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published February 14, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

In order to help you establish the focus of your job search, lawyers in transition ought to decide whether they wish to consider opportunities in different practice settings or areas of practice.

Different Practice Settings

Although this may seem obvious, switching practice settings has made a world of difference for many attorneys. It is also the least drastic and easiest change to make.

Choices include:
  • Move from the private sector to the public sector or vice-versa.
  • Move from a large firm to a small firm.
  • Move from an urban environment to a suburban environment or from a firm's main office to a branch office.
  • Move to a different environment while utilizing the same skills; i.e., from insurance defense litigation in a law firm to a similar position in an insurance company.
  • Change to a firm with different types of clients.
A good way to deal with this issue is to take an inventory of your most desired work settings and options.
Complete the following checklist by indicating which options most interest you:

A. Law Firm

Solo Practice
  • 2 - 10 Attorneys
  • 11-25 Attorneys
  • 26 - 50 Attorneys
  • 51 - 100 Attorneys
  • 101 - 250 Attorneys
  • 251 - 500 Attorneys
  • 500 + Attorneys
Representing
  • Businesses
  • Businesses with significant pro bono opportunities
  • Businesses and individuals
  • Individuals ( defense/ plaintiff)
  • Individuals (non-litigation)
  • Public Interest
  • Other (specify)
B. Government

Federal
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Judicial ( trial/ appellate)
  • US Attorney
  • Armed Forces
State
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Judicial ( trial/ appellate)
  • Attorney General
  • County or Regional
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Judicial ( trial/ appellate)
  • District Attorney
Municipal
  • Executive
  • Legislative
  • Judicial ( trial/ appellate)
  • City Solicitor
C. Academic
  • Law School Professor
  • Law School Administrator
  • Other School Professor
  • Other School Administrator
  • Librarian
D. Public Interest/Human Services
  • Legal Services Programs Individual Representation Class Action,
  • Law Reform Policy,
  • Research Litigation Public Defender ( Trials/ Appeals)
  • Public Interest Law Centers
  • Individual Representation
  • Class Action, Law Reform
  • Policy, Research
  • Litigation
  • Social Action Organizations
  • Citizen/Community Organizations
  • Nonprofit Organizations
E. Corporation In-house Counsel (Profit/Non-Profit)
  • Business
  • Foundation
  • Non-Profit
  • Labor Union
  • Trade Association
  • College and University
  • Museum
  • Professional Society
  • Religious Organization
  • Hospital/Health Organization
  • Banking/Financial Services
  • Real Estate Development
  • Insurance Accounting
  • Management Consulting
F. Other
  • Delivery of Legal Services
  • Elective Politics Systems
  • Pre-Paid Legal Services
  • Private Foundations
  • Legal Clinics
  • Non-traditional legal career
Different Practice Areas

Many attorneys are upset to discover that, having chosen the real estate department as a first year associate, they are forever condemned to practice real estate law. Moving to a different area of practice involves a substantive change, which can be much more difficult to make than moving to a different practice setting. Here are some good ways to start:
  • Attend continuing legal education courses offered by the American Bar Association, state and local bar associations, Law Institutes, and private companies.

    United States
  • Join the relevant section of the American Bar Association and your state or local bar association. Membership often includes a subscription to a publication that provides information on new developments in the field and upcoming programs. Volunteer to work as an active member. This will provide excellent opportunities for networking and learning about the subject, as well as establishing credibility.

  • Take courses at a local university related to your area of interest. You do not have to commit to getting a degree. Many schools have certificate or "visiting professional" programs.

  • Enroll in an LL.M. program.

  • Do volunteer work for an organization in your area of interest.

  • If you want to remain with the same employer but in a different area of practice, talk to the head of the department you would like to work in and ask for an opportunity to work on a case in that area. Try to bring in a client in the area you want to work in and ask to co-counsel the case. Bolster your credibility by availing yourself of the aforementioned courses.
Consider the variety of practice areas in which you can work. Underline/highlight the ones which are of interest to you:

Alternate Dispute Resolution
  • Mediation
  • Negotiation
  • Arbitration
Art, Entertainment and Media
  • Motion Pictures
  • Sports
  • Music
  • Computer Art/Graphics Press
  • TV and Radio Cable television
  • Art and Theater
  • Recreation/Leisure
  • Communication
  • Culture
  • Libel
  • Literary Property
  • First Amendment Video
Business Law
  • Banking Corporations
  • Securities Regulation Bankruptcy Corporate
  • Finance Admiralty & Maritime Energy
  • Investment Banking
  • Utilities
  • Industrial
  • Reorganization
  • Mergers
  • Commodities Trade
  • Regulation Unfair
  • Competition Oil & Gas Mining
  • Natural Resources
  • Advertising
  • Insurance
  • Foreign Trade
  • Economic Development
  • Interstate Commerce
  • Agriculture
Civil Litigation
  • Appellate Litigation
  • Administrative Agencies
  • Practice and Procedure before Personal Injury and Negligence
  • Malpractice
  • Trial Practice and Procedure Products Liability
Consumer Goods and Services
  • General
  • Purchasing
  • Debtor's Rights
  • Insurance
  • Transportation
  • Product Liability
  • Energy
  • Food
  • Corporate Responsibility Utilities
  • Pharmaceuticals
Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Law Trial
  • Criminal Law Appeals
  • Prisoner's Rights
  • Probation and Parole
  • Juvenile Justice
  • Rehabilitation
Employment
  • Worker Safety
  • Equal Employment Collective Bargaining Pension/ERISA Worker's Compensation
  • Employee Benefits
  • Civil Service Labor (Management) Labor (Union) Unemployment
Family Law
  • Adoption
  • Conservatorship
  • Foster
  • Parenting Wills,
  • Trusts
  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Guardianship Settlement of Estates Parent Custody Rights
  • Children's Rights
  • Surrogate Parenting Neglect and Abuse
Health
  • Physical Health
  • AIDS
  • Disabled Persons
  • Health Care Systems
  • Abused Persons
  • Commitment
  • Mental Health
Law Practice
  • Law Office Economics
  • Advertising
  • Paralegal Services
  • Ethics
  • Prepaid Legal Services
  • Legal Clinics
  • Professional Education
  • General Practice
  • Specialization
  • Law Research Materials
  • Recruitment
  • Management
Property Law and Real Estate
  • Architecture
  • Construction
  • Convincing
  • Cooperative
  • Building Codes
  • Condemnation
  • Condominiums
  • Eminent Domain
  • Environmental Law
  • Land Use Shopping Centers Tenant Rights
  • Urban Development
Public Interest/Human Services
  • International Human Rights
  • Civil Rights
  • Civil Liberties
  • Women's Rights
  • Elder Law
  • Minority Rights
  • Community Organizing/ Citizen Action
  • Municipal Affairs Education
  • Legislation
  • Election
  • Youth
  • Urban Affairs
  • Welfare
  • Rural Residents
  • Small Farm Owners
  • Military Justice
  • Veterans
  • Immigration
  • Antitrust
  • Poverty
  • Constitutional
  • Government
  • Disarmament/ Arms Control
  • Environment Disability Law
Science and Technology
  • Aeronautics
  • Engineering
  • Genetics
  • Patent
  • Copyright
  • Trademark
  • Computers
Taxation
  • Income and Other Taxation
  • Estate and Gift Taxation
  • Practice and Administration
  • Federal and State Liaison
As you explore your options, keep three simple rules in mind:
  1. Always trust your own instincts.
  2. Try not to let money completely rule your life.
  3. Motivate yourself.

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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