[TRANSCRIPT] Why Every Big Firm Practice Area Eventually "Self-Destructs" at Least Once Every Eight Years

Welcome to this webinar. Today's session is one of the most important webinars you'll ever hear. I will go in-depth about the current market and provide strategies to help you navigate what's happening right now. Let's start with some insight into the current job market.

The legal job market right now is the worst I've seen in over 20 years. I have a good sense of the market, and currently, it's especially tough for those trying to secure positions in major cities, particularly for roles representing commercial clients. Practice areas like real estate, commercial litigation, and patent prosecution, where attorneys represent companies, are very slow in big cities. There are many stealth layoffs, and primarily partners are finding jobs, not associates. Overhiring a few years ago has also contributed to the current dead weight in many firms.


If you're trying to get a job in a major city doing company-facing work, it will be very hard. The largest law firms are the toughest to secure positions with, especially for practice areas representing companies. It's much easier to get positions with smaller to medium-sized firms in big markets. For those in company-facing roles, looking at firms in smaller markets can be beneficial, as there's often less competition for associates in these areas.

The bright spot in this challenging market is for those in consumer-facing practice areas like family law, trusts and estates, workers' comp, personal injury, and immigration. These areas are thriving, with plenty of opportunities in both large and small markets. Attorneys in these fields are largely insulated from layoffs and work slowdowns as long as they represent individuals.

Today's presentation focuses on practice areas and their stability within firms. Choosing the right practice area is crucial because many go through cycles. For example, corporate law is cyclical, and if you're not a partner during a downturn, you could face significant challenges. Other practice areas like trademark and IP litigation also experience these cycles.
 

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You need to understand the cyclical nature of practice areas to avoid problems. Many attorneys don't realize the risks of entering certain fields until it's too late. For instance, data privacy was once booming, but now there are far fewer jobs. Similarly, IP litigation has slowed down, and this trend can leave many attorneys struggling to find work.

Being aware of these cycles is essential for making informed career choices. If you enter a practice area that later self-destructs, it doesn't matter what law school you attended or what firm you worked for; finding a job becomes incredibly difficult. When work dries up, the law firm environment changes dramatically, and maintaining employment becomes challenging.

Firms often give poor performance reviews during slowdowns, which can be disheartening. Attorneys with top credentials can face severe psychological effects, leading some to extreme measures like changing careers entirely. I've seen people become writers, truck drivers, or even fast-food managers. This highlights the unpredictable nature of the legal profession.

To avoid these pitfalls, choose firms with stable work environments, often characterized by institutional clients. Understand that law firms are businesses, and your employment depends on the firm's ability to make money. Choose a firm that offers job security and advancement opportunities over just high pay.

When a practice area slows down, the first to go are often the associates, and once you're laid off, it becomes very hard to find another position. Law firms typically prefer hiring those who are currently employed over those who were laid off. This creates a challenging job market for unemployed attorneys.

Moreover, once you're let go, returning to the same firm or finding a new position in a similar firm becomes very difficult. Law firms seek enthusiastic and committed employees, and being laid off often labels you as less desirable. This harsh reality affects both associates and partners.

I've seen many attorneys struggle after being laid off, despite having strong credentials and work histories. The key is to understand the importance of employment security and choose practice areas and firms accordingly.

Be strategic about your career choices. Understand the cyclical nature of practice areas, the economic forces at play, and the importance of job security. By doing so, you can better navigate the legal job market and protect your career from potential downturns.

What happens is partners often lose their jobs. The nice thing about a law firm is it's set up to keep practice areas or attorneys busy in different practice areas. If corporate slows down, litigation work will help keep the partners paid if their work isn't slowing down. Law firms are designed this way, but it can be devastating in some places when work dries up. When that happens, especially to associates, one of the best strategies to stay employed is moving back to their hometown or working in smaller markets until the market picks up. This can be very beneficial.

If you're an attorney, here's a piece of advice: in a bad market, you may have lost your job or are struggling to stay employed. One of the worst things you can do is try to get a job in a big market if you're in a commercial-facing practice area, such as representing companies that pay law firms, and that work is slowing down. Real estate, for example, is doing poorly right now due to various factors. Corporate law isn't doing well either, so if you're trying to compete in a large market without stellar qualifications, you'll have a very difficult time finding another job. The smartest move is often to relocate to a smaller market or a market where you have connections.

For instance, if you're working in Chicago and everything slows down, and you're from Quincy, Illinois, moving back there to work at a smaller firm might be a smart move. You can always return to a large market later. I've been reviewing resumes and talking to attorneys for 25 years and have a decent sense of what happens when markets slow down. I've seen what attorneys do right and wrong.
 

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See Related Q&A Videos:

• How Personal Interests Help Identify Which Practice Area Fits You Most
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• How Can I Transition from a Niche Practice Area to a More General One?

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This advice will help you understand which practice areas are safe and where you should be working to stay employed. Being on this webinar and understanding this information can change the direction of your career and save it. Most attorneys should learn this in law school to make better choices.

The first practice area is litigation. Litigation can self-destruct, depending on the type you're doing. It's always at risk. For example, an attorney started her career at Jones Day, moved to Quinn to work on a high-profile intellectual property case, billed 3000 hours a year, but when the case settled, she could only bill 1500 hours and was let go. This doesn't mean she's a bad attorney or Quinn is a bad firm—it's just business. If you're in a firm and expecting a steady flow of work and something self-destructs, you're in trouble.

The only way to protect yourself from market slowdowns is to put substantial effort into getting work from clients outside the firm. Those who don't often face trouble. Laid-off attorneys struggle because firms prefer to hire those who are currently employed. I spoke to a woman recently who lost her job after giving a presentation on unconscious bias, putting her on the wrong side of her firm. Law firms fear hiring unemployed attorneys because they wonder why they were let go.

For example, Heller Ehrman, a historic firm in California, closed its doors after several large cases settled, and it couldn't pay its lines of credit. No firm is safe, and litigation moves with economic cycles. When the economy slows, litigation tends to get busy because people start suing to recover money lost during better times. So, litigation is often countercyclical and can be a good area to be in during economic slowdowns.

However, firms can collapse or lay off many people if their specific type of litigation work dries up. Firms that charge high hourly rates may push clients into litigation, driving up revenue, but leaving clients reluctant to engage in future litigation due to high costs. This creates a boom and bust cycle in law firms.

When people graduate from law school, they're often hired for practice areas they may not be suited for. Corporate law attracts those who like math, science, and accounting, while litigators prefer reading and writing. During slowdowns, you might be hired as a litigator even if it doesn't suit your personality. Be aware of whether you're in the right practice area for you.

Law firms depend on revenues from different practice areas during slow periods. For example, during the 2008-2009 slowdown, IP litigation was hot and supported many firms. However, litigators may resent corporate attorneys when they're busier and bringing in more revenue, leading them to seek new firms that pay them more.
 

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Understanding these dynamics can help you navigate your legal career more effectively and ensure you make strategic decisions to stay employed.

If enough attorneys leave, the law firm can slow down, and the firm can self-destruct. This happened to Heller Ehrman, a well-known firm that even advertised on 60 Minutes. They had a strong corporate practice, but when the economic meltdown occurred, corporate work vanished. The IP litigators, who were supporting the firm, became resentful as their revenue was funneled to the corporate attorneys. Eventually, they left, and the firm couldn't pay its line of credit. Cases settled due to high fees, clients became hesitant, and work for litigators slowed down.

When the economy is slow, litigation often picks up. Litigators get clients fired up over wrongs, leading to intense litigation. However, clients feel overbilled, start settling cases, and litigation slows down, causing layoffs. This cyclical pattern makes employment in different markets challenging.

Litigation can experience boom cycles during bad economies, usually happening post-recession. Clients eventually feel they spend too much on litigation, leading to case settlements, job losses, and instability. During good economies, many litigators switch to corporate law, contributing to cyclical employment challenges.

Being a litigator requires unique skills, and many attorneys enter this field. To join top firms, litigators need federal clerkships and excellent grades from prestigious law schools due to intense competition. Most law students learn litigation basics, but specializing in fields like real estate, corporate, or patent law provides unique skills that are in higher demand and less competitive. For instance, real estate attorneys are scarce, making them more employable.

Law firms prioritize training in transactional practices over academic credentials, unlike litigation. For example, securitization attorneys are in high demand due to the specific skills required. Real estate attorneys in Sacramento and San Jose were sought after for months, highlighting the advantage of specialized skills over litigation.

Litigation is a crowded field, making long-term employment challenging. Corporate attorneys have an easier time bringing in work than litigators, who are only needed in conflicts. Understanding employment options is crucial for litigators.

Litigation includes various subfields like personal injury, insurance defense, wage and hour work, and employment law, which can be more stable than commercial litigation. Personal injury attorneys, even from lesser-known law schools, can achieve remarkable success. Insurance defense also offers easier client acquisition.

Consumer-facing practice areas, such as personal injury or immigration law, can be more lucrative and stable for litigators. Corporate law can be volatile, as seen during the dot-com bubble burst when many corporate attorneys lost their jobs. Economic slowdowns can lead to significant layoffs in corporate law, affecting major firms nationwide.

Specialized corporate attorneys in smaller markets often experience more stability than those in large markets. Working in smaller markets or gaining experience in large firms before moving to smaller markets can provide more job security in any practice area.

During the 2008 slowdown, it was particularly severe in 2008 and 2009. One major law firm in Silicon Valley relocated all their junior corporate attorneys to a separate building on their campus. It seemed like a strategy to isolate these junior attorneys, almost as if they were waiting to be laid off. They kept them apart from the main building where the attorneys with more work were located, preventing them from socializing and collaborating with those who were performing well in other parts of the firm.

Law firms often prioritize retaining attorneys with better qualifications during layoffs. For instance, if you're working at a big firm in Chicago, those who graduated from top schools like Harvard, Stanford, or Duke are less likely to be laid off compared to graduates from schools like the University of Indiana, University of Illinois, or Case Western. This trend reflects a broader industry pattern where attorneys from prestigious schools are more secure in their positions during economic downturns.

If you're a junior attorney at a major law firm and the market slows down, your job security might heavily depend on your law school background. Firms often lay off attorneys from less prestigious schools first, especially those with limited work history and fewer opportunities to prove their capabilities.

Corporate law is closely tied to the economy. When the market is doing well, corporate attorneys thrive, but when it slows down, corporate work can grind to a halt. Companies tighten their budgets and reduce the work they give to outside law firms. For aspiring corporate attorneys, working in high-end markets like New York or Silicon Valley can provide valuable experience. It's crucial to dedicate yourself to learning and performing well, as being top-tier and reliable can enhance job security.

One of the best times to become a corporate attorney is during a growing economy. Establishing yourself over several years can make you more resilient during downturns. Corporate law also offers the potential to transition in-house, and it's generally easier to secure business as a corporate attorney. Start building client relationships early, stay connected with law school classmates, and continuously seek opportunities to develop your client base.

Smaller markets can provide job security during economic slowdowns. Moving to a suburb of a major city or a less competitive market can be a strategic move. For example, an attorney with an impressive background but no current employment can find opportunities in smaller markets like Toledo, Ohio, or Missoula, Montana. These markets often provide more stable career paths and greater job satisfaction compared to major cities.

In major markets, corporate attorneys typically specialize in areas like M&A or securities. In smaller markets, they are more likely to be generalists, which can offer more stability when the economy is down. Smaller markets often have a culture of long-term employment, and although the pay might be lower, the quality of life and job security can be higher.

Now, let's discuss real estate law. This practice area is significantly affected by interest rates. When interest rates are low, real estate transactions are more active. Conversely, high interest rates can freeze the market. Currently, with high post-COVID interest rates and a shift to remote work, the demand for office space has decreased, leading to a slowdown in the real estate sector. This has resulted in fewer job opportunities for real estate attorneys.

Real estate law can be volatile. During economic slowdowns, it's common for real estate attorneys to struggle with employment. However, real estate law also offers opportunities to build a client base. Cities like Los Angeles have a constant demand for real estate legal services due to numerous ongoing transactions. Attorneys who excel in this field can find in-house positions or cultivate a steady stream of clients.

If you're in a smaller market, you might handle both real estate and corporate work, which can provide some insulation from economic fluctuations. However, real estate law's inherent risks mean it's essential to be prepared for potential downturns.

Trademark law, though not as common, is another area affected by economic conditions. When the economy is expanding and new businesses are forming, the demand for trademark work increases. However, in a slowdown, trademark attorneys often lose their jobs as businesses cut back on such services. This field is particularly risky for junior attorneys as the work can quickly dry up during economic downturns.

Understanding the nuances of different practice areas is crucial for career planning. Whether you're a corporate, real estate, or trademark attorney, being aware of market conditions and strategically positioning yourself can enhance your job security and career prospects. Making informed decisions about your practice area and market can significantly impact your long-term success and stability in the legal profession.

Litigation is another type of work that trademark attorneys sometimes handle, and it can be a decent practice area compared to transactional trademark work. Trademark work is even more dangerous because it doesn't require as much training as many other practice areas. As a result, many firms use paralegals, contract attorneys, or staff attorneys to do the work. This makes it an extremely dangerous practice area to enter. If I were a young attorney, I would probably avoid this practice area unless you wanted to start your own firm or believed you could quickly bring in business.

From my observations, most trademark attorneys struggle if they don't make it past their first seven or eight years and fail to bring in clients. The next practice area to discuss is patent prosecution.

While discussing these practice areas, I realize you may not be a corporate attorney, litigator, or patent prosecutor. However, it’s important to understand how the market works and which practice areas to choose or avoid. This knowledge will make you a stronger attorney, especially if you're trying to bring in work.

Patent prosecution, especially in areas like electrical engineering, physics, and other hard sciences, has remained robust for several years. Recently, however, it has slowed down significantly. Initially, patent prosecutors were rare, but an influx of individuals entered the field because the market was so good. They knew they could make more money than as engineers, so they went to law school.

In patent prosecution, there are two types: hard sciences and life sciences. Hard sciences, including physics and electrical engineering, tend to do much better than life sciences, such as biology and chemistry. Many firms depend heavily on a single client, such as Apple, and if they lose that client, jobs are at risk. Most hard sciences IP work occurs in the Bay Area, though there are firms in New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Colorado, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

In smaller markets, patent prosecution can still be viable because firms can operate anywhere with a client base. However, if you don’t have a Ph.D., it’s much harder to stay employed in this field. Clients prefer to hire attorneys with Ph.D.s because they are willing to pay higher rates for their expertise.

Between 1999 and 2018, patent prosecution was very busy, and jobs were easy to find, with firms offering bonuses. However, since 2018, the number of openings has decreased due to an oversupply of attorneys in the field, making it risky.

Life sciences patent prosecution, including drug and biotech patents, can also be a dangerous practice area. For instance, in 2015, many firms in New York handling life sciences patent work suddenly saw a decline, leading to job losses. This area is subject to rapid changes, and the importance of having a Ph.D. and understanding market trends is crucial.

Electrical engineers are in high demand now, but this wasn't always the case. Previously, mechanical engineers were more sought after due to the need for machinery and automobiles. The shift towards electrical components has changed the demand landscape.

Becoming a patent attorney can be challenging and insular. Patent attorneys can be very critical of each other and engage in blackballing, which can make the field difficult to navigate. If you're considering this career path, be aware of these dynamics and proceed with caution.

Many times, it's not impossible for them to get a position when they're Black. I don't know why they do this. I don't really understand it. But it occurs frequently. So I'm just bringing that up. Okay. So we're working through these. I'm not going to spend a ton more time before we get to Q&A because I realize it's a lot of information, but the next one is labor and employment.

It is also often dependent on the economy. So when the economy is doing well, there are a lot of jobs. There tends to be a lot less labor and employment work and litigation. So there are fewer people suing during good economies. People are happy and employable, but when the economy is slow, people will look back and, by the gut fire, they'll come up with reasons that may be true or not. So then there's likely to be lawsuits. In strong economies, there are typically fewer labor and employment openings. I'm talking about labor and employment defense and plaintiffs work, and a lot of times large law firms will let people go.

Another point that's important to understand about labor and employment is if you do get a job in a large law firm and you're doing advice to employers or helping with individual lawsuits and stuff, the law firms aren't going to keep you around. They're more interested in people doing things like class action defense and things that have billable hours. So it's very difficult to often stay employed in large law firms. They tend to be more interested in shedding their employment practices than building them up.

A lot of clients don't want to do high-paying work. The work that is done in labor and employment often is not done. Large law firms do not continue doing it, and they haven't been for years. They've been shedding those practice areas for other firms that do only employment litigation. Firms like Mendelsohn, Fisher and Phillips, and Fort Harrison do employment litigation. That can be a very good practice area to be in. If you're doing defense, those firms tend to be very strong. They represent a lot of businesses and can do well. Then you have firms that do plaintiff's work, which can also be a very good practice area to be in.

Understanding the difference between defense and plaintiffs, there are a lot of firms that do only defense. The billing rate for defense firms tends to be much lower than large law firms. Because of that, the compensation is less, but you often have a much better time staying employed. In terms of plaintiff's work, that's also a very good practice area. You can, like in personal injury and similar areas, often make quite a bit of money. There are other subsets of labor and employment that can be good. For example, union labor side work. If you are at the right firm and have the right clients, that can be a good practice area as well.

A couple more things I'm going to go into. If you are making decisions about what practice area you want to be in or how things will be affected in the firm you go to, it can be very helpful to understand all this information. There's really no one that I know of providing this information to people.

Bankruptcy: you can pretty much get the idea of how things work there. During economic expansions, when things are going well, there tend to be fewer bankruptcies. When there are economic slowdowns, there are more opportunities. It's always worked that way. There are always a lot of bankruptcies going on. It happens in good economies as well as bad economies. Business models change and all sorts of things happen. Depending on what state and firm you're in, things can be busy or not.

Certain firms have exceptional bankruptcy practices that pretty much stay busy. There are other firms, like Stang, and some other very good firms that tend to always be doing well in terms of the work they bring in. There are other firms that don't, but firms with strong bankruptcy practices can stay very busy. However, during slowdowns, firms are often firm-specific. Sometimes firms will get a big bankruptcy client, then work will slow down when that's completed, and they may hire attorneys for that project. After the project, the attorney might need a new job.

One thing that's nice about bankruptcy is it's a federal practice, so you can often move markets easily. Bankruptcy attorneys tend to have a very good network with each other. For example, if you are a bankruptcy attorney in Los Angeles, bankruptcy attorneys in San Francisco or the Bay Area all know each other and help each other find jobs. There are also a lot of very good boutiques for bankruptcy work.

There are company-facing bankruptcies and consumer bankruptcies. If you are in a consumer bankruptcy firm, you're helping individuals and companies file for bankruptcy. There's a lot of work, and you can build a big business doing that. If you ever choose to open your own practice, you can do well representing individuals in areas like bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy, personal injury, labor and employment plaintiffs, and trusts and estates. You can often do exceptionally well representing individuals, as opposed to companies. Large law firms might keep you around as a bankruptcy attorney in case things pick up. It can be a good practice area for that reason, but it's very risky, especially if you're trying to work in large law firms because work can be very slow.

What do I mean by that? If you were trying to get a job at a big firm in Dallas, Texas, there might be nothing. In Austin, nothing. But there might be ten jobs in New York. When you get into a specific practice area, it can be extremely dangerous because there's often not enough opportunity, and when there's not, you will lose your job. If you're trying to work in a large law firm, you may be able to work in a smaller firm or boutique, but it can be very scary.

Tax law is another one with all sorts of problems. Tax law at large law firms tends to support the corporate practice areas like M&A. When the market is good, tax lawyers can do very well. There are different things tax law attorneys do. They often come from accounting firms. It's very difficult to get jobs in large law firms if you're coming from an accounting firm. They often come from LLM programs. Sometimes, when the economy is good, they're welcome because M&A and other corporate departments are busy. Tax law will often do well, but it often slows down when the economy slows. It can be difficult to keep a position, and law firms will say things like, "we never send us people from accounting firms." They can be very hostile about it.

If you want to be a tax lawyer, you typically need to get an LLM from places like New York University, which is preferred over Georgetown. There's a whole snobbery with that. Law firms want to hire people from other law firms. If you get an LLM and go to work at an accounting firm, the odds of getting a position in a large law firm are slim. This could really save your career if you're considering becoming a tax attorney. It's very difficult to get a position in a large law firm because there aren't many tax jobs.

The way most people get into large law firms as tax attorneys is by working in a law firm that does tax law, convincing the firm they like tax law, and getting positions that way. So understand how difficult it is to become a tax lawyer. Most tax attorneys go to work in accounting firms. Once you get that experience, you can go in-house or, rarely, get a job with a law firm. Tax attorneys can also work in tax controversy, which is fun, or at the IRS, which is a good job for a tax attorney. But if you want to work in a law firm, it can be very difficult. When the economy slows down, tax often slows down. When it slows down, it's very difficult to keep your job as a tax attorney. Even during economic recessions, there might be just a few corporate tax openings in large law firms, making it a risky practice area.

Immigration: most large law firms don't have immigration practices. Sometimes they do in places like Silicon Valley. There's often a lot of immigration work during times when presidential administrations are bringing people in. Immigration goes through boom and bust cycles. It can be a very good practice area if you're starting your own firm. There are lots of immigration firms, but that practice area will expand and contract depending on the state of the practice area.

The thing to understand is there are practice areas that are consumer-facing and those that are company-facing. You need to choose which road you want to go on. Do you want to represent people or companies? There's more money in representing companies, but also more risk. Working for firms that represent companies is where most law students aspire to go. They aspire to big firms in big markets with high pay, but that can be a risky proposition. It can also be an incredible windfall financially if you bring in clients.

You have to decide what practice area you're going into and what type of market. Your choice of practice area may have a lot to do with your legal career's success or failure. This should show you the dangers that will happen depending on your choice.

Actors in LA describe themselves as working. It doesn't matter where they're working, just that they're working. This is the best advice I can give anyone at any stage of your career: the most important thing is to stay employed. It doesn't matter how much the firm is paying; it matters that you're working. You need to be in a practice area where you feel like you can always get work. Choose a practice area where you're able to stay employed. If you're consumer-facing or company-facing, choose wisely because it impacts your career stability.

Law firms often want to hire junior people with one to two years of experience or three to five years. Rarely do they look for someone with ten-plus years. They want to hire younger, hungrier people to put all their heart and soul into the job for a few years, then leave when they get exhausted. This is how most law firms are structured.

So you need to stay employed and understand the differences in practice areas. This should give you a very good idea. If you're looking at a firm where partners are making $2 million a year, what does that mean? If there are lots of people making money, there may be longevity there. If there aren't many people making money, it's a risky firm.

Always stay employed. That's the best advice I can give you. If you're working, you always have something on your resume and connections. Don't worry about the firm you're in as much as whether you're working and staying employed.

I've given you a ton of information about different practice areas, the risks, and rewards associated with each. If you're deciding on a practice area, think about these things. You might feel pressured to work in a specific area, but consider the stability and your long-term career prospects. Some areas are more stable than others. You have to think about how to stay employed. Staying employed is critical for your career longevity.

I'll now answer any questions you might have.

QUESTIONS

One of the things I would also say is that attending these webinars is one of the smartest things you can do for your career. I get emails every week from people who say that learning the information in these webinars has changed their careers. It's not because of some exceptional gurus, but because this information is not commonly discussed. So, I believe it’s beneficial for people to be on this.

This person says they're glad to be here and is probably a regular on this webinar. They mentioned a candidate who applied to and was rejected from medical school while transitioning between jobs. This happened to me as well. Is this specific to medicine, or is there something about attorneys that makes it difficult to start a career in any field?

The medical field, if you're serving patients and committed to that, can be very challenging. I’ve seen this with attorneys too. I once saw an attorney who was the dean of a medical school in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, or Missouri—I don’t remember exactly. He went back to law school because he wanted to be a lawyer, possibly because his wife is a lawyer. He had an incredibly difficult time getting positions in the legal field and eventually couldn’t stay employed.

People who try to go back to being doctors after attending law school often don’t succeed because medical schools want candidates whose sole focus is to be a doctor. If someone has taken another career path, they may not be a good fit.

I had an interesting experience with a group visiting the Navy SEALs training center in San Diego. They told us about their rigorous selection process. They start with about 5,000 applications, whittle that down to 800 with psychological and other tests, and then further down to 300 for training. After intense training, only about 30 or 40 make it through. Those who don’t make it don’t get good jobs in the Navy afterward. This shows that in specialized fields like medicine, taking someone whose second choice is to be a doctor is a huge risk.

In any profession, including recruiting, I've seen people whose hearts weren't in it fail. Your heart must be in whatever you do. If it’s not, whether in law or another field, it likely won't work out. People sometimes go to business school or become writers if their first choice isn’t right for them. Some careers and practice areas aren't a good fit for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The person who wanted to become a lawyer because his wife is a lawyer and failed is a good example. Changing careers drastically when it's not your first choice often doesn’t make sense.

These are great questions. Thank you to everyone asking them. It’s impressive to see people on this webinar, learning and being students of law firms. This information can be very helpful, especially in smaller firms where practice areas can have a significant impact.

For boutique firms, diversifying services and expanding into more resilient practice areas is essential. Many boutique firms specialize in one type of work, such as white-collar litigation or corporate law. They may face slowdowns and need to expand their services to survive. For example, a real estate firm could start doing real estate litigation.

Having a range of clients—from large institutional ones to smaller ones—is crucial. Firms should also look for ways to expand their existing client base. Smaller firms are at risk during economic downturns, but having a diverse range of practice areas can balance this out.

During economic fluctuations, attorneys should focus on getting close to people who can give them work. This includes partners within their firm who have a lot of business and outside companies or individuals who need legal services. Attorneys should understand markets with a lot of work, even if it means moving or targeting areas with high demand.

Your heart must be in whatever you do. Diversifying your practice and client base is essential for stability. Understanding and adapting to market demands can help safeguard your career during economic downturns. Thank you for the excellent questions, and I hope this information is helpful.

What you need to do in any practice area you're in is understand that certain parts of the country are busier than others. An example would be the corporate crisis of 2008, when many people were losing their jobs. During that time, Texas had a ton of jobs because it was insulated from the economic downturn by its oil and gas activity. The same thing happened in North Dakota, where there was a boom for trust and estates attorneys. If you were an attorney with good experience, you could easily find a job there.

The point is that you always need to look for markets that are good. There will always be markets that are favorable for your practice area. For example, real estate might be hot in some areas while other areas are experiencing downturns. It all depends on the practice area and the market conditions.

If you are young, it’s crucial to get close to attorneys with lots of business because they can protect you and help you get work. As an attorney, your job is to get work from the partners you’re working with and from outside clients. Successful attorneys are those who have access to work, either by finding markets with lots of work or by bringing in work themselves.

In economic downturns, people often struggle to find corporate jobs in major cities. However, there are often opportunities in smaller markets that are insulated for various reasons. For instance, there might be corporate jobs in places like Reno, Nevada, due to the local economy's unique characteristics. Understanding and targeting these markets can be very helpful.

Now, addressing setbacks in your career: if you experience a setback, such as losing a high-profile case, it's important to stop worrying about it and take control of your career. Everyone makes mistakes, but continuing to work with people who don’t support you is unwise. Instead, move forward and find a new path where you are not constantly reminded of past failures.

Consider the example of a well-known attorney in Los Angeles named Pierce O'Donnell. He faced legal troubles related to campaign contributions, which resulted in a felony charge. Although he managed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, his reputation was significantly impacted. Rather than trying to return to a high-profile defense attorney role, he could have started his own firm or pursued a different legal path that didn't involve constant reminders of his past mistakes.

Similarly, I knew a woman who graduated from Harvard Law School and started her career at Skadden. She struggled with drug addiction, which led to a severe decline in her career and personal life. Despite hitting rock bottom, she turned her life around and became a successful criminal attorney. She now runs her own firm with several attorneys working for her. Her story illustrates that regardless of what happens, you can rebuild your career by finding a practice area and environment where you are accepted and can thrive.

Always look for favorable markets for your practice, get close to attorneys with a lot of business, and don’t let setbacks define you. If you face challenges, consider changing your practice area or starting anew in a way that allows you to leave past mistakes behind and focus on your strengths.

Imagine being a woman who battled drug addiction, spending years on LA's streets, engaging in unspeakable acts just to survive. Now, picture her attempting a return to a prestigious law firm, burdened by her past. Why not embrace the lessons learned?

Challenges strike every attorney. Countless tales abound of shattered careers resurrected. Take Brian Siegel, once a legal luminary, now an ex-felon. Caught aiding in bar exam fraud, he faced disgrace. Yet, he found redemption in an unexpected path, embracing Orthodox Judaism and thriving as a recruiter.

The lesson? Embrace new beginnings. Don't dwell among reminders of failure. Shift gears, pursue welcoming avenues. Your journey isn't over; relocate, reinvent. Surround yourself with support, not judgment.

Another anecdote: a fledgling recruiter's bold claim in a legal publication led to improbable success. Sometimes, inspiration strikes from unexpected places.

In conclusion, adversity isn't insurmountable. Learn, adapt, and thrive. Your next chapter awaits, ripe with possibilities.

Literally, no reason for me to say that, but all of a sudden, attorneys were seeking me out. One of the first attorneys, living in Pasadena, California, wanted to meet. He'd been head of the practice group of corporate securities at Buckalter, an incredible firm in the 1980s.

He hadn't been employed in 3 or 4 years, lost everything, a partner at the firm, then became an SEC commissioner, carrying on lives with his wife and kids in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. Rumors of cocaine addiction surfaced.

He met me, biting his lips nervously, explaining his downfall, having married another woman while still married. He became a pariah, lost his job, divorced, and nearly penniless.

He found me through an ad. I helped attorneys, subscribed to legal publications, and read about a law firm drowning in securities work. I referred him, and they hired him immediately.

Within a year, the firm merged into a major international one. He became a partner, turning his career around. Another lawyer I helped had a drinking problem, got fired, but I got him a job at a smaller firm where he got sober and eventually moved to a larger firm.

You can always overcome career setbacks. Choose a practice area you're passionate about, where you'll always find work because your enthusiasm will attract clients and employers.

Regarding changes in practice areas, get close to partners with a lot of work. Choose a practice area you're passionate about. Land use law is closely related to real estate and often has steady demand.

Energy law can be risky and subject to boom-and-bust cycles. Specialize in areas where you can consistently find work, especially if you want to work for large companies or governments.

Going solo in niche areas like energy or oil and gas can be challenging since clients prefer established law firms. Focus on areas where you can develop a strong brand and attract clients.

Consider marketing and business development skills, especially for areas like personal injury, where attracting clients is crucial. Research job markets to identify strong practice areas and choose what excites you.

Thank you for attending the webinar. Stay tuned for future sessions.


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.