Contacting BCG Candidates Independently Harms You, Candidates and BCG | BCGSearch.com

Contacting BCG Candidates Independently Harms You, Candidates and BCG

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Direct contact by law firms with our candidates is not ethical and fair and can negatively impact the candidates, BCG, and both parties businesses. Here are some reasons why:
Contacting BCG Candidates Independently Harms You, Candidates and BCG

 

1. Your Direct Contact with our Candidates Deprives Candidates of the Benefits of Having BCG Represent Them


Having an agent can be highly beneficial for job seekers in many ways. BCG invests millions of dollars a month in finding and screening the right candidates, researching the market, and working closely with candidates to ensure that they are fully informed about the market. We have over 200 employees and have been in business for over 25 years. Direct contact by law firms with our candidates deprives them of the valuable services that we provide, including salary negotiation, counseling on market value, interview preparation, and advice on the value of a job opportunity. It also limits the opportunities that our candidates have access to.
 
  • Access to a wider range of opportunities: agents can provide access to a wider range of job opportunities that may need to be more easily visible to candidates. They are experts in their field and can use their networks and connections to help candidates discover potential job openings that align with their skills and career goals. 
  • Helping job seekers understand their market value: Agents can also help job seekers understand their true market value. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience about the industry and can give candidates an accurate assessment of their worth in terms of salary and other benefits. This is especially important because it can be challenging for job seekers to know their true market value, and they may undersell themselves if they negotiate their offers. 
  • Preventing exploitation: Another important aspect of having an agent is that it protects candidates from potential exploitation from buyers of their talent. Agents act as intermediaries between the job seeker and the hiring company, which can prevent lowball offers, unreasonable demands, uneducated decisions, pressure, or other unfair practices from the employer. Agents can also help to negotiate salary and benefits on behalf of the candidate, which can lead to a better outcome for all parties involved.
 
You are depriving a candidate of these benefits by contacting a candidate directly in response to a submission. You are not allowing the candidate to have an agency relationship with their representative. You are limiting their ability to understand their true market value, negotiate effectively, and be fully prepared for the interview process.
 

In summary, agents are crucial for job seekers because they provide access to a wider range of opportunities, help candidates understand their market value, and protect them from being taken advantage of by potential employers. When a hiring company contacts a candidate directly in response to a submission, they are potentially limiting their ability to fully realize these benefits, which can be detrimental to their career prospects.
 

2. Your Direct Contact with Our Candidates Does Profound Harm to BCG


When law firms contact and hire attorneys without paying us, it damages our company and employees while providing firms with free economic benefits. We are not compensated for the cost of attracting candidates, our staff, our infrastructure, our advertising, nurturing the candidate, researching jobs, researching firms, or promoting your firm instead of other alternatives. In contrast, you hire our candidates and can put them to work, earning you money immediately. That is not fair to us. This can negatively impact BCG’s commissioned employees and families, who depend on their job to support their livelihood.
 
  • Loss of revenue: When a recruitment firm identifies and nurtures potential candidates, they do so with the expectation of receiving compensation in the form of a commission. If a law firm hires a candidate without paying BCG, the latter loses out on its commission, which can result in a significant loss of revenue. This loss of revenue can affect BCG's ability to invest in new talent, technology, and other resources necessary for the business to operate effectively. 
  • Decreased morale: When recruitment firms spend time and resources on a candidate, they expect compensation for their work. This can lead to a decrease in productivity and quality of work, which can negatively impact BCG's ability to attract and retain clients. If a law firm hires a candidate without paying BCG, it can create a sense of demotivation and decreased morale among BCG's employees. 
  • Damage to reputation: Recruitment firms depend on their reputation to attract new clients and candidates. A law firm hiring a candidate without paying BCG can damage the latter's reputation in the industry. This can make it harder for BCG to attract new clients and candidates in the future and create a sense of distrust among their existing clients. 
  • Loss of trust: When a law firm hires a candidate without paying BCG, it can create a sense of distrust between the two parties. BCG may feel that the law firm could be more trustworthy and may be hesitant to work with them in the future. This can lead to a communication breakdown and make it harder for BCG to work effectively with its clients. 
  • Unfair competition: If a law firm hires a candidate without paying BCG, they gain an unfair advantage over other firms that do pay for recruitment services. BCG's clients may feel they are at a disadvantage if they do pay for recruitment services and may be more likely to look for other firms that offer similar services at a lower cost. This can create an unlevel playing field in the industry, which can be detrimental to BCG and its clients. 
  • Negative impact on commissioned employees: Recruitment firms often pay their employees a commission based on the success of their placements. If a law firm hires a candidate without paying BCG, the latter's employees may miss out on the commission they would have earned from that placement. This can negatively impact BCG's commissioned employees and their families, who depend on their job to support their livelihood. This loss of income can create financial hardship for the employees and make it harder for BCG to attract and retain top talent.
 
See Also:
 

3. Your Direct Contact with Our Candidates Does Profound Harm to Your Firm


When a law firm contacts and hires a candidate without paying BCG, it hurts the candidate and BCG and puts the firm in a difficult position. BCG has spent time, resources, and money on attracting and nurturing the candidate and expects compensation for its work. Directly contacting a candidate without going through BCG shows a lack of respect for their efforts and can cause significant harm to BCG's reputation.
 
At BCG Attorney Search, we take the protection of our candidates and our company very seriously. If we find out that a law firm has stolen one of our candidates without paying us, we respond in kind. We have many strategies to protect our company and candidates and to warn others in the legal industry about the unethical behavior of the offending firm.
 
  • One of the strategies we use is to solicit reviews of the law firm on our public profiles of your firm on BCGSearch.com, LawCrossing.com, TopLawSchools.com, and other legal recruitment sites and feature any negative reviews we receive. In most instances, we also use search engine optimization (driving links from our other sites to the review pages) and traffic from our 1,800,000+ newsletter subscribers to promote these negative reviews right to the top of search engine results pages. Your firm suddenly comes up on top for searches about your firm. Doing so makes it more difficult for any offending firm to attract top talent and clients, and we warn potential candidates about their unethical behavior. 
  • In addition to posting negative reviews, we also change the offending firm's public profile on BCG and LawCrossing to "AVOID AT ALL COSTS." This warning helps attorneys, clients and others to steer clear of the firm and avoid being taken advantage of when they reach the firm. We also inform other legal recruitment firms to avoid offending firms in a national private forum and minds are difficult to change. We also allow negative stories about the firm to run on our JD Journal publication about reviews if they are sufficiently negative. 
  • Because we are a legal recruiting firm, we can prioritize your attorneys for in-demand opportunities. As we collect negative reviews of your firm, we can disperse these to your employees, clients, and others and write articles about them in our publications.
 
These strategies are not taken lightly but are necessary to protect our candidates and company. As the leading legal recruitment firm in the industry, our reputation is of utmost importance. We have worked hard to build a network of 25,000+ law firms that trust and respect us, and we are proud to say that there are currently no "AVOID AT ALL COSTS" ratings on BCG Attorney Search.
 
In conclusion, law firms that contact and hire candidates without paying a recruitment firm are engaging in unethical behavior that can cause significant harm to BCG and its candidates. At BCG Attorney Search, we take this behavior very seriously. We have several strategies to protect our company and candidates and warn others in the legal industry about the offending firm's behavior. We encourage all law firms to respect the work of recruitment firms and to compensate them fairly for their efforts.
 
BCG Attorney Search plays an important role in the national legal community by connecting attorneys with law firms and facilitating the hiring process. Over the past several years, over 750,000 candidates have submitted their resumes to BCG, and we work with over 25,000 law firms. Law firms have contacted people behind our backs and hired them before. However, as explained below, they have always paid us unless they have gone out of business.
 
In conclusion, direct contact by law firms with recruitment firms' candidates is unfair and unethical and harms the candidate, BCG, and both parties business. It is important to respect the relationship between BCG and the law firm and recruitment firms' work.
 


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:

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.

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.


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