Finding Attorney Jobs in Chicago

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 July 08, 2010

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

That said, there are techniques that you can take advantage of to make your search for a position in Chicago easier and more effective. The first place to begin your search is at the career development and job placement centre in your university or law school. And there is a reason for this - you see, as much as there is fierce competition to the best attorney Chicago jobs, there is also an almost equally fierce competition between law firms looking to pick out the best legal brains even before they leave law school.

A number of top Chicago law firms will prefer to start to look for entry level attorneys from law school as opposed to in the job market. But career development and job placement centers in law school play another important role for the students - they offer good information and practical advice on how to prepare a winning resume, conduct yourself during an interview and the best places to focus your job search energies on.

Many budding attorneys lose contact with their university and law school professors after completing their course not realizing how many opportunities they will lose as a result. As much as you can, maintain regular contact with your law professors as their position privileges them to interact with the most influential persons in the legal industry not forgetting the fact that they may have taught some of the key decision makers in the top Chicago law firms.

In addition, a number of law professors started out working in a law firm before joining the teaching profession or have worked as law consultants in Chicago. Keeping in touch with your professors does not take much and could be as simple as paying them a visit, giving them a call or dropping them an email at least four times a year. Of course you have better chances of your law professor recommending you for a position if you show interest in current trends in Chicago law, landmark cases and controversial judgments as opposed to simply pestering them for a job.

This demonstration of interest will see them have no qualms about your ability to perform once you are hired. That being said, do not be reluctant to start off your industry experience with volunteer legal work in Chicago. In Chicago, you can offer your legal skills in community service by offering pro bono legal work or becoming an LSAT tutor.

Even if you are getting no pay from it or just a small stipend, the advantage with volunteer work is that you not only get real legal work experience but that you also keep your knowledge of law fresh as you wait to secure steady Chicago attorney jobs. In any case, volunteer work is an attractive attribute to many recruiters as it is perceived as proof of ambition and readiness to face challenges head on.

Just like the best jobs in any industry, the top entry level attorney jobs in Chicago are best obtained through networking. Invest in purposeful networking as it will increase your chances of meeting with the right kind of people who will provide with the industry opening you are looking for or know someone else that may do. Attend as many law events in Chicago as possible - and there are many.

Some are invitation only and may require a hefty contribution in order for one to be allowed in; but there are many more that are open to any attorney and these are the ones you should start with. When you do attend an event, undertake an extensive background check of the organizers as well as the event theme. As a newbie, this is the only way that you can confidently interact with more experience event participants and create a good first impression.

Don't forget the internet -the single largest source of attorney jobs Chicago advertisements today. Law firms have a liking for internet job boards as they provide access to a massive audience and thus increasing the chance that the right person for the job will see the advert and apply. And there is no better place to start your online job search than Lawcrossing.com. You can sign up for a free trial today and have a head start over other law school graduates in Chicago in getting that dream job.

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

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!