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Quitting biglaw in the next couple weeks - I'm a junior associate and got a great opportunity to do something non-law related. Logistically after I give notice to HR, what typically happens? I assume I tell each of my deal teams but is it normal for HR to tell partners at your office or what are the next steps?

I told the head of my practice group first, then i formally submitted my resume to HR. They tell other HR people responsible for processing you out etc...Then i told every other person in my practice group individually. I dont think HR tells anyone other than partners who need to know at the firm.

What are you doing after you quit?

Anonymous User wrote:Quitting biglaw in the next couple weeks - I'm a junior associate and got a great opportunity to do something non-law related. Logistically after I give notice to HR, what typically happens? I assume I tell each of my deal teams but is it normal for HR to tell partners at your office or what are the next steps?

Depends on the firm and where you are going.

I gave my notice to HR and to the partners I worked for at the same time. HR then worked with the processing logistics. I don't know to what extent they notified other partners, but my department was small enough that I don't think there was anyone else that really needed to know. Since I was going in-house, they were very supportive and organized a going-away get together and paid out my unused vacation.

You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

Desert Fox wrote:You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

Why? Is it a courtesy thing? And do they ever ask you to stop working before your notice period runs out? Or do they normally allow you to keep working through your desired stop date?

You die in real life.

Desert Fox wrote:You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

I've been in biglaw for less than a year so I feel like HR is most appropriate because theres really no partner I work with more than any others within my group.

Leaving to do real-estate related things; has been an interest/hobby for several years (worked before law school).

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

Why? Is it a courtesy thing? And do they ever ask you to stop working before your notice period runs out? Or do they normally allow you to keep working through your desired stop date?

Probably depends on the firm/group. I know people that had closings the day before they left, were late to their own going away party because they were working, etc. I know others that basically came in once a week for appearances and did nothing.

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

Why? Is it a courtesy thing? And do they ever ask you to stop working before your notice period runs out? Or do they normally allow you to keep working through your desired stop date?

I just gave notice; they're asking me how many deadlines through the end of July I'm going to be able to complete.

Depends a lot on the firm though.

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:You should give notice to the partner you work for the most before you tell HR.

Why? Is it a courtesy thing? And do they ever ask you to stop working before your notice period runs out? Or do they normally allow you to keep working through your desired stop date?

It's going to depend on your relationship with the firm and the partners. If you are leaving on bad terms, it's possible they could escort you out when you give your notice (though probably unlikely). As soon as I gave my notice, it was understood that I would work on transitioning my matters to other associates over the following weeks. I did work, but it was an easy 9-6 and I stopped responding to after-hours emails (though I mostly stopped receiving them).

That said, if you are trying to leave on good terms (generally a good idea), you could burn bridges if you drop the ball and walk away on an important deal/case. Fortunately, I left right before I was about to be staffed on a major matter, but had just wrapped up several others. Since I had not done any work yet, it was easy enough for them to assign to another associate.

It's both a courtesy thing and a standard procedure thing. You quit to your boss, not some administrative functionary.

If you don't have an relationship to any partner, just pick the one that runs your group or whatever.

I'd complete work that is close a deadline, but I wouldn't do more than that. Ask the people giving you assignments who is being transitioned to take your workload on that matter.

Hi everyone, I'm in a similar situation looking for advice.... how do you go about turning down work knowing an offer is coming, but you don't have the paperwork yet in-hand? Seems like a bad idea to load up on new assignments when you're one week away from giving your two-weeks notice. Obviously giving notice before actually having offer paperwork in hand is an equally bad idea.

Until the offer is in hand and final act like you still work there. Be selfish and do everything in your self interest.

Your offer may not come. You may have a conflict.


The firm does not care about you at all. Just remember that.

Anonymous User wrote:Until the offer is in hand and final act like you still work there. Be selfish and do everything in your self interest.

Your offer may not come. You may have a conflict.


The firm does not care about you at all. Just remember that.

Along those lines, what if the offer comes with a start date 4 weeks out, rather than 2? I don't think I'd be able to stick around for more than 2 weeks, and I also cannot afford 2 weeks without income (family, mortgage, etc... wearing golden handcuffs right now with my spouse looking for work).

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Until the offer is in hand and final act like you still work there. Be selfish and do everything in your self interest.

Your offer may not come. You may have a conflict.


The firm does not care about you at all. Just remember that.

Along those lines, what if the offer comes with a start date 4 weeks out, rather than 2? I don't think I'd be able to stick around for more than 2 weeks, and I also cannot afford 2 weeks without income (family, mortgage, etc... wearing golden handcuffs right now with my spouse looking for work).

Get an advance and/or signing bonus.

jkpolk wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Until the offer is in hand and final act like you still work there. Be selfish and do everything in your self interest.

Your offer may not come. You may have a conflict.


The firm does not care about you at all. Just remember that.

Along those lines, what if the offer comes with a start date 4 weeks out, rather than 2? I don't think I'd be able to stick around for more than 2 weeks, and I also cannot afford 2 weeks without income (family, mortgage, etc... wearing golden handcuffs right now with my spouse looking for work).

Get an advance and/or signing bonus.

As an alternative to just accepting the offer and waiting to give notice at 2 weeks?

Anonymous User wrote:

jkpolk wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Until the offer is in hand and final act like you still work there. Be selfish and do everything in your self interest.

Your offer may not come. You may have a conflict.


The firm does not care about you at all. Just remember that.

Along those lines, what if the offer comes with a start date 4 weeks out, rather than 2? I don't think I'd be able to stick around for more than 2 weeks, and I also cannot afford 2 weeks without income (family, mortgage, etc... wearing golden handcuffs right now with my spouse looking for work).

Get an advance and/or signing bonus.

As an alternative to just accepting the offer and waiting to give notice at 2 weeks?

Yes. As a way to accept the later start date at the new firm and leave your current job at a preferred time. I don't see any problem with lining up your notice and start date if that's really what you want to do (last day at firm X on a Friday, first day at firm Y on a Monday), just suggesting an alternative.