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Law Jobs: Getting Started

Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!

published June 30, 2010

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Broadly speaking, legal careers fall into one of two categories. They are either concerned with enforcing existing laws, or in applying laws to sets of circumstances. In essence, this represents the typical divide between the theoretical and the practical, with each serving a vital role to keep the law functioning.

Law enforcement officers are concerned with the practical application of laws. Their roles are to notice that a law is being broken and work to enforce that law, or to keep those who may have broken the law in check while other aspects of their case can be sorted through. The skills required of those seeking law jobs in this arena are vastly different from those who are more concerned with its theoretical aspects.

There are a variety of additional factors to consider when pondering a career in law enforcement. Are your interests more in problem-solving? If so, then work as a detective or crime scene investigator may be where your interests lie. Are you more interested in treatment options for convicted criminals, working to help them become law-abiding citizens after release from incarceration? If so, consider a career in criminal psychology. If enforcing laws and apprehending criminals to protect the public is what draws you to law jobs, then work as a police officer may be what you like most. Many choices are available to you, but whichever you ultimately select will place you on a much different path than you'd be were you to pick something else.

If your interests are more theoretical, or if you prefer solving problems and breaking new ground, then legal employment as a lawyer may be just what you're looking for. Choosing to become a lawyer is no simple decision, however, as there are as many options available to new lawyers as there are to those choosing careers in the more practical aspects of law. While the mass media image of an aggressive trial lawyer is certainly a popular option, many other avenues are available, some which drastically contrast this popular stereotype of what lawyers must be.

Regardless of a lawyer's specialization, their general duties are as an interface between clients and the complexities of the law. They serve to advise clients of their legal options and responsibilities, as well as to advocate for their clients within a legal framework. They also can interpret laws and outcomes of past cases as to determine whether a client's actions or desires are upheld by or conflict with previous legal decisions.
United States

The law is a complex subject. Those wishing to pursue law jobs as a lawyer must first select which areas of law they are interested in focusing upon. The course of study needed to become a criminal lawyer is vastly different than that for business law, family litigation or the numerous and rapidly evolving legal issues surrounding computing and the internet. While many fundamentals remain the same across fields, your choice of which aspect of the law interests you will determine your course of study, and perhaps even where those studies will take place.

While all lawyers can represent clients in trial, not all do. Many choose to spend all of their time working outside of courtrooms, instead focusing upon the research needed to support trial lawyers with current cases. Still others focus on helping individuals and organizations to comply with the law, pursuing needed licenses and honoring other requirements. Still others perform common tasks which may require the weight of law to succeed. Drafting a legally-binding will or contract, or creating a trust are just two of many tasks which can easily be carried out poorly without careful adherence to and knowledge of the legal requirements in the specific area of interest.

If you're interested in the diverse array of law jobs available to you, then check out the many listings available at LawCrossing.com. Their thousands of listings will help you to realize the many opportunities available to anyone wishing to pursue a legal profession. Furthermore, free trials are available, so what have you got to lose? Visit LawCrossing.com and sign up for your free account today

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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