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Is Taking a Step Back in Class Year Enough to Make a Move?

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published February 23, 2015

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Question:

I'm a senior litigator, 2006 graduate, with solid law firm experience. Most of the law firms are seeking mid-level litigators. I'm amenable to taking a step back in class year and feel this would be a benefit for the firm, since I have more experience than they are seeking. Shouldn't they be happy with someone with more experience for their opening?


Answer:

Thanks for the inquiry. It is still a difficult time for litigators and you are absolutely going in the right direction by advising firms that you are willing to step back in entry year level. As a candidate, you need to stay as open and flexible as possible.
As a candidate you need to stay as flexible as possible.

However, even if a firm were to, hypothetically, bring you in as a class of '09 and pay you the correlating salary, this is still not an ideal situation for the firm and many would prefer not to do this. Here are a few things to consider:

Firms are looking at a particular level for a certain reason, usually to fill a gap in their hierarchy. Maybe they don't need someone that is used to running cases or has first or second-chair trial experience. The firm may believe that person will not be happy with the type of work they will be expected to do in the new position.

United States
Even if an attorney claims to be fine with a "salary cut" or okay to be making on par with other attorneys that are more junior than him (even if it's a salary bump from the prior position), firms feel that this will eventually become a problem. As this individual settles in to the new position and sees attorneys to his junior or at his actual level making more money, the attorney will start to feel resentful and eventually unhappy with this circumstance. If this is the case, it's likely that this attorney will soon be on the market again, or at the very least, not as enthusiastic and inspired by his work.

If the firm decides to hire someone more senior than the original targeted parameters, this could also upset the morale of the other associates in the group. Other associates may be threatened by this individual's experience level, especially if they are someone that is more junior and are supposed to be senior in the hierarchy. This is particularly true for associates with their sights on partnership. Will anyone in the group see this incoming attorney as a threat to their own trajectory? Firms do not want to take this chance.

I'm not writing this to discourage you. Please do continue to submit to firms that have mid-level openings, especially if the practice closely matches that of your own. You never know how things will fall out, and perhaps the firm will consider a more senior attorney for the role. Continue to advise them that your entry year level is negotiable, because you want to seem as flexible and agreeable as possible and acknowledge the fact that you are more senior than the ideal candidate they are seeking. This is the best way to go about your search.

As a 2006 graduate without business (business origination changes the game, of course), you need to cast as wide a net as possible. Know that there are solid reasons why a firm will not consider your application, even if you are "negotiable," and understand this is not a reflection on you or your experience.

Your job search, especially as you become more senior, is much less about fitting in a year-level box and more about creating and sustaining relationships.

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
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  • 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.

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.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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