This post is geared towards those who wish to stay within the BigLaw world for now but want out of their current position. Of course, more BigLaw is not your only career option, but I hope to use my knowledge of the lateral market to help others. While this decision is a highly personal one dependent on your long-term career aspirations, the following few items are important to consider for a potential career move:
1. How long have you been at your current firm? If you can, try to stay at your first firm for about two years. As I have mentioned earlier, most associates stay at their first job for about 2-5. After a couple of years, the legal job market starts to deem you “experienced” and depending on the state of the market, you will probably have more offers to choose from. You will also likely receive a larger signing bonus. However, I also understand that some associates get boxed into nightmare situations and need to leave sooner than the typical tenure. If that is the case, trust your gut and protect your mental health.
2. What are your long-term career goals? After you finish your summer associate program, you are typically given an opportunity to rank your desired field of practice for your return as an associate. Unless you have prior work experience in these areas, the eight-week length of your summer associate program will probably be insufficient to fully understand your options. That is totally okay. You can alter your practice area should you decide to lateral within the first 2-3 years of your career. Evaluate your current specialty for the opportunities it provides both within your firm and the legal market generally. For example, is the practice general or common enough that you could make a move to a different law firm in the future should you desire? Would this skill be useful to companies in need of internal legal counsel? Alternatively, it could benefit you to learn a specific skill well enough that you will be marketable as an expert in your field. Either way, you should choose a practice area that nourishes your long-term ambitions. What did those who came before you end up doing later in their career? If you could not see yourself in a similar position, then it could be time to pivot your practice area.
3. Do you look up to those senior to you? The adage, “you are who your friends are,” is applicable to your coworkers as well. You should observe your superior’s style and think critically about whether you respect them for it. Consciously or not, you are learning how to be a lawyer by watching them advise clients and supervise their internal team. If after a couple of years, you still do not view that person as a potential mentor, it could be time to move on. You only have so many years to learn how to be an excellent lawyer, be selfish with them!
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