Such was the case with the most recent candidate that I placed. She is Class of 2015, passed the bar on her first try, attended a strong law school in San Diego, did not do particularly well there (earning just below a 3.0 GPA), participated in Mock Trial, attended a UC school for her undergraduate studies and is fluent in Spanish. So overall, while her schools are decent / fairly strong, her GPA is not necessarily competitive (I often have trouble placing candidates with a GPA of below a 3.0). To add to the difficulty of the situation, this candidate's work experience has been mixed since law school. She started as a Staff Attorney, Graduate Law Clerk and Certified Legal Intern at her school's Legal Clinics, working there for just a few months post-graduation from law school. She then joined a small San Diego firm as a Staff Attorney, working there for just over a year. Her practice at this firm focused on class action securities litigation, and she was not partnership track (Staff Attorneys normally are not). The honest truth is that attorneys with the title "Contract Attorney" or "Staff Attorney" on their resume, even if in the past, often have trouble landing jobs as Associates at law firms. I think that this is because a prospective employer doesn't necessarily trust the experience that the attorney has gotten to date, and may think that the attorney not offered a partnership-track position because of some deficiency on his or her part. Firms are generally conservative in their hiring, and don't want to take any chances on a potential hire. They really want to see attorney resumes with only the title "Associate" on them, for any current or past experience that the attorney has under his or her belt.
This candidate's "saving grace" was that for the past 2.5 years, she has been working at a small, public entity-focused firm between the OC and San Diego, and her practice has focused largely on defense-side employment litigation. 70% of her current practice centers around Labor & Employment / Employment Litigation, 15% around Education and 15% around Union issues. She is also an Associate Attorney now, so she is on partnership track. As mentioned above, Labor & Employment is a very hot and sought-after practice area in California, so candidates with strong and substantive defense-side experience, even if otherwise clunky, may have success in lateraling to a decent to strong firm. The other thing that I think helped this candidate was that she is in a small market. While this meant fewer positions for us to apply her to (we only applied her to three), it also means that firms in San Diego generally have a smaller pool of candidates to choose from. Interestingly enough, even if a candidate that is based in LA or the OC says that he or she is interested in San Diego, I find that San Diego firms often only want to consider candidates that are currently located in San Diego and / or have strong ties to the area. This candidate lives in San Diego / has a San Diego address on her resume, and currently commutes to her firm (which is located between the OC and San Diego). So, I believe that this also gave her a leg-up with the firm that ended up hiring her.
As mentioned above, we only applied this candidate to three firms, towards the end of September. The largest of the three firms that we had applied her to, a strong, mid-sized, California-based firm, immediately responded to her application materials, asking to set up a phone interview between her and the head of the firm's Labor & Employment practice group. From there, the firm asked to review her writing sample (writing samples are important, and should be taken seriously! They can make the difference between a rejection and an offer!), and asked to set up a lunch interview with the candidate, which the head of the practice group and a Partner in San Diego attended. The two Partners drove to the candidate to have lunch with her, even though her current firm is located a good hour north of San Diego! They clearly really liked her and her experience, and wanted to do everything possible to get her to join.
The candidate ended up receiving an offer soon after the lunch, at a base that is 25% higher than her current base! She accepted the next day, in early October (just a couple of weeks after we started working together!), and she will be attending the firm's Labor & Employment retreat this weekend! This opportunity is a pretty amazing one for my candidate, as she will be lateraling from a ten-person, public entity-focused firm to a firm of around 100 attorneys, that has a strong presence and several offices in California, and that does a lot of work with private employers. From this firm, I think that this candidate will be able to lateral up to an even bigger and more prestigious firm in a couple of years, if she so chooses. She is very excited about joining the firm at which she has accepted, and I couldn't be happier for her!
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.
