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How long does it take to make a lateral move?

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published July 21, 2008

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Could you use an expert opinion on a career or job search question We welcome your most pressing questions and are here to provide you with candid straight talking career advice

Question:

What is going on with law firm hiring these days? Several of my friends have made lateral moves in the past couple of years and had multiple offers. My credentials and experience are as good or better. I have not been laid off, and I am a strong candidate. But I am not getting many interviews, and one firm I did meet with over a month ago says I am ''under consideration'' but has not made a decision. It has been weeks since I interviewed. What am I supposed to think? - Jim


Answer:

A majority of candidates have experienced the same phenomenon this year at some point in their process. To answer your question, it's a lot of things. Since the beginning of the year, the response rate of our law firm clients has slowed markedly.

Law firm hiring isn't a quick process in general. A relatively smooth search can take several months. Once a candidate has interviewed with an employer and there is mutual interest, it can often be four to six weeks before an offer is formally extended. That is only if the planets align and the firm has an efficient hiring process.

There are conflicts to clear and references to check. Depending on the size of the firm, an independent hiring committee may need to meet and approve the offer. Usually meetings are called when there are several candidates for various openings that are being recommended for offers. If you happen to be the first candidate that is put before the recruiting committee, sometimes the decision on your candidacy can get held up temporarily.

The previous paragraph describes my experience during the years I spent as a firm recruiting manager and during the boom market of the past four years that I have spent on this side of the industry. Unfortunately, to paraphrase from The Wizard of Oz, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

United States
A handful of candidates have been blessed by recruiting serendipity and have had fast-track hiring experiences. Far more attorneys who have entered the market since the beginning of the year are dealing with prolonged searches. Most candidates have had their process stall or get stuck at some point. There have been fewer invitations to interview with greater gaps between rounds. It has taken longer for offers to be extended and finalized.

This is trying for the candidate and for the recruiter. A candidate who has done everything necessary, has been presented well, and is a good fit for a firm may hear little or nothing in response. The firms do not want to say "no" yet, but they aren't ready to say "yes" or set up an interview. So you hear nothing — except for the deafening roar of silence.

I've borne witness to the fact that during the best of times, law firm hiring has some disturbing similarities to sausage making. The end result may be good, but the less time one spends analyzing the ingredients, the better. We are all adjusting to finding out we are in a new land. Lateral hiring has even more variables impacting the timing and outcome for candidates. So contrary to advising you not to look too closely, now is the time when having more information may be useful. Here is a peek behind the gates:

The burden on practice group leaders to prove the necessity of every lateral hire has increased tenfold. Most firms appear to be stable financially and to have had a profitable year in 2007, but it only makes sense for firms to respond to the best of their ability to the changes in the economy. That has caused them to be particularly careful in their recruiting, to trim fat from all of their budgets, and to look with great scrutiny at each hire being requested. There are more laterals in the market due to layoffs in several practice areas, and there is more pressure than ever on partners to originate work, with firms letting go or demoting partners that are not able to make rain.

It is easy to demonize the firms as some sort of evil entity. Yet having seen firsthand the inner workings of law firms, I do not envy the partners and administrators tasked with sustaining the success of the firms. It is their job to be sure there is adequate revenue to compete with other firms and to cover the payroll and benefits of everyone from the housekeeping staff to the chair of the firm. As painful as it is to be among the ranks of those looking for work, there is little doubt that angst has been felt by those making the tough calls.

Each component in staffing and hiring is interdependent and has bearing on the others. Changes in NALP guidelines and on-campus hiring schedules are presenting some difficulty for firms in assessing how many attorneys should be recruited for the coming year. The integration of the entering associate class can temper lateral hiring. Firms routinely try to shift work this time of year so that there are appropriate assignments for first-year associates and to allow existing mid-levels to pick up more complicated assignments, thus reducing the rush to hire laterals. All of these factors could be playing a role in your search.

It isn't easy to be a candidate playing the waiting game. Your level of tenacity needs to be high. We are looking ahead and cautiously optimistic that as things sort out this fall, there will be an uptick in the momentum of lateral hiring. Keep reminding yourself not to take it personally. It isn't you. It's just a sign of the times.

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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