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California Top Recruiter Liz Hudson Interviewed about California’s Growing Real Estate Attorney Market

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published January 03, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Liz Hudson, as a Managing Director at BCG Attorney Search, has her finger on the pulse of West Coast Law. With her unique position working with many of the largest firms in California, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii, she is excited that to tell us of the improvements the market has made in the second half of 2012. Herself a lawyer with a J.D. from prestigious Northwestern University, who has herself once suffered the setbacks of a bear of a market, with all too many applicants and all too few positions, she knows first hand the frustrations lawyers feel finding employment. Getting her first major break at Bell, Boyd, & Lloyd (now K&L Gates) came as a great relief, a justification for all the work she had done, and now that she is a recruiter for BCG there are few joys in her life greater than helping others experience that same justification and relief of being rightly placed to do good work.

Overall, the State of the Market in California has been fair, at least relative to the last few years. Markets such as intellectual property, patent litigation, and patent prosecution, persistently fared the best through the turmoil, especially in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. General Litigation meanwhile notoriously is outweighed by candidates over positions. Real Estate began to perk up, finally, after much anticipation, in the first quarter of 2012, especially, and as always, for midlevels (3-5 years), but as we shall see, things got more exciting as the year progressed.

California has long been a coveted market, especially for East Coasters such as New Yorkers, who are surprisingly welcome to the otherwise relatively, closed markets. New York lawyers have a reputation for working hard – that is appreciated. California is a tad more lax than New York, but the margin isn't too large. Markets like Los Angels, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley are always huge and each offers its unique flavor – the climate, the atmosphere, the people – that tempts people from all over the country.

Getting into such a market is hard. Californian firms often expect applicants to be home grown or at least be admitted to the California Bar. Experience, how ever, is always welcome, from all over the country, especially in high-demand fields. The hottest fields are the most likely to accept market crossovers.

As a top recruiter for BCG, Liz was excited to share with me a gleam of sunshine in a legal market that's been cloudy since the 2009 economic depression. She works with a wide range of law firms across the West Coast and is witnessing the response of Real Estate lawyers to the improving overall market. She is in a unique position to see how firms are hiring and says she "sees the trends in the market." Real Estate attorneys are in especially high demand nowadays, and there aren't enough qualified candidates, after the market was hit so hard. Real Estate attorneys had been laid off most of the other legal fields in the recession, and now they are in higher demand.

After the recession "People weren't building huge developments any more," she noted. But things are changing as of 2012, and especially as of the last half of 2012. While real estate attorneys are "in demand n most areas in the country" -- she mentioned Chicago as having a high demand -- California is especially in high demand at this point.

Liz spoke excitedly about a woman she placed last June whom she feels is representative of the favorable market. Her candidate was not licensed in California and was relocating from another state. California is a competitive market, especially lately, in which it is hard for non-Californian residents who are not licensed in California to get looked at. She says that it is "difficult if not licensed here as there are so many candidates." But "because, real estate was in such high demand, [this woman] got an offer from one of the country's top firms."

In other words, this is a unique time for a cross-over market into the Californian market, especially for real estate attorneys. What are they looking for? Of course the market is still competitive, but if you have 2-6 years of experience in real estate -- "three years seems to be the sweet spot," Liz said -- than your chances are higher than ever in moving to one of the biggest markets in the United States. Liz says the highest demand right now is in L.A., but qualified applicants are being sought across the board.

Firms are looking for well-rounded attorneys, and for lawyers with extensive transactional real estate experience. They of course like to see well-rounded commercial real estate experience.

Upcoming JDs need not fear the real estate market any more; in fact, if you intend to specialize, which is a good strategy, real estate is a good idea. "You will be in demand" she said, but warned that "when your practice isn't doing well, its frustrating," and she referred to her own job search. A niche transactional lawyer herself, when Liz looked to move in-house from her law firm she didn't see many relevant opening and was concerned. But, due to her niche specialty, when one opening did come up there was far fewer candidates qualified for the job than for most corporate openings. This helped her move in-house at a very young stage in her career. Thus she views it as a competitive edge in her job search down the road. Ideally, she'd recommend that recent graduates interested in real estate law focus approximately half their time on general transactional work and half their time on specific real estate work once they land their first job.

Liz anticipates 2013 will be giving us more of what the second half of 2012 has given us: more and more opportunities for Real Estate Attorneys on the West Coast.

See California legal recruiters list on LawCrossing.

See the following articles for more information:
 

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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