- Recruiting will continue to stabilize, and small firms will continue to hire more students than the large ones. I think that law firm recruiting will continue to stay on its current path for at the least the immediate future. During the last few years, there have been few significant changes in the number of students getting into firms. As in the rest of the economy, the smaller firms will continue to hire more people than the large ones.
- Big firms will continue to hire only from the best schools. It would surprise me if the big firms altered their paths and started going to lesser-known schools or started to dip down lower into classes by lowering their academic standards. Law firms are just too ingrained in their thinking. The Ivy Leaguers want more Ivy Leaguers.
- It's going to get tougher for the bottom of the class. We're beginning to see a polarization in the employment world-there's a gap between those who have fabulous credentials and are willing to make huge sacrifices for work and those who have average or below-average credentials and want to work nine to five. I think you're going to see this polarization in the legal world, too.
- More law graduates will work outside of law firms in nonlegal positions. This trend has already begun. More lawyers will work in more nontraditional jobs, or they'll leave law firms eventually. Many people are becoming disenchanted with the legal profession, and others are in it who should have never entered it in the first place. With Generation X and Generation Y entering the workforce, their choices will be different from those of the baby boomers.
- Law firms will ultimately have to face diversity issues. Our workforce is going to be more diverse with time. Law firms, which tend to lag behind the times on these kinds of issues, will eventually have to make changes in the way they recruit in order to hire a more diverse group of attorneys. At present, they're light-years away from grappling with this issue. Those firms that face the music sooner will have much better success in recruiting our diverse attorney population. Student members of this diverse population will also have to wrestle with an industry that hasn't gone through puberty on this issue.
- Support personnel will continue to face a rosy employment picture. Those in legal support positions, especially paralegal, marketing, and computer professionals, will have an ample supply of jobs available to them in the future. I think you'll also see more J.D.s joining the ranks of the administrators once they figure out that these aren't terrible positions after all. And as the Hudson Institute's study indicates, it is anticipated that service positions will far outstrip opportunities in other fields into the next decade.
- Technology will change legal recruiting. Technology will make the recruiting process much faster, and your ability to present yourself on paper or on screen will become even more important than it is today. On-campus recruiting, as we know it today, may cease to exist.
- The jobs will be in the smaller firms. Again, as we are starting to see today, the real growth will be in the small firms. More and more jobs, for all types of personnel, will be in these firms. Finding these positions will continue to be difficult, and networking will be even more important than it is today.
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published January 07, 2013
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
What does the future look like for law firm recruiting? What will the job picture look like for recent law school graduates, experienced attorneys, legal administrators, and support personnel in the coming years? No one knows for sure, but I'll make a few predictions of my own, based on my years of experience in law firm recruiting.
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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