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How Viable is Law Practice Still as a Noble Profession

published December 25, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

( 236 votes, average: 5 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.
The life of a lawyer is hardly happy-go-lucky. First, you are a human, and then, you are a lawyer. This simple fact continually fails in registering itself, while we are engrossed in doing our daily tasks and meeting deadlines. So stress keeps piling up, substance abuse becomes common, families break down, tripping up and getting caught in the web of professional misconduct, knowingly or unknowingly, is also quite common.
 
How Viable is Law Practice Still as a Noble Profession

Dealing with the injustices in one's personal life is tough enough; dealing with the injustices in the lives of hundreds of strangers on a regular basis can immutably change one's character and behaviors. It's no wonder then that through the centuries, lawyers have seen themselves as apart from humanity, and in its turn, the rest of humanity has seen itself as being apart from lawyers.


Add to this the burdens of continually juggling between the duties to a client, and the duties of being an officer of the court and upholding the values of a noble profession. On one hand, your earnings are at stake, on the other your license to practice law is at stake, and either way, your career is continually at stake.

Things could have been understood, if it still was a valued profession in the manner it was before the rise of commercial law student mills, massive law student loans and debts, and inequitable scope of employment.

Professions are supposed to provide secured means of livelihood – the way a doctor can continue to survive and succeed because there is a demand for his/her services that continues unabated, and as long as he/she provides quality services, regardless of delivering it through a structured institution like a hospital, or individually, he/she is assured of a livelihood.

However, in the practice of law, today, there is no such guarantee. The practice of law has become a profession that does not offer a secure means of livelihood, but getting there places a burden of loans and expenditure of resources on aspiring lawyers, so as to reduce their choices of having a good life as a human. And of course, then you are subject to the rules of the noble profession.

Ask any fresh law graduate who had tried to make it solo without having family connections at court or in the profession of law – until you start making good money, most other members of your noble profession would regard you as an uninvited guest to their private party. When you start making money and having clients, suddenly everyone is your long-lost cousin, all part of the same brotherhood.

I made a search with the keyword phrase “lawyer career” on Google today, as on December 22, 2012. The third result was an article named “One Lawyer's Path to Finding Meaning in His Career.” Going by the rules of Search Engine Optimization, it gives an indication of a huge number of searches and interest on the internet in finding a “meaning” in a lawyer's career. The article author, David Koller, writes of his experiences of finding meaning in his life by transitioning from the life of an individual lawyer to that of the owner of a small law firm. That's how he found meaning in his career – by mentoring and helping others overcome the difficulties he had faced in his time. But what stands out, and what rings as truth in the article is what Koller says about why he was frustrated and depressed early in his career as a lawyer.

In his words, “I was a frustrated lawyer. I was frustrated with the work I was doing -- work that I felt no attachment in performing, and work that I felt no accomplishment in completing.” And when delving into what it actually was that made him feel uncomfortable about law practice, he says, “I felt unsatisfied because I felt that if I were not doing what I was doing, then someone else would be doing it just as well, and the world would be no different. In essence, I felt very, very replaceable.”

This is the thing that comes with commercial law student mills, mass production of law graduates, and working in law firms, each of which seems a clone of another with cloned work processes and office environments. The individuality has been lost in the profession to a great extent, and may be along with that, the veneer of nobility.

Does it happen to everybody? May be not, or may be it was never fully understood. But since the arrival of the information age, and actual employment data surfacing through transparency efforts, it is becoming clear that close to half of law graduates are not going into the practice of law. And another big number leave the practice after facing mid-life crises. Law practice would obviously remain as a means of earning, but whether as a noble profession as different from a noble industry remains to be seen.

The good news is that the situation seems to be correcting itself with law schools coming under attack over misleading employment data, the number of LSAT examinees and law school candidates dropping ingloriously, and the number of people who joined the ranks without a passion to practice law growing smaller. Law is a noble profession still, but to continue to remain so, it is essential that people who come into the practice of law must come not because they see it as just another means of livelihood. Because then they would become just another lawyer, keep feeling replaceable until they succeed in finding their way, and affect the nobility of the profession by making it seem as just another process based industry.

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.
( 236 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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