Fear of Failure or Lack of Vision? Why unhappy attorneys stay at big-law firms.

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updated Oct 16, 2023

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Fear of Failure or Lack of Vision? Why unhappy attorneys stay at big-law firms.
The buzz on legal job search websites is that there's a job for every J.D. out there, it's just a matter of being willing to look outside the box. Law school grads run the gamut from those in the top tier schools whose GPAs and Moot Court Awards thrust them into the big-name firms' notice, to those whose greatest accomplishment in law school was to chair the local chapter of the Law and Wine Society. However, it seems that every law student begins law school with a dream of landing a job at a firm offering them $160,000 just to start. What they don't know is that these entry-level lawyers may be miserable for years with little chance of achieving a notable career. And those individuals who were "lucky enough" to secure the big-name law firm position, and then found themselves disillusioned, continue to stay. Why would these eager entry-level attorneys stay at dead-end jobs? There are a number of reasons lawyers stay at high-paying jobs that leave them feeling burnt out and unfulfilled. Read on to find out.
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Liz Brown, author of the new book, Life After Law: Finding Work You Love with the J.D. You Have, has first-hand knowledge of the way young lawyers get stuck working for big firms even when their expectations aren't being met and they're putting in the necessary 2000+ hours a year.

"The whole point of writing Life After Law was to encourage people to find work they love, work that fits their talents and interests, and to dare to leave behind the safe misery that so many people-lawyers especially-experience in their careers. My view is that young lawyers remain in firms where they have little chance to rise for the following reasons:
 
  1. It's expected of them after law school, since on-campus recruiting makes it the easiest option.
  2. It's the most direct way to start paying back their massive loans.
  3. It's a high-status, high-pay first job, one that few other people in their mid-20s can get access to.
  4. They don't know yet what else they may want to do, since few law schools prepare them for the many realistic alternative options out there.
  5. They don't yet have the self-knowledge or self-confidence to pursue something less traditional.
  6. They may feel that they can learn a lot in the first year or two while paying down loans, with the goal of getting out quickly, but then find that getting out is not as easy as they thought it would be.
  7. Many corporate firms have a 'silo' mentality that implicitly denigrates lawyers who want to move out of law."

Liz Brown
Harvard-trained former partner at an international law firm who now teaches business law at Bentley University
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United States
This is a subject I am interested in because I worked for corporate law firms (most recently Sutherland) for 7 years before leaving to found my own firm (Combs & Taylor LLP) in March of 2012. Based on my experience, young lawyers are attracted to and stay at large corporate firms for three principal reasons.
 
  1. In law school, big firm jobs are all that anyone talks about. The promise of a $160,000 starting salary seems too good to pass up and most law students become convinced that there is a great deal of prestige associated with landing a summer associate position and an eventual fulltime position at a big firm. It is also my opinion that law school career services departments push their students toward big firm jobs to boost their post-graduation employment statistics and national rankings.
     
  2. The cost of law school is so great that many students graduate with monthly loan obligations in excess of $1500 per month. To be able to begin a life (get married, buy a home, have children, etc.) while also covering a fixed obligation of that magnitude starts to seem unmanageable without a big firm salary, particularly after getting used to receiving a large regular paycheck. The golden handcuffs are difficult to remove.
     
  3. Law schools and big firms train their students and associates to be risk-averse. There is a lot of pressure to not make mistakes and not take on legal issues outside of one's area of expertise, which, for big firm lawyers, is generally pretty narrow. That pressure is stifling and it saps young lawyers of their entrepreneurial spirit. Leaving the firm to try something new, which will likely pay less money, at least to begin with, starts to seem like too great a risk.

Evan Taylor
Combs & Taylor LLP
www.combstaylor.com

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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