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Single Mother Fights Way to Law Degree

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updated May 01, 2015

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

It has taken several hard years and nearly a hundred thousand dollars in student loans, but Latina has accomplished her dreams. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Latina is her willingness to give and her refusal to submit to being a victim of circumstance. Because of this heroic trait, it grinds on Latina to see other women in the same situation who give up and accept degrading circumstances because they feel there is nothing they can do about it, or they just are not willing to try hard enough to overcome it. Not to minimize the trials that Latina has come through. There was even a time when she did want to give up. In her first year of law school at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, she was one of only twelve students who were African-American. The all pulled together, and at a time when Latina very nearly did give up, they helped her pull herself together and get through.

At the very beginning of Latina's law school dreams, they almost came to a crashing halt. In July of 2004, Latina received a ticket for running a stop sign. She was not insured and it was her third moving violation in a short period of time. The cop who issued the ticket told her that she could be facing jail time. She was unable to pay the ticket or the insurance and knew when Washburn heard of her situation they would throw her out of school. Latina's boss, Cynthia Berner Harris, director of Wichita's public libraries, heard of Latina's situation from a third party and insisted on paying the fine and the insurance. She encouraged Latina to go talk to the people at the courthouse and explain her situation. With little hope, but a lot of tenacity, Latina went and talked to the city prosecutor who appreciated that Latina did not make excuses, but that she wanted to rise above her situation.

With even more encouragement from the judge who signed her paperwork, Latina returned to law school and persevered through many tear-filled days and nights of studying with three children vying for her attention. Her third was born in May of 2007. This time, the child's father is accepting full responsibility for the child, sharing custody and financial expenses.

Latina passed the bar exam in February of 2008 and is now one of only eight African-American members out of the 1,175 members of the Wichita Bar Association. All twelve African-American students with her in law school graduated by helping each other pull through.

After passing the bar exam, Latina landed a job as an assistant public defender in Sedgwick County, Kansas where she is making more than two-and-half times her mother's income of $17,000. Latina lived with her mother, in the same two-bedroom, run-down home she grew up in, all through law school. Latina shared one of those two bedrooms with her three children. Her mother supported them all on her meager income. Now Latina is making $45,000 a year and is grateful for the opportunity to give back so much of what her mother gave to her.

United States
Wednesday, December 17, Latina closed on a house which she qualified for from Habitat for Humanity, and which she helped build. Her mother will be living with them, with her own room. Latina said she will gladly sleep on the couch to give her mother some much-deserved space.

Earlier this month, Latina participated in her first trial and helped Public Defender Steve Osburn win an acquittal for a twenty-five-year-old man on four different charges. He had spent six months in jail for crimes he had not committed, and Latina was grateful to help win him his freedom back. Osburn, Latina's boss, heard her story for the first time last week and was amazed. He also attended law school at Washburn, he said, and he also had kids, but ''I had a wife. . . . I had help. I can't imagine what it was like, what she did.''

After succeeding, Latina even tried to pay back her old boss, Berner Harris, at the library, but she would not accept anything. Berner Harris commented that on Latina. ''The thing that sticks out to me about her is that even with the way her life turned out, she's never surrendered to the temptation to be a victim. She never told many people what she was up against. And she was always looking for how to make the world a better place for other people. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans, she went down there twice and spent time helping people rebuild homes.''

Merry Christmas, Latina, and congratulations. Enjoy your new home, your family, and your hard-earned success. May the future bring even more blessings to you.

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

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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.
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