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Preparing for a Full-scale Job Search

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 January 19, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Before you start looking offline for a job, there are several things you can do that can get you off to a good start. This article deals with things that can help you at the preliminary stage of beginning hunting for jobs. These steps can be essential, depending upon your resources and preparedness, because going to war without a plan or supplies can be disastrous.

Choose the place get the supplies

Choose an area in your home where you can work in privacy and be least distracted by others. If there is a study, that is ideal. If not, what about using the location where you pay the bills? Whatever place you decide on, it should be available during the day. Also, it should have a door—you will want to close it.

You will need:
 
  • A phone at hand (you will be making many phone calls).
  • A telephone directory (you will be using the Yellow Pages regularly).
  • A desk or table (you will be doing letter writing, resume writing, and note keeping).
  • A computer – if you don’t have one, you may need access to one in a friend’s place, or somewhere else, where you can create and save digital copies
  • An ample supply of stamps, envelopes, stationery, and paper clips
  • A stapler

Find out where the most convenient and inexpensive photocopying service is located, one that gives good copies. You will be making copies of your resume and letters of recommendation to give to employers.

Other essential resources to go on a job-hunt

Internet access, your own email address without any funky name, and being computer savvy is a great start. But on real job searches, there are some very essential resources, we often miss out on, as they look traditional.

Newspapers: Buy or have delivered the daily and Sunday editions of all newspapers that contain the help-wanted advertisements for the geographical area in which you are seeking work. On a daily basis, have the latest edition of the newspaper at your desk. You will be looking through these ads every day.

Telephone Directories Get a telephone directory that covers all the geographical areas in which you are seeking employment. If you need directories for additional locations, buy them from the telephone company (they don't cost much). Keep all directories at your desk. You will be using the Yellow Pages section to identify companies that interest you.
United States

Photographs: You might need many copies of your photos to send out with your resumes, or if you are sending things digitally, scanned copies of your photographs are needed.

Create a Daily Activity Record: Use a Daily Activity Record to keep a brief daily account of your job-seeking activities. At the end of each morning, note down the number of phone calls you made and the number of letters you wrote or the number of emails you sent. Keep this record posted on a wall or some other place near your desk so that a glance will show you how many calls and letters you completed over a few days' time. This will help you decide whether to increase your efforts. A good rule of thumb is: make a total of at least ten calls or letters each day and applying to a similar number of openings online. If you aren't obtaining enough interviews, try to discover the reason by looking back at this Daily Activity Record.

Some basic needs associated with a job search

Family assistance and understanding: When you are unemployed, family members or housemates usually assume that you have nothing to do and therefore make continuing requests of your time. "You're not doing anything else anyhow—can you fix up the garden and maybe paint the bathroom?" is a typical request. So are "You must be bored stiff—come on over for coffee," or "While you are waiting around, how about giving me a ride and doing the shopping?" Keep your temper, but don't comply; don't let these requests interfere. Instead, inform the person that you will be very busy with interviews during the day. You can prevent these distractions, as we've said; but an even better alternative is to enlist the active support of your family or housemates.

Scheduling your time and calls: Typically, searching for a job is a part-time activity that gets squeezed into a busy schedule. The Job-Club approach, however, treats looking for a job as a full-time job in itself. Since most of this work must be done during normal working hours when employers are at their place of work, you too should schedule your workday according to normal working hours—usually, 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. from Monday to Friday. Don't work on evenings and weekends—leave these times free for your other activities (reading, visiting or calling friends, fishing, bowling, cleaning house, fixing things, going to the movies, and so on). By the same token, don't do these activities during the day any more than you would do if you had a full-time paying job.

A simple practice will help you arrange your schedule during the day: schedule the morning for writing and telephoning at your desk; schedule the afternoon for all interviews or visits to employers. When you make an appointment for an interview, suggest an appropriate time—for example, "Would 2 o'clock today be a good time for you?" or "I can be over there about i o'clock, right after lunch, if that time is convenient," or "I can make it any time this afternoon. Which time is best?" Spend as much time as you need to early in the morning until you have enough interviews to fill up your afternoon. A good rule of thumb is to work until you have at least two interviews for that day. If, early in the morning, you successfully net your quota of interviews, keep calling for another interview, or do some necessary writing. If by noon you have not arranged any interviews, continue calling during the early afternoon until you get one or two.

See Also: How to Answer the “Tell Me about Yourself” Interview Question

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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