- Are any specific technical skills required to properly perform in that area? For example, it seems probable that an accounting undergraduate degree would be necessary in the financial area. Ability to understand the terminology of a contract would probably be necessary in the contract administration field.
Don't stop there' Are there any skills which might be acceptable substitutes for the specified technical skills? Are there related skills which might enhance job performance? Perhaps you are interested in the real estate area. With a little thought you can easily see how your legal training might provide a basic technical skill that would be useful in your work, but also imagine the enhancement of that skill if you happen to have concentrated your studies in that particular field.
Carrying this analysis one step further is extremely important where no specific technical skills appear to be required. By analyzing your own experience and training you can pinpoint those skills you have acquired which would put you ahead of the competition. It may also serve to eliminate consideration of posts for which you would not offer necessary technical background.
- What degree of educational development is required for satisfactory job performance? When a business organization is seeking to employ someone for its legal department, it is obvious that a law degree will be required simply because it is basic to bar admission. Very seldom, indeed, will non-legal positions specifically call for a law degree. It will be your task to figure out why a law degree better qualifies you for the position than any other which may be specified, as well as why a law degree better qualifies you for the position than any other applicant for that position. This is not a point to be sloughed over lightly. If the company has not defined the position in terms of a law degree, then it is to your competitive advantage to be able to point out why the skills of a person possessing such a degree will contribute substantially to effective job performance.
- What personality qualities are required, and what are desirable? Assume from the outset that every business concern is seeking the most intelligent and highly motivated people it can find, and that this is tremendously important at the administrative and managerial levels. Assume also leadership potential and the ability to work effectively with others will also be prime considerations. What is necessary is to define what additional qualities might contribute most effectively to success in the particular area under consideration. Some of the characteristics corporate and business employers look for which you will want to demonstrate include:
Integrity
Dependability
Initiative
Adaptability
Decisiveness
Planning
Versatility
Articulateness
Creativity
Concentration
All of these are good qualities, and each would contribute to successful job performance. At this point, however, what you seek to do is to isolate those traits that would be most important to performance in a specific area. For example, you might expect that greater originality and creativity would be demanded in the marketing function than in contract administration. As you analyze your own personal strengths against the probable qualities needed in the area you are considering, you are better able to judge its congeniality to you and also to assess your competitive stature as a person against other possible candidates for the position.
- The final question in the mind of the employer is the degree of industry knowledge and procedural know-how that will be required to successfully fill the position's demands. If you are just entering the business world, the employer does not expect you to have this knowledge. It is not something that you can learn by simply taking certain prescribed courses. It is acquired only by experience on the job.
The importance of this last question to you as you begin a business career is that it defines the type of position which you will be seeking. The most frequent title given to this post is management trainee which, as the title indicates, is precisely what will happen. You will be trained by management in the industry knowledge and procedural know-how that you will be required to have for performance in more advanced positions.
In a few industries there are specific titles for entry level positions, such as land representative in the petroleum industry and claims adjustor in the insurance industry. However, if you are uncertain about a specific title, your use of the phrase "entry level or management trainee type of position" as your specific position goal is more likely to avoid misunderstanding due to semantic confusion.
In answering the employer's four questions you will naturally want to assess the special qualifications that your legal training enables you to bring to the position. Essentially they are three.
The first and most obvious one is your knowledge of legal terminology and its interpretations. For example, how can you possibly monitor contract performance if you can't read and understand what the contract requires. Having that knowledge has served to place so many legally trained persons in non-legal positions.
The second ability is a little more subtle. It involves the honing of your analytical ability as it was acquired in law school in "learning to think like a lawyer."
Murphy's law, "If anything can possibly go wrong, it will," is a familiar one in the business community. The ability to analyze problems and suggest remedies is a highly valued skill. Further, it is the skill not easily acquired, as no doubt your own painful memories will attest. Your analytical skill does not lose its value simply by being translated into a different context.
The third skill which you have acquired through law school training is more difficult to define. For our purposes here let us use the term "persuasiveness." Essentially it involves the marshaling of your facts in a logical and orderly manner designed to persuade the particular audience being addressed as to the soundness of your conclusions. It may be easier to understand this skill if we review it as it is used in the practice of law. In any given situation you will have a number of facts and supporting data. Consider how differently you would present those facts and data to a client whom you were counseling, as defense attorney in a jury trial or in an appellate brief. This persuasive skill is just as valuable in the business community because of its almost unlimited usefulness.
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 December 24, 2012
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
Applicants for positions often feel that the qualities the employer is looking for represent some sort of an impenetrable mystery. This simply is not so. Rather, there is a formula by which the qualifications required for any position can be determined. With a little imagination and some practice you should be able to analyze the requirements for any position in which you might be interested. The formula itself involves only four basic questions.
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
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