What Happens When You Allow Others to Control Your Access to Information?

The best way to find law firms is to use the information on our short post that has a list of directories that you can use. Martindale is a good one, and you can also use FindLaw. Remember, law firms have to pay to have their information posted on these two websites. You'll find the details of some other attorney directories on our website too.

So the really best way of doing it is I also like using Google to find information. That can work very well, as well. Do a search for law firms in your practice area in the location you want to work in. A lot of times that will present you with information that you'll not find on any directories. I'm very impressed with Google's ability to do that. That's certainly a good way to do it. At BCG, we list top law firms in different practice areas. So you can use that.


There's another source called Chambers, which has different law firms in different states. It's Chambers, USA. I believe they list information of firms in different practice areas. Then there's also US News and World Report. But what I would encourage you to do is spend more time on Google and more time on places where the information is free because you're going to get access to more information that other people aren't finding.

An example would be the Vault list of firms. Vault is a great source for firms, but that's only going to show you very few firms. You're not going to really find as many firms as you normally would if you use paid sources. But everybody can use paid sources. For example, everybody knows about NALP. NALP is a good source, and they have a lot of firms. But it costs a lot of money to list a firm on NALP, and so you need to find places that aren't necessarily listed in those organizations. There is another way to find attorneys. Just use State Bar directories.

A lot of times, these directories break down people by practice area. You can find a list of all of the state bars on our website. There are local bars, and there are also bars for different practice areas.

2. Is there a service that can mail your resume on your behalf?

Yes. There's service called Legal Authority that can do that. That's one of our services, but at the same time, the work that Legal Authority does, you can do yourself. You don't necessarily need to use a service like Legal Authority. But it can help you do it for you. So Legal Authority is a good service for that, and you'll find it at legalauthority.com. You can also create lists yourself. By the way, when you create your own list, it's a good thing because you may find you can also email the alumni at your law school. You can find if there's something that a firm does you think is particularly attractive.

You can mail them, and you may know someone at the firm, or there are all sorts of things. The more you kind of investigate a firm, the better it is. People love to get personalized application material. So Legal Authority will send application materials for you, but they won't be that personalized. You can do it yourself, and people love receiving personalized application materials. If you can do personalized application materials, that's going to make a huge difference. If you're able to do that, whatever you can do to send personalized application materials should help. Personalized means you give reasons that show you're interested in the exact firm or something along those lines.

3. If you don't hear back when you send your application materials, what should you do? How should you follow up? And what's the best way to follow up?

Well, the best way to make sure the firm gets your application materials is not to email them. Also, don’t apply through the law firm or the employer's online system. I mean, you certainly can. But the best way to make sure is you mail your stock because mailing gets approved. Then the other thing you can do is you can just apply again, sometimes. But you don't want to be pushy with firms. A lot of times if you're pushy, firms won't like you. But being pushy can sometimes work for you.

4. If you decide to email a resume or a cover letter, should you also send a writing sample?

Law firms will ask for a writing sample later if they want.

Typically, you want to send less because if you send more, it will give an opportunity for you sometimes to potentially screw up. So you don't want to screw up by sending something that they may not like. I actually don't mind sending writing samples. I think it can be a good idea to send writing samples.

But at the same time, since it shows a lot of enthusiasm, if you send a writing sample, it should be something that you're 100 percent sure is very good. There are all sorts of rules for writing samples, such as making sure that the formatting is right. And you don't want to send things you worked on that are not public memos.

5. Do you have a template of what a letter to a firm could say?

Yes. You'll find it on our website. Please visit our cover letters section.

A cover letter does not need to say a lot. Sometimes, a short letter actually gets more attention than a longer one. The idea is, when you're young especially or older, a lot of people give too much importance to the things that they've done. But you don't always need to go into a lot of detail.

So I think I will try to talk a little bit about that for you guys next week. So if no one has any more questions, I think that's probably it. I'm sorry there were some issues with the PowerPoint when we got started. We are planning to do also a resume and cover letter workshop in the next week or so. So we'll send the dates and times for that. I'm sure that would be helpful for a lot of people. And if people want as well, I'm happy personally to look at everyone's resume. And I will record if you don't want to do it publicly. I can record short little discussions about what I think you should do to improve your resume.

So after the call, we'll send out an email to everyone about what to do with a resume. And then if anybody would like any personalized help with their resume and cover letter, we can arrange some calls for that too. So, I will have some information set out about that after this meeting. And I certainly appreciate everybody being on the call and a member, and we have a lot of exciting stuff coming up in the next several weeks. But I think that's it for today. What we covered is very important, and I'm encouraged by the questions. Especially the one on looking for places to send. So that's good. Thank you.

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.