Finding a Better Work-life Balance: Lose Your Fears, not Your Earnings

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published July 17, 2012

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

Finding a better work-life balance is something of a holy grail for attorneys: they are constantly searching for it but it keeps eluding them. And it continues as long as an attorney decides to bind himself with “golden handcuffs.” The fear of the unknown, the fear of what would happen if the billable hours were not met, and the fear of losing the current quality of living makes attorneys give up their quality of life. It's entirely voluntary, because few situations outside a prison are without consent. If you have lost your work-life balance, it happened due to your conscious choice and your mistaken ideas about true priorities in your life. So, it falls upon you to rectify the situation, and that can be done without material losses: the only thing you need to lose is your fear.

Identify and lose your fears: are they real?

Look at it this way: you fear that if you do not meet billable hours, do not meet the expectations of your superiors, and do not manage to bring home the money expected of you then you are going to fail in your duties. If you think that, you are absolutely wrong. If you believe that your family expects only money from you, you are wrong. And if you think it is impossible for you to meet the demands of both money and time, again you are wrong. You just need to break out of habits, create more effective habits, make some trade-offs, and your life can be back on its keel and become more fruitful and enjoyable.

What's more, attorneys who insist on work-life balance, and do their part to maintain it, work better and earn more than those who are in constant fear of losing their earnings. It's your life; don't con yourself into believing illusions and creating negative self-fulfilling prophecies.

You can afford to lose a job, but don't lose your life

If you lose a job at a law firm, you can always do something else in life – your skills do not go away. Your savings may crash on the market, you can lose your home, but no one in the whole world can take away from you, your thoughts and your skills. How you use your faculties depends entirely on you. The world would want you to remain a slave to your fears, for those who would earn at your expense desire it to be so. But it is up to you to say how much you are going to take and what you think cannot be handled by you. If that makes your law firm terminate your job the next day, so be it – you are better off without such people who refuse to accommodate your needs and only want their own needs looked after.

Recognize the realities

Keep in mind that it is a common policy of modern slave drivers to keep the worker constantly engaged, busy, and under pressure, so that he/she never has the scope to look up, recognize the reality of the situation, and seek alternatives. But also do not forget that there are many good employers and firms out there, which do not believe in slave-driving practices. If you feel you are being cornered where you are working, work a bit harder to look for alternatives, talk it out with your family, and join somewhere else where they recognize human needs and intellectual contributions over billable hours. Initially, your earnings may go down for some time, but in the long run, you'd have a higher quality of life and better earnings.

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.

His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

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

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