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Landing the Perfect Summer Associate Job

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 18, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

With the slew of law firms closing one after another and the dubious Great Recovery in place of the Great Recession the definition of a “perfect summer associate job” has, of course, changed quite a bit. Depending upon your inclinations, even a non-paying summer job in the government sector may be great for you if it meets your career objectives. But, for the sake of this article, we would be assuming the ‘perfect summer associate' job to be the job of a

summer associate

in a private law firm of middle-to-big stature, and one that would almost cement your chances of getting recruited after your J.D.
Summer Associate

Research about your prospective employers

First, of course, comes your grade and specific knowledge of the law firms in your area that offer summer associate programs. You'd get to know a lot about these opportunities from the law school's career office itself. You can also learn about the cultures of specific law firms and their practice areas from senior students, alumni, law firm websites and the news. One of my favorite techniques, after I decide upon a few law firms for a prospective associate, is to do a Google news search with the name of the law firms within quotes. It can turn up a surprising amount of information about the law firms and help to make an informed decision.

Find a law firm that has opportunities in areas of your interest

Next, the choice of the law firm should be influenced by your personal career objectives, if there is scope to accommodate them in your choice. Just jumping for a big law firm may not yield results always. If the target is to learn, and also to create a future job opportunity, small to middle-level law firms are a choice that should not be neglected. Broaden your choices and try to home in on those law firms whose practice areas are aligned with the branches of law that you enjoy.

Cover the basics

Creating a presentable resume and cover letter is of course an essential step, as also networking and placing your resumes in the hands of people who matter. As a law student, you'd be treated as

Generation Y

and the stereotype is going to affect you. Learn to meet the best expectations of that stereotype, and avoid the not-so-appreciated attributes. As Generation Y, you are expected to be a team-worker, to be tech-savvy, and to be a multi-tasker – improve yourself to fulfill those expectations. Also as Generation Y, people would be expecting you to be impatient and attention-craving – emphasize your difference from the stereotype as far as negative attributes are concerned.

The best may not be the best for you

Research the law firms you are going to apply for. It wasn't a pleasant surprise for the summer associates of Dewey, who had given up opportunities at other law firms to suddenly learn that their positions were gone. While it is difficult to predict the future, any law firm with a non-traditional approach at finances can be a candidate for sudden disaster despite its size or reputation. Too good may not always be good enough.

Stress on soft skills

Brush up your

social skills

to ace the interview. There may be little you can do to change what is already in your resume, but when grades and career objectives form a tie with other candidates, personality carries the day. Most big law firms put a premium on unassuming people with pleasing personalities who are out to ‘learn.' On the contrary, most good law firms would like to avoid candidates who already know too much.

Avoid trying to be a hard-hitter, avoid stale jokes, avoid informal attitudes, avoid trying to be chummy with law firm recruiters, and avoid trying to impress with a flow of encyclopedic knowledge. Answer questions to the point, and don't drag explanations to elaborate things when elaboration is not required. Focus on your excitement at the opportunity to learn, and the fact that your career objectives match the practice areas of the law firm for which you are trying for a summer associate position. Usually, that's almost all you can do to get a perfect summer associate position, except for recommendations from a big law firm client whom your family happens to know.

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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