Must You be a ''Type-A'' Personality to Succeed in a Law Firm?

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By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

( 590 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)

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Especially among the elite firms in the world's most significant legal marketplaces, there is little question that Type As predominate. Getting into a large, prestigious law firm generally requires that the lawyer have a record of achievement. He or she must have outperformed classmates in both undergraduate classes and in law school. For most, performance at this level requires a degree of competitiveness, a substantial work ethic, and an inner drive to achieve.

Must You Be A ''Type-A'' Personality To Succeed In A Law Firm?

In my law school, we called the worst offenders "gunners." They were the law students whose principal goal was to climb to the top of the class. The gunners knew their competition, knew exactly how well they needed to score on exams to stay at the top, and were willing to forgo any amount of sleep to get there.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time working in a large firm knows that the competitive overachiever is in ample supply in the large-firm environment. When I was a junior associate, there was a more senior associate in my group who sent a firm-wide email every time he was in the office after midnight.

While one could argue that he was just doing his job, the more cynical among us felt that each email about the firm softball team time-stamped 1:00 a.m. was simply a way to keep the partnership informed that he was working harder and later than the rest of us. However, although several of us giggled about this senior associate's transparent self-promotion, I still wondered, "Is this what it takes to succeed in the environment?"

I always assumed that Type-A personalities were people who were smart, hardworking, and ambitious. While others might play hooky on the first day of spring, Type As wouldn't even think of leaving the office.

What does it mean to be a Type-A personality? Wikipedia describes Type-A personalities as people who "are often highly achieving workaholics who multitask, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about the smallest of delays."

The origin of the Type-A moniker derives from research conducted in the middle of the 20^th century by Dr. Meyer Friedman. With a colleague, Dr. Ray Rosenman, Friedman posited that there was a link between the behavior of the impatient overachiever and heart disease. I found it interesting that although "Type-A" and "Type-B" are generally used as descriptive terms, the origin of the term "Type-A" is actually clinical and was essentially used to diagnose unhealthy behavior.

This makes the question of whether you must be a Type A to succeed in a law firm seem even more insidious. Are law firms perpetuating an unhealthy personality type? In my opinion, understanding the history of the term "Type-A" actually informs the answer to the question.

While "Type-A" is a term people toss at many high-achievers, the truth is that it is possible to take certain elements of the Type-A personality and leave behind the more destructive. Certainly, attention to timeliness and urgency are necessary for a lawyer in a big firm. Indeed, lawyers broker in time. Lawyers generally charge for their time, and courts and clients routinely impose deadlines that cannot be ignored. However, lawyers can succeed without becoming obsessive about time.

Again, competitiveness is important to a law-firm career. A lawyer must always compete with lawyers at other firms and focus on generating the very best work product. Is it possible to remain competitive without becoming aggressive? I believe that it is.

Wikipedia tells us that the "Type-B personality is patient, relaxed, and easygoing." Are these qualities consistent with success in a law firm? I would suggest that a patient, relaxed, and easygoing lawyer is not destined for failure in a law firm as long as he or she understands that at times, law firm culture demands intensity and a sense of urgency. The laid-back Type B who cannot evoke some Type-A behavior at times is likely not going to be a long-term player in law-firm culture.

At the end of the day, law firms exist to serve clients. While a client may enjoy having an easygoing lawyer on many days, on the days the client needs a zealous advocate or a push to meet a deadline, "relaxed" is not a word that will evoke his or her confidence.

Lawyers choose their practice areas and should be aware of which areas suit their personality types. A white-collar litigator may benefit from a more aggressive and confrontational style, whereas one might find fewer Type-A folks in a firm's trusts and estates department.

A good lawyer, whether innately Type-A or Type-B, must be able to understand those qualities that appeal to clients and the leadership in his or her law firm. One needn't be a red-faced horn-honker to demonstrate an appropriate sense of urgency when talking to a stressed-out client. Even the most likeable and laid-back lawyer must have a sense of time and attention to deadlines.

A healthy sense of competition is also appropriate in a law-firm setting, but that does not mean that only the cutthroat will survive. Although it's unlikely that law firms will ever be truly diverse mixes of Type-A and Type-B personalities, individual lawyers in law firms can certainly find that balance in themselves.

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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.

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.

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.

( 590 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)

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Must You be a ''Type-A'' Personality to Succeed in a Law Firm?

What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.