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The Real World As Referred In the World of Law School

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published January 25, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

The world of work, often referred to in law school as "the real world" (as if law school were some kind of fantasy world!), is complex, varied, and frequently confusing to the job hunter. Careful preparation beforehand can do much to make the trek through the job search minefield less treacherous.

Click Here to Find Law Student Jobs on LawCrossing

This article deals with four areas which should interest the job seeker: (1) the distribution of lawyers, (2) future trends, (3) employment and salary patterns, and (4) hiring issues for women and minorities.

Distribution of Lawyers

The choice of a place to practice law may depend on where jobs are available. Some places are glutted with lawyers, giving rise to the view that the job market is tight everywhere.

This simply is not true; some areas are very short of attorneys. San Francisco, Boston, and other large cities which are attractive geographically or have a number of law schools tend to be crowded. Smaller cities, with only one law school may have the same problem.

Research indicates that a population/attorney (P/A) ratio of 1000:1 is normal, excluding commercial activity. Increased commercial activity will reduce the ratio substantially because business seems to increase the amount of legal work. Thus, major cities typically have a ratio of around 250:1 or less. An interesting question is; how many lawyers can the market bear?

Future Demand for Legal Services

In what fields will the biggest demand of lawyers be in the next twenty years? Where will lawyers be needed in the future? Will there be too many lawyers? Will they be too few? These and similar questions arise every day.

The medical profession has a much easier time predicting future demand. Medical patients, unlike lawyers' clients, are always individuals. Consequently, it is possible to take the projected population of the country, the frequency of various physical affiliations, and even projected problem areas that may arise, and come within a reasonable estimate of the demand for medical personnel.

For lawyers, a similar estimate would begin with determining what the client mix of the future might be individuals, small businesses, corporations, government and others and the kinds and qualities of legal services they will require. Then you would need to predict what legislative and judicial decisions will be made in the future. Of course, it is more difficult to foresee what Congress and the Supreme Court will do, let alone 50 state and hundreds of local legislatures and lower courts.

Now add into the mix the entire realm of economics. The real estate market goes sour, and suddenly property attorneys face difficult times. The economy takes a downturn, and bankruptcy attorneys do extremely well. Research and development programs by corporations are cut back, and patent attorneys are in oversupply.

Such economic factors touch upon all areas of practice. Fortunately, their impact is usually for a relatively short period of time. But that very uncertainty is the reason every new lawyer should remain flexible in his or her career thinking.

United States
In addition to changes in the economy and profession during your career, there may be political changes which will have an impact on you and your goals. Many lawyers have been subjected to government hiring freezes or to a change in a political party that wiped out the positions they held.

Changes on the professional level may have substantial impact on the future demand for lawyers. Among the more likely of these are the increase in law office automation, legal assistants, affiliated or subsidiary business ventures by law firms in non legal fields, de facto specialization, branch office and multi-jurisdictional practice, mandatory continuing legal education, and concerns about professional competency.

Even though many changes cannot be predicted, it is essential that you monitor current events and developments in the profession throughout your career so you are not caught completely unawares. In so unpredictable a world, "adaptability" and "flexibility" become career watchwords that no young lawyer can afford to overlook.

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Future Practice Trends

Who will be your clients? The development of neighborhood clinics, group legal services, law stores, and insurance plans will bring substantial demands from middle income clients for a variety of services. Increased appropriations for the federally funded legal services have provided greater access for individuals in low income groups to seek legal assistance in civil and, increasingly, criminal cases.

Some changes will occur in the areas of advertising, specialization, the self-regulation of the legal profession, and questions of competency and responsibilities for giving advice. The adversary system is not immune from the evolution: new methods of dispute resolution are being tried. Old concepts of how trials should be held are being challenged. Arbitration agreements and no-fault laws all lead many to believe that the function of the courts will change dramatically in coming years.

Within the legal profession, the growth of really large law firms with several branches is redefining the law firm pyramid. Assembly-line procedures and other office management improvements, including the use of paralegals is helping to reserve the lawyer's time for more complicated legal work. The expansion of legal departments of corporations and the employment of more lawyers in governmental agencies are affecting the traditional attorney-client relationship. These organizational changes are touching every important activity of the individual practitioner and the environment in which he works.

Why are changes occurring? Many, of course, are brought about by forces within the profession, but often lawyers have waited to react to external pressures. Because the profession has changed and will continue to change at such a rapid rate, it is important for students to critically reflect and examine the new directions their profession is taking as well as their role within it if they expect to act as agents of change rather than simply to react to change it occurs.

Many law students are reluctant to challenge employment practices they consider improper, or at least they are uneasy about their situation vis-a-vis employers. It is true that women and minority students have special concerns, and they may face career issues that do not impede their majority/male counterparts.

If you have particular questions about their career planning or job search process related to your status as a woman or minority law student, you should discuss these questions with a career counselor at your school. You may also find it useful to share your concerns with fellow students, or to speak with graduates who have completed the job search successfully.

Click Here to View the 2015 LawCrossing Salary Survey of Lawyer Salaries in the Best Law Firms

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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