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Top 10 Reasons for Law Firms and Individual Attorneys to Use a Legal Recruiter

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published February 12, 2007

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

NOTE: This article is based solely on our policies and practices.
 
FOR LAW FIRMS ... FOR ATTORNEY CANDIDATES ...
1. Professional representation by a recruiter.


The recruiter:
  • acts as an objective, third-party liaison between the law firm and the candidate.
  • represents the client's best interests.
  • is an educated, trained, and skilled professional (and often a former practicing attorney).
  • provides professional advice tailored to the client and the candidate.
  • does more than collect resumes or post on the Internet.
  • provides professional guidance throughout the interview process.
  • provides experienced assistance and guidance during compensation negotiations.
 1. Professional representation by a recruiter.

The recruiter:
  • is an educated, trained, and skilled professional (and often a former practicing attorney).
  • does significantly more than collect and send resumes.
  • provides professional and tailored guidance as well as representation relating to the interview process, resume editing, multiple offers, resignation, counteroffers, salary negotiations, etc.
2. Higher price, higher value. 2. Higher price, higher value.
  • Myth: Using a recruiter is too expensive. We can save money by recruiting on our own.
  • Reality: Using a recruiter is a cost-saving measure. Time is money. Recruiting is a time-intensive activity that generally involves searching, phone calls, advertising, screening candidates' resumes, interviewing, checking references, salary negotiations, etc. Recruiters save clients time and money by engaging in the majority of these activities on behalf of the firm and presenting on-point, qualified candidates.
3. There is no cost to the law firm unless a placement is made. 3. It is completely confidential.
  • The employment search process is kept completely confidential between the recruiter and the attorney candidate.
  • The recruiter does not communicate with any potential law firm on behalf of the attorney candidate without prior express permission.
4. There is no cost to the candidate.
  • There is no cost to the recruited candidate. Thus, cost is not a deterrent to prospective attorney candidates.
 4. There is no cost to the candidate.
  • The candidate pays nothing.
  • The recruiter is paid by the law firm on commission and, in some cases, on retainer.
  • The candidate saves valuable time.
5. Recruiters know their clients.
  • Recruiters make it a point to know their clients (attorneys, practice groups, culture, environment, etc.).
  • Knowing their clients ensures that recruiters will be able to effectively sell prospective attorney candidates on opportunities with law firms.
 5. You can lessen the effects of the unexpected.
  • So many things may change even after the employer conducts several interviews (e.g., job requirements, job description, or estimated compensation). A recruiter's involvement in dealing with the changes will allow for a higher probability of keeping potential offers alive.
6. Recruiters are tapped into trends in the marketplace.
  • Recruiters converse with prospective attorney candidates daily and, thus, are very aware of trends and circumstances in the marketplace (compensation, bonuses, billable hours, partnership tracks, firm cultures and environments, employee retention rates, etc.).
  • Being aware of trends in the market is critical to knowing how to attract the best candidates.
 6. The recruiter has established industry relationships.
  • Recruiters network each day within their areas of expertise and often are the first to hear about new job opportunities.
  • Recruiters have relationships with law firms and the hiring authorities within them.
7. Recruiters are tapped into the talent pool.
United States

The recruiter:
  • connects and networks with prospective attorney candidates every day.
  • is able to locate and present the upper echelon of potential candidates who would be interested in exploring opportunities with a law firm.
 7. A recruiter is the best market source.
  • Published company information is not sufficient. (Details about culture, environment, and employee retention usually remain unpublished.) The recruiter generally has "insider information" regarding law firms.
  • The recruiter can provide detailed, unpublished information regarding a specific position prior to sending a candidate's resume.
  • The recruiter often has familiarity and experience with the law firm, its interview and hiring processes, its compensation, etc.
  • The majority of available attorney jobs are not advertised in the newspaper or through other job boards.
8. Recruiters actually recruit the best candidates.
  • Any law firm can post a job listing in professional publications, at university career centers, on firm websites, or on various job boards on the Internet. This generally results in a flood of resumes from candidates who do not even remotely meet the firm's minimum hiring criteria.
  • Recruiters actually recruit attorney candidates by locating, calling, and screening individuals who meet the law firm's hiring criteria.
 8. The recruiting industry is an industry.
  • The recruiting industry is a multibillion-dollar business comprised of skilled, trained, and knowledgeable individuals (many of whom are former practicing attorneys).
9. Recruiters provide invaluable feedback.
  • Feedback following an interview is extremely important.
  • The recruiter will receive direct, candid, and honest feedback from the attorney candidate that the law firm may never receive on his or her own.
 9. Recruiters provide invaluable feedback.
  • Feedback following an interview is extremely important.
  • The recruiter will receive direct and honest feedback from the law firm that the attorney candidate may never receive on his or her own.
10. Passive candidates.
  • Myth: Recruiters only work with attorney candidates who are "on the market" (e.g., unemployed or searching for new jobs).
  • Reality: Recruiters call and recruit highly talented attorney candidates who are happy where they are and are not looking for new jobs. Recruiters convey accurate and persuasive information regarding the advantages of exploring new opportunities.
 10. "Only a fool has himself for a client."

The recruiter acts as a third-party liaison who:
  • represents the candidate's best interests.
  • acts as a go-between (he or she can place blame for problems that arise on himself or herself instead of on the candidate).
  • is trained to handle situations unemotionally.

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 defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • 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.

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.
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!

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