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Attorney Patricia Roberts Harris - Unsung Hero for Public Service

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published June 23, 2009

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

<<Attorney Patricia Harris was born in Matton, Illinois in 1924. She met William Beasley Harris in 1945 who was a professor at Howard University where she attended. The two married in 1955. Before she obtained a law degree she worked as Assistant Director of the American Council on Human Rights until 1953. Attorney Patricia Harris then graduated in 1960 from George Washington University Law Center. She graduated as number one in her class and then was admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. She returned to Howard University in 1961 to be an associate dean of students and a law professor by 1963. In 1969 Attorney Patricia Harris became Dean of the Howard University Law School. This didn't complete her goals. She was beginning her career in the political arena simultaneously to her legal career.

Going back in time now to 1960, when Harris took a position as an attorney for the government in appeals and research, Criminal Division, Department of Justice. It was during her government position that fate took its course and she befriended President John Kennedy when he was the attorney general and in 1963 she accepted the position of co-chairman for the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.

Attorney Patricia Harris' political career continued to fall into place as she became a Professor at Howard Law School. In 1964 she became a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and she served in Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign. Not only did she work in his campaign, but she was the voice who seconded his nomination at the Democratic Convention in 1964. During Johnson's term as president, he appointed her to become Ambassador to Luxemburg beginning in 1965 up to 1967.

After being Dean at Howard Law School from 1969 to 1972 she decided to join a top law firm in Washington D.C. Her political career was still thriving as she practiced law. At the same time she held a high position for the Democratic Party and once President Jimmy Carter took office she was appointed two cabinet-level posts.
United States

 
  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 1973
  • Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1979
  • As Secretary of Department of Education, Patricia Harris remained the appointed secretary when the department of Education was converted to the Department of Health and Human Services until Carter left the Presidency in 1981.
In her final years, from 1982 to 1985 she gained a full-time professorship at her Alma Mater, George Washington National Law Center. Attorney Patricia Harris didn't put down her political dreams until 1982 when she ran for mayor of Washington D.C. and was unsuccessful. In 3 short years, at the age of 60, she succumbed to cancer and her final resting place is Rock Creek County Cemetery in Washington, D.C., March 23, 1985.

The story of Attorney Patricia Harris doesn't end on that date. In the year 2000 she was dubbed the ''Unsung Hero'' for Public Service in law and politics by a commemorative postage stamp in the Black Heritage stamp series. Attorney Patricia Harris was the seventh African-American woman honored this way and the twenty-third American honored on a U.S. Postage stamp.

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.
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  • 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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