after You’ve Been Laid Off
• How to Address Your Layoff in Cover Letters and Interviews
• Recently Laid-off Associate Unsure How to Handle Job Status in Interviews
• What to Do if Laid Off from an Attorney Job

 
When searching for a position, it is always important to keep your story as simple as possible. It is not your job to make people understand what you have been through. Instead, it is your job to make them understand that you will make their life easier, not harder, because your story is simple, and your transition to their firm will be as well.
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.