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Strategies to Increase Focus in Work and Learning Part 1

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published May 07, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Every student knows that absorption and internalization of learning and quality of output depends upon the amount of concentration and focus you can bring to bear upon your work. However, one of the most common causes of frustrations for law students is the inability to focus on work due to non-conducive environments. For many, the library is usually a safe refuge to do work without interruption. But it does not work for everyone. Like every other part of the world, law schools too, could have their own shares of unsavory characters and surroundings. While you can feel in your guts that it is imperative for you to free yourself from distractions and focus on your work at hand, the level of focus or concentration that your require may be eluding you. This article would help you with some tried strategies to reduce distractions and increase your ability to focus.

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Control your surroundings:

First, make sure that your surroundings are conducive to the task at hand and would not interrupt your focus. Surroundings that make you comfortable can include both physical and mental factors. Using a desk and chair combination that does not make you feel comfortable is not going to help you focus on your until you find a situation where you can sit and work comfortably.

Build Toffler’s zones by placing personal objects to claim stake to space and turn it personal. People turn spaces into personal comfort zone by placing objects with which there is a personal attachment, or an attachment may be developed. Leaving your hostel room unadorned is going to affect your mind if you just continue using what you received. Putting up pictures of yourself and your near and dear ones, posters of things or people you love, using objects that are personal helps to create a personal comfort zone and mark out territory. It is essential that a person should feel that a space belongs to him or her at an immediate level to be able to use that space for residence and focus during work.

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Shutting out distractions is essential and small things like listening to music or white noise producers can help you concentrate. By putting in place background noise that covers other distracting noise, you essentially mark your “audio” surroundings with something under your control. This helps to build your personal comfort zone and increase focus.

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United States
Control your body:

Influence your body with time tested techniques.

Drink lots of water – the human brain starts performing at less than peak efficiency due to dehydration much before we actually start feeling thirst. If you are learning and working, don’t form the habit of drinking water only after you feel thirsty. Drink water at scheduled intervals so that thirst never hits you, and you always remain hydrated.

Eat properly and at scheduled intervals – improper intervals and upsets in the timing of food can disrupt biological cycles in your body and lead to many ailments besides loss of focus. It is imperative that to have the best use of your personal faculties you need to maintain a disciplined regime of food and sleep. Keep snacks at hand while studying or working. Intellectual work burns calories at a rate five times faster than physical work. The difference is that when you are physically tired you would be able to quickly ‘feel’ it, but it might take a long time to realize that you are tired due to mental work. Snacks do help in studies.

Don’t neglect physical movement. Many students become couch potatoes and barely move from their ‘seats of power’ most of the time. However, to remain intellectually active, it is necessary to remain physically active. Get up, walk around, take a breath outside, and come back to focus again on your work.

In this article we dealt with what you can add to the equation to increase focus. In the next part of this article we would be dealing specifically with how to handle common distractions and focus your attention on the work at hand to the exclusion of everything else. Remember, studying is like meditation, if you are really studying then you would lose track of everything else. So, it is important to inculcate the habits of drinking water, eating, and sleeping on time to get your productivity working at its peak.

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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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