President Barack Obama - Roots as a Civil Attorney

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published August 04, 2009

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

<<Honolulu, Hawaii was the birth place of President Barack Obama on August 4, 1961. His father was from Kenya and his mother was American. His childhood and school days were primarily spent in Honolulu with the exception of the four years his family lived in Indonesia.

He started his college career at Columbia College and after 2 years transferred to Columbia University where he studied Political Science with a concentration in international relations. After graduating from Columbia University in 1983 he spent one year working for the Business International Corporation. In 1985, Barack Obama pulled up roots and moved to Chicago, Illinois to accept a position as director for a non-profit project assisting local churches in organizing a job training program for the city.

In 1988 he entered Harvard Law School to become a Civil Attorney and during his time there he became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review after 104 years of the school's history. President Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude in 1991 with a JD degree. He went to Chicago Illinois where he spent time directing a voter registration drive and afterwards joined the firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland from 1993 to 1996. His specialty as a Civil Attorney was representing claims of discrimination and voting rights. He also defended community organizers in his hometown of Chicago Illinois. President Barack Obama served in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.

After practicing law as a Civil Attorney he accepted a position at the University Of Chicago Law School from 1993 until he was elected as a U.S. Senator in 2004. President Obama was the fifth African American to become a Senator in U.S. history. During his appointment as U.S. Senator he was the only African American to be serving in Senate at the time.

Apart from running his campaign election, Barack Obama has written two best sellers.

''Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance'', it was first published after law school and before entering politics in 1995. It was published again in 2004 and in 2006 the audio book edition earned President Barack Obama the 2006 Grammy Award for the Best Spoken Word Album.

This book was Barack Obama's memoirs and they retell his experiences growing up in an American middle class family without a father. His mother and father divorced when he was only 2 years old so all he learned about his father was from handed down stories and pictures in a photo album. Obama was aware that his father was a dark man and his mother was as ''white as milk''. His father looked nothing like his mother's family. Obama fought internally to deal with his multi-racial mother and father. He tried to accept the social perceptions about his birth to a multi-racial couple. He was not initially successful in the reconciliation and spent time mulling over the questions of ''Who am I?''

2. ''The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream'', hit the market in 2006.

In conclusion this young Civil Attorney turned President has impacted the history of the United States. President Barack Obama has been graciously received internationally and made a quick step to begin an economic turn around to the slumping US economy.

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
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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
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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.

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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

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