All you Need to Know about Legal Recruitment Consultants

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published May 14, 2010

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

In legal recruitment consulting, the need for strong sales skills cannot be underestimated. It is true that the recruitment agency is in the business of matching the company and the candidate perfectly. But the keyword here is business-the focus is on turning a profit. So having mastery of the different careers in the legal profession will not mean much of one is unable to pursue clients and close sales. It is probably because of this that there are people that view a lawyer moving from working for a law firm to working in a legal recruitment consulting job as taking a step down. But this is not necessarily the case. The important thing is going for a position that makes the best use of your skill set. If you are good in it, a sales job can see you experiencing a higher self-actualization as well as making more money.

If you want to join the recruitment industry, the best way is to start by joining a reputable firm of legal recruitment consultants. Big recruitment firms are always looking for enterprising graduates to join their ranks. You may find that they offer you a very low basic salary for entry level positions but the goal is always to get you to compensate through the commissions you earn on your sales. As with any job, there will be a probation period (a minimum of 3 months but can go up to 6 months) during which you will be expected to achieve certain sales targets that you will have agreed to when signing the employment contract. This is a good time for one to get a feel of whether this is the job for them or if they should look for alternative employment.

One of the attributes you will require when in the legal recruitment consulting industry is patience. Legal recruitment consultants, just like other sales jobs, can experience high returns during periods of high turnover of jobs and lower returns in the not so good times. You must have good personal finance management to keep tabs on your personal spend in order to manage the fluctuating income. You must also be able to think outside the box and come up with creative ways in which you can connect with potential clients. Build contacts by attending forums where members of the legal profession are bound to meet in large numbers while making use of contacts you have developed in the past in the event that you joined legal recruitment consulting from a job in the mainstream legal industry.

Be prepared for flexible working hours. You have to work with you clients preferred meeting hours that might include lunch hours, early breakfast meetings or meetings that will take place past normal working hours. As a sales person, the buck starts and ends with you-like a self employed business person, you create the business through your own effort. If you join a legal recruitment consulting firm from the mainstream legal industry, you might think that you do not need any training. However, it would be great to attend a professional training in recruitment such as the Certificate of Recruitment Practice as this will help you get your hands on deck and hit the ground running as quickly as possible.

Many recruitment consultants on the lower end of the spectrum will receive a basic salary ranging from $40,000 - $45,000 per annum but this will increase depending on sales performance and industry experience. The recruitment agency will normally charge 15-20% of a successfully hired employee's annual salary as a one-off fee of which the recruitment consultant will get between 3% and 10% of the fee.

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

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