1. BCGSearch.com
Key Features: Legal industry rankings, large firm profiles, lateral hiring insights.
URL: https://www.bcgsearch.com
BCGSearch.com is a leading resource for legal professionals seeking to research large firms and explore career opportunities. The site offers comprehensive rankings of top law firms, including the Am Law 100 and Vault 100, as well as detailed profiles of firms’ practice areas, office locations, and hiring trends. BCGSearch also provides valuable insights into lateral hiring, making it an excellent resource for experienced attorneys looking to transition to new roles. Use the site’s search functionality to explore firms by geographic region, practice area, or size, and gain a deeper understanding of their market position and reputation.
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2. Symplicity
Key Features: Firm profiles, attorney bios, interview preferences, alumni connections.
URL: https://www.symplicity.com
Symplicity is a powerful platform for researching firms and preparing for recruitment programs. It allows users to upload resumes, bid on employers, and access detailed firm profiles. One of its standout features is the ability to research attorney bios, which can help you identify interviewers, find alumni connections, and gain insights into a firm’s client base and major engagements. Symplicity also provides information on employers’ interview preferences, making it an essential tool for tailoring your approach. Additionally, the platform often includes summer program evaluations and feedback from previous candidates, offering a behind-the-scenes look at firm culture and expectations.
3. NALP Directory
Key Features: Firm demographics, hiring numbers, compensation, billable hour requirements, partnership data.
URL: https://www.nalpdirectory.com
The NALP Directory is a go-to resource for researching large law firms. It offers concise profiles that include firm size, primary practice areas, and anticipated hiring numbers for the upcoming year. You can also find detailed information on summer and new associate compensation, billable hour expectations, and partnership trends. The directory’s user-friendly interface allows you to filter firms by location, practice area, and size, making it easy to compare opportunities. NALP is particularly valuable for understanding a firm’s hiring practices and financial stability, as well as its commitment to diversity and work-life balance.
4. Firm Websites
Key Features: Office locations, attorney bios, practice areas, summer programs, news, and client alerts.
A firm’s website is one of the most direct and comprehensive resources for research. Before interviewing, thoroughly review the website to understand the firm’s self-presentation and priorities. Pay attention to the number of attorneys in specific practice areas or offices, and explore the “news” or “client alerts” sections to gauge the firm’s focus areas. Firm websites often highlight recent cases, deals, and client successes, providing insights into their expertise and market position. Additionally, many firms include detailed information about their summer programs, diversity initiatives, and pro bono work, which can help you assess their culture and values.
5. Chambers and Partners
Key Features: Firm and attorney rankings, practice area insights, global and regional guides.
URL: https://www.chambersandpartners.com
Chambers and Partners is a globally recognized resource for understanding a firm’s reputation and expertise. The Chambers USA Guide ranks top firms and attorneys by practice area and state, while the Chambers Global Guide and Chambers UK Guide provide international perspectives. Chambers’ rankings are based on in-depth research and client feedback, offering qualitative insights into firms’ strengths and market standing. Use this resource to identify firms with strong practices in your areas of interest and to gain a deeper understanding of their competitive advantages.
6. Chambers Associate
Key Features: Associate life, firm culture, benefits, hiring practices.
URL: https://www.chambers-associate.com
Chambers Associate provides survey-based insights into associate experiences at large firms. Search by practice area, geographic location, or firm name to learn about work quality, hours, culture, and benefits packages. The site also includes detailed narratives about firm expertise and national hiring practices, making it a valuable resource for understanding what it’s like to work at a firm day-to-day. Chambers Associate is particularly useful for evaluating firms’ commitment to associate development and work-life balance.
7. Legal500
Key Features: Practice area reviews, firm strengths, leading lawyers.
URL: https://www.legal500.com
Legal500 offers comprehensive reviews of law firms and legal markets worldwide. It highlights major developments in various practice areas and provides qualitative assessments of firms’ strengths. The site also identifies leading lawyers in specific fields, making it a valuable resource for networking and mentorship opportunities. Legal500’s practice area rankings are based on client feedback and peer reviews, ensuring that the information is both accurate and relevant.
8. Benchmark Litigation
Key Features: Litigation rankings, qualitative firm information, client feedback.
URL: https://www.benchmarklitigation.com
Benchmark Litigation focuses on litigation practices in the U.S., Asia, and Canada, providing tiered rankings and qualitative insights derived from interviews with litigators and their clients. The site’s rankings are based on case outcomes, client satisfaction, and peer reviews, making it an essential resource for researching firms with strong litigation practices. Benchmark Litigation also includes detailed profiles of leading litigators, offering valuable networking opportunities.
9. Vault
Key Features: Firm rankings, prestige, regional and practice area guides.
URL: https://www.vault.com
Vault is widely known for its rankings of large national law firms, with a heavy emphasis on prestige and reputation. The Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms offers qualitative information about firms, including insights into culture, diversity, and associate satisfaction. Vault also publishes regional guides and practice area guides, making it a versatile resource for exploring opportunities in specific markets or fields. Register with your email for free access to many of Vault’s resources.
10. American Lawyer
Key Features: Quality of life surveys, financial rankings, industry news.
URL: https://www.law.com/americanlawyer
The American Lawyer publishes annual surveys on associate quality of life and ranks firms based on financial health and profitability. The Am Law 100 is a particularly valuable resource for understanding firms’ financial performance and market position. The site also covers industry news, including firm mergers, emerging practice areas, and market trends. Use this resource to stay informed about the latest developments in the legal industry.
11. Bloomberg BNA
Key Features: In-depth legal research, cutting-edge issues.
URL: https://www.bloomberglaw.com
Bloomberg BNA offers guides on cutting-edge legal issues, providing in-depth research on specific areas of the law. Use this resource to deepen your understanding of practice areas and their relevance to firms you’re researching. Bloomberg BNA’s insights can also help you prepare for interviews by demonstrating your knowledge of current legal trends.
12. IFLR1000
Key Features: Financial law rankings, client interviews, global insights.
URL: https://www.iflr1000.com
IFLR1000 focuses on business and financial law, providing rankings and insights based on client interviews. The site’s global perspective makes it an excellent resource for researching firms with strong financial law practices, particularly in international markets.
13. Westlaw
Key Features: Largest U.S. law firms guide, professional organizations.
URL: https://lawschool.westlaw.com
Westlaw provides access to a guide on the 100 largest U.S. law firms and links to professional organizations. Use this resource to explore firm rankings and career resources, as well as to conduct legal research that can inform your understanding of firms’ practice areas.
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.
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.
