Dominic Peterson Goes After What He Wants

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 07, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Dominic Peterson is in the top third of his class at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, and he is expected to graduate in May of 2013. Currently, Dominic is interning with The Ken Blanchard Companies in Escondido, CA, and working as Director of Digital Marketing.

Click Here to Find Law Student Jobs on LawCrossing

Dominic received his B.A. in Electronic Media from the University of Wisconsin and his MBA from California State University in San Marcos (“CSUSM”). While at school, Dominic Peterson did not spend all of his time in the books. He had a great social life, and he became the President of his fraternity, Alpha Kappa Lambda. <<

According to Dominic, justice is akin to satisfaction. He believes justice does not always make a person whole, nor is justice served by someone paying a fine. As Dominic summed it up, justice is when the person on the receiving end of the injustice is satisfied in one way or another. Dominic does not believe that the law always equates to justice. For example, the law does not equate to justice when: the law is not in use, the law was theoretically sound and practically ineffective, a wronged party does not exist, or when the law is ineffective in providing satisfaction or assistance to the person seeking justice.

Dominic did not start out living in San Diego. In fact, Dominic grew up in a large family in a small town of 600 people in Boyd, Wisconsin. Although Dominic makes it back to Wisconsin to visit his parents, five brothers and sisters and 17 nieces and nephews, he loves living in Southern California with his work, his studies, and his wife. Dominic was unhappy with his early career choice, so he took a risk.

Dominic struggled to find his calling. Initially, he planned on working in television and radio. However, after about a year of working in the industry, he realized working in television and radio was not the right fit. Dominic realized he needed a career that was constantly moving and changing. After this realization, Dominic packed up his belongings, and he drove to California. After a few weeks of sleeping on a friend's sofa, his friend found him a job in marketing and advertising in downtown Los Angeles.

After working in corporations for ten years, Dominic wanted to study the law because he saw the need. In all the companies Dominic worked with, he noticed that fellow employees would bypass the legal department. The legal departments would always be swamped with work with one or two attorneys handling everything because everybody knew that it would take three to four weeks to get anything back. Dominic believes that as the economy improves and more laws become relevant to companies, a legal education in the business field will become more relevant and important.

Dominic is the kind of person that goes after what he wants. When Dominic wants something done, there is no stopping him. Just ask his beautiful wife. One of Dominic's most memorable moments in his life was when he first saw her. Less than two months later, the couple was happily married. They have been married for twelve years.

Dominic believes in the effectiveness of marketing through social networks. While working at The Ken Blanchard Companies, Dominic conceptualized and led the design, development, and creation of marketing collateral, public relations, and social networking. Further, he went on to manage global marketing, branding, and advertising strategies for corporate and international partner locations. Through this work, Dominic started a company Twitter site, which now has attained roughly 56,000 followers and increased readership of the company blog to 6,000 to 7,000 readers each week.
United States

Dominic has exhibited a strong work ethic and a constant commitment to growth. Dominic worked full-time, while he attended business school and law school. Although Dominic admits it was extremely difficult, the work load forced him to stay focused and organized. Dominic enjoys staying busy, and he wants to ensure that he continuously expands his education and work experience.

With all of Dominic's experience with heavy workloads, he has a suggestion for managing work stress, “remember, most of the time, it is not open heart surgery.” He suggests always researching and being prepared. However, if something is not possible or not going to meet a deadline then he is always open, honest, and he does his best. When you are doing your best, there is nothing to stress out about.

One of Dominic's top work lessons is to “always make sure you understand what people want.” He always makes sure he gets a clear description of what his client needs. Additionally, Dominic believes it is just as important to express what you hear back to the client, so he ensures he always hears the client correctly. Surely, this lesson was provided by one of Dominic's two main mentors, his father and his boss. Dominic admires his father's work ethic and his boss's determination, dedication to growth, and her intelligence.

During his studies, Dominic did some volunteer work with the Big Brother's and Big Sister's organization. Dominic gives back to organizations that need help. In addition, Dominic seeks to return the inspiration and support he received to institutions that helped him get where he is today. For instance, he served as a CSUSM Alumni Association board member for two years.

Dominic's goal is to reach a senior-level position within an organization. He wants to hone his legal and business leadership techniques and further develop his background in Corporate Law, Copyright Law, and Intellectual Property Law. When questioned about his limitations, Dominic responded “time, there is never enough time in the day.” Dominic is professionally known for being hard working, organized, and willing to take on different projects with a team.

When Dominic is not at working or studying, he enjoys a great mystery novel or biography. Currently, Dominic is reading Theodore Rex. He enjoys playing basketball, golf, ping-pong, hiking, and camping.

Click Here to View the 2015 LawCrossing Salary Survey of Lawyer Salaries in the Best Law Firms

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!

( 27 votes, average: 4.9 out of 5)

What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.