When Is It Time to Transition to a New Firm?
If you’ve been employed as an attorney in the legal industry for a reasonable length of time, chances are that you’ve watched colleagues come and go through the constantly revolving door of the hiring process (which includes, of course, the transition to a new firm). Of course, the culture of attorneys quickly moving on to new, potentially greener pastures has some basis in reality. Generally speaking, attorney compensation improves when one transitions to a new firm.
Compensation does not tell the full story, however. There are a multitude of reasons that justify leaving your existing position for a new one. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Work-Life Balance and Culture Issues
One of the major reasons why attorneys leave their firms for greener pastures is work-life balance and firm culture. Though many attorneys are willing to grit their teeth and endure the difficulties of a demanding associate position (and the high-demand firm culture that generally accompanies it), these lifestyles are rarely sustainable. For most attorneys, a transition to a friendlier workplace with a more positive view of work-life balance is, to a certain degree, practically inevitable. When making the transition to a new firm, however, it’s important to consult with a legal recruiter who has insider access to the goings-on at your target firm. With the aid of such a recruiter, you’ll be able to determine whether work-life balance at the target firm is actually better than your current firm.
Substantive Work Preferences Are Left Unsatisfied
Oftentimes, it’s easy for an attorney to be saddled with projects that do not involve interesting substantive work, and even if the work is reasonably interesting, it may not be in the substantive areas that make sense for the attorney’s career growth. For example, if an attorney would like to work in international advertising contracts, but is being forced to handle projects dealing exclusively with domestic employment contracts, then the substantive work — though perhaps interesting — is not helping to build up the experience necessary for the attorney to build their career as they intend.
Long-term Career Goals Are Not Likely to be Met
Whether you’re intending to become partner, or simply work as a senior associate, if your long-term career goals do not seem likely to occur at your current law firm (for example, if you believe that you will not be promoted to partner in the next few years, perhaps due to factors such as partner saturation), then it is sensible to simply move on to a new firm where those goals are more likely to be met. Similarly, attorneys who have suffered as a result of intense office politicking find it much easier to start over at a new firm with a blank slate.
Projects Are Stagnant
In Biglaw, projects — particularly in litigation — can quickly spiral out of control and come to dominate your work responsibilities. It’s not entirely uncommon for some associates to be forced to handle a given project and client for a year or more. If you are not particularly enthused about a project, but there appears to be no end in sight, then one option is to transition to a new firm (rather than address the issue at your current firm, which could potentially hurt your career).
Firm Infrastructure and Support is Weak
Some firms are on a downward spiral, or are simply suffering through some bad years, which may force certain cost-cutting measures that can have a significant and negative effect on attorney quality of life. Among the first costs to be cut in a law firm are support staff. Without adequate support staff, attorneys may be forced to shoulder excessive responsibility.
Interest in an Industry Change
Though it may be possible to select new clients involved in different industries at your current firm, it can be easier to transition to a new law firm and start from scratch, with your preferences made clear from the very beginning. Your genuine interest in these clients and industries is also likely to come through well during the hiring process with the new firm.
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Are you an attorney looking to make a career move to a new firm? Making the transition to a new firm can have serious benefits for your overall career growth, compensation, and happiness, but you’ll want to ensure that you make the correct move to a firm where you’re actually better off than where you were previously! For experienced, friendly guidance through the difficulties and pitfalls of the hiring process, speak with one of the legal recruiters here at Garb Jaffe & Associates. Call (310) 207-0727 to consult with one of our San Francisco legal recruiters today.