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Planning to Pursue a Legal Career In The United States? Painting a Realistic Picture

published September 27, 2012

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

( 6 votes, average: 4.1 out of 5)

What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
The past few years have witnessed tremendous economic turbulence around the world. The economy, broadly speaking, has been very tumultuous, making survival a big question for many businesses and organizations in the United States and globally as well. The same can be said about legal education, law firms and legal services industry in the country. Today, as the world adjusts to a weak economy, which is facing considerable trouble in rising from the ashes of the recent debacle, the legal world has many questions to ponder over and answer.
 
Planning for law school after graduation

To put it straight, the current scenario is an indication of a great legal recession that already exists, as most legal pundits will agree. To put it straight (as fig. 1 explains), the legal industry in the United States is losing its capacity to employ more and more people. Perhaps the law firms in the United States are fast losing their charm as preferred employers. Planning for law school after graduation


The fact remains that lawyers will need to adjust to post recession changes in the $100 billion global legal industry. Since 2008, the financial downturn has forced law firms to cut down on lawyer hiring and provide discounts on their services. According to a recent study, the changes that have affected law firms since this period could well become permanent. The raw truth that is facing law firms is fierce competition along with outsourcing. This has indeed shrunk equity partner ranks as well as increased the commoditization of the more routine legal services. The sad reality is that law firms will have to adjust to post recession changes in order to remain competitive in the present market conditions.

The changes that the law firms are facing are also affecting the entry level salary distribution. Presently, the entry level market is bi-modal. However, ideally, this should not be the case. Nevertheless, this has taken place, as fig. 2 indicates. The recent times have indicated the presence of a bi-modal era. Previously it could be safely assumed that legal ability would be normally distributed, and could not be bimodal.

Planning for law school after graduation Modern trends have proved the traditional line of thinking was flawed. This trend has become even more skewed with the emergence of outsourcing of legal work. Also, e-discovery vendors have taken a large slice of the pie that was meant for entry-level lawyers. Frankly speaking, the micro-level logic of hiring entry level lawyers from elite law schools tinkered with the ground reality that has brought the volume of BigLaw hiring to a near standstill.

There is even more trouble for the law firms as the revenues per lawyer at AmLaw 100 firms has gone flat and has moved sideways since 2007 as fig. 3 shows. Unfortunately, this has broken a pattern of steady growth that dates back to pre-AmLaw 100 days. Planning for law school after graduationThere are more worries for law firm managers due to stagnant revenue. There are no higher profits to distribute – and that might cause the bigger partners who are the biggest producers to leave.

Today, the dominant strategy has got nothing to do with entry level hiring due to the usual profitability formula. The goal today has shifted to hiring lateral partners with portable business books. Senior lawyers are plentiful, and that is not worrying law firms in the least. However, this strategy is going to become redundant as more lawyers near retirement age. The entire scenario is going to have an effect on the legal education scenario in the country.

The situation therefore demands that law firms need to bring down the price of entry level talent to a point where they can be cost effective for training and further employment. Currently, the salaries for entry level lawyers are $160,000, which still persists because most law firms do not want to reduce this for the fear of being labeled second rate. This is not a precise or innovative business strategy.

The scenario today is further compounded by stark contrasts. Upon examining fig. 4 and fig. 5 side by side, it is easy to come to the conclusion that though law schools have witnessed an increase in enrollment

Planning for law school after graduationPlanning for law school after graduation












(15% increase in Law Schools (175 to 201) 19% increases in 1L enrollment), the % of entry level jobs in private practice has fallen below the 50% mark.

There are more indicators to the falling employment opportunities for entry level law graduates. According to fig. 6, during the period from 1982-91 the percentage of entry level practice jobs (by law firm size) for firms with 11 to 100 lawyers was 38.2%, which shrunk considerably to 22.5% for the duration 2002-2011.

Planning for law school after graduationPlanning for law school after graduation













Once again, employment levels are following the trend displayed in figure 7. In 1998, the overall employment was at 988,898, which rose to 1,122,723 in 2004. This has come down to 1,074,994 in 2010.

Once more, according to fig. 8, the percentage growth of lawyers peaked in 2004 and has been on a downward trend ever since.

Planning for law school after graduationPlanning for law school after graduation













What can be considered even more damning, if not the final straw, is that slightly more than half of the class of 2011 (55%) found full-time, long term jobs that require bar passage nine months after they graduated.

According to the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), only two thirds of law graduates landed any type of job that required a law degree, and that the overall employment rate hit an 18-year low at 85.6%.

This only indicates that the coveted legal jobs are on the decline in the country. There needs to be convergence in thinking, implementation and accomplishment across the legal scenario in the United States. For those planning to pursue legal careers, perhaps a rethinking in their career strategy could help.

References:

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202559883779&ABA_Only_55_percent_of_law_grads_found_fulltime_law_jobs&slreturn=20120814092034

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legalwhiteboard/

http://www.rethinklaw.org/index.php/blog/from_the_experts_seize_the_day

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.
( 6 votes, average: 4.1 out of 5)
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