Overcoming the Barriers to Firm Approvals for Attorneys

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Attorneys often hold back from approving law firms during a job search, and those delays can stall momentum. Based on data-driven insights from BCG’s research, here are the top ten reasons attorneys hesitate — and the specific strategies to resolve each hurdle.

Learn more from this report: Top Ten Reasons Attorneys Do Not Approve Firms — And How to Fix Each One

1. Waiting Only for Posted Jobs

Why it happens: Many attorneys believe that if a firm hasn’t advertised a vacancy, there’s no opportunity.
Solution: Approve firms proactively — include preferred firms and historic hiring patterns. In truth, a majority of hires occur outside public job listings.

  

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Search Jobs

2. Excessive Selectivity / Perfectionism

Why it happens: Some attorneys restrict their focus to an ideal “perfect” firm set, narrowing options.
Solution: Use broader approval criteria and explore adjacent practice areas or markets. Interviews often reveal opportunities you never considered.

3. Fear of Rejection

Why it happens: Concern about being turned down discourages outreach altogether.
Solution: Recognize that approvals are not commitments — they allow confidential outreach. You can decline later without penalty.

4. Confidentiality Concerns

Why it happens: Attorneys worry about exposure to current employers, clients, or contacts.
Solution: Use “avoid lists” and blind submissions where possible. Firms should not contact organizations you’ve worked with recently.

5. Time Constraints / Process Friction

Why it happens: Approving firms one by one is tedious and time-consuming.
Solution: Enable a “Mass Approval” option so that your recruiter can handle sequencing, submissions, and follow-up efficiently (typically within 24–48 hours).

6. Geographic Tunnel Vision

Why it happens: Attorneys limit the search to a tight geographic area, reducing possibilities.
Solution: Broaden scope to adjacent markets or national opportunities that align with your practice strengths.

7. Analysis Paralysis

Why it happens: Over-researching firms before taking action leads to stagnation.
Solution: Approve early, then use interviews and recruiter guidance to refine your list. Don’t let research delays block progress.

8. Waiting for a “Perfect” Resume

Why it happens: Some attorneys postpone any outreach until their materials feel fully polished.
Solution: Begin approving now; refine your resume and messaging in parallel with outreach.

9. Giving Up After Early Silence

Why it happens: A few non-responses may lead attorneys to conclude the market isn’t active.
Solution: Hiring appetite shifts weekly. Continue approving and rely on sequenced outreach (exclusive → preferred → blind) to surface hidden demand over time.

10. Misunderstanding What “Approval” Means

Why it happens: Some believe that approving a firm means they are bound to interview or accept offers.
Solution: Clarify that approval authorizes confidential outreach, but you retain control at every step, including declining interviews or offers.

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Your Action Plan: Move Forward with Confidence

1. Approve Broadly Today — Include preferred firms, past openings, and related adjacencies.
2. Let Your Recruiter Move — Expect submissions within 24–48 hours to approved firms.
3. Iterate Weekly — Add new firms, calibrate your ideal firm profile based on feedback from interviews, and continue expanding approved lists.

By eliminating hesitation and broadening outreach, attorneys dramatically increase their chances of receiving interview offers — often in as little as a week. Approvals are your gateway to opportunities you would never see otherwise.

Learn more from this report: Top Ten Reasons Attorneys Do Not Approve Firms — And How to Fix Each One