Help Me Save My Career Forum

[Hopefullitassociate]

Definitely apply for clerkships too. Are you willing to move for one? Non major markets often hire very late so spots may be open for next year

Definitely willing to move for one, and move to the middle of the country. I have some ties to the midwest, and some save-up love for smaller cities that New York has allowed me to appreciate. Given my qualifications, would a district court clerkship in the midwest be in reach?

Although it's not a bad idea to apply for clerkships, time is not on your side. Frankly, it's going to be a lot easier to land a first-year associate position this fall than it will be to land an article III clerkship in the Midwest this fall. That's not to say you shouldn't try for a clerkship, but, if I were you, I'd make finding a job with a litigation group my #1 priority.

Absolutely. It also seems much easier. My goal with a clerkship would be to get one a year or two out, and if I have to stay in corporate until then, slug it out and supplement with pro bono work/whatever litigation work the firm will give me. But reaching out to firms is something I can and will do tomorrow, and is my immediate priority. Clerkship is my Plan B if that doesn't work.

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck!!

Thanks, and thanks for all the advice and words of encouragement. I really need to hear them at a time like this.

[zhenders]

Just to chip in, applying in the position you're in makes you look like a strong (and certainly not a weak) candidate; you have a job lined up at a firm that wants you to work there. Considering many large firms are keeping a few spaces for 3Ls/3L OCI and similar nowadays anyways, it seems that your prospects for getting responses might well be much better than you expect.

[Anonymous User]

Not OP, but I hated corp work when I did it. I also am trying to go lit (for my SA if I can get one). No idea how people go to law school and then do corp. Miserable.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

FWIW the incoming first years that were slated for lit at my firm decided to clerk, a couple unexpectedly. Granted this is LA so it's a much smaller class than NYC, but we don't have any lit first years now. So as others were saying, you never know if a firm is looking for a lit first year because the class yields can be more unpredictable.

[Anonymous User]

Not OP, but I hated corp work when I did it. I also am trying to go lit (for my SA if I can get one). No idea how people go to law school and then do corp. Miserable.

No idea how people do Lit. Wanted to claw my eyes out researching some dumb legal issue. Would much rather write contracts.

[Hopefullitassociate]

Not OP, but I hated corp work when I did it. I also am trying to go lit (for my SA if I can get one). No idea how people go to law school and then do corp. Miserable.

No idea how people do Lit. Wanted to claw my eyes out researching some dumb legal issue. Would much rather write contracts.

haha to each his own. I'm emailing firm recruiters now based on Vault/Chambers contact info. Anything I should particularly emphasize? Basically talked about my background, experience at Firm X and how it was positive but their corp group was busy and I want to start in lit, would be able to start work basically right away if there are any openings, etc. Thanks again for the support and help.

[PennBull]

Not OP, but I hated corp work when I did it. I also am trying to go lit (for my SA if I can get one). No idea how people go to law school and then do corp. Miserable.

Thanks for this super helpful dipshit anon post

[Anonymous User]

Apply broadly now to every big law firm that has a decent litigation practice. Explain in your cover letter why you're applying now; explain what happened at the firm at which you're about to start.

Would this advice also apply to someone who just found out that they've been placed in a niche transactional practice?

e.g., like structured finance, wanting to be in public m&a

[PennBull]

Apply broadly now to every big law firm that has a decent litigation practice. Explain in your cover letter why you're applying now; explain what happened at the firm at which you're about to start.

Would this advice also apply to someone who just found out that they've been placed in a niche transactional practice?

e.g., like structured finance, wanting to be in public m&a

Harder to get a specific corporate practice (except for specialties like tax), but if you were specifically assigned to a corporate practice group with no room for movement, I'd at least try to apply to firms with broader corporate pool style or free market system assignments

In your cover letters you could frame it as looking for a more diversified corporate experience than the niche you were thrown in, and then fight to get the type of corporate work you want (easier than you think depending on the firm)

Harder to apply as a first year requesting a specific type of corporate work like public m&a; few firms would want to dedicate a first year to just that

Also I don't think you'd ever be able to just do public deals

[Hopefullitassociate]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was able to get one callback as a result, but wasn't offered a position. Disappointed obviously. Any other advice for how I can do my best at my current firm to eventually pivot to litigation?

[filibuster]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

[Anonymous User]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Yeah I've talk to them multiple times. They won't budge.

[rpupkin]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Even if OP's firm were willing to go through the motions of throwing some lit work at the OP, it would still be a very bad sign that the firm is moving associates from lit to corp without regard to associate preference. That's not a firm that an aspiring litigator wants to remain at.

[Hopefullitassociate]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Even if OP's firm were willing to go through the motions of throwing some lit work at the OP, it would still be a very bad sign that the firm is moving associates from lit to corp. That's not a firm that an aspiring litigator wants to remain at.

I'm definitely going to try to get out after a year. Do you have any advice on how to maximize that year to set myself up for litigation? I'll definitely do as much pro bono work as I can, but do you know of any specific types of pro bono that are especially well suited for substantive litigation tasks? I'll apply to clerkships, but my grades are average, I didn't write a note, and won't get stellar letters. Debt isn't an issue, and im willing to move back to the Midwest. Anything to get back into litigation.

[rpupkin]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Even if OP's firm were willing to go through the motions of throwing some lit work at the OP, it would still be a very bad sign that the firm is moving associates from lit to corp. That's not a firm that an aspiring litigator wants to remain at.

I'm definitely going to try to get out after a year. Do you have any advice on how to maximize that year to set myself up for litigation? I'll definitely do as much pro bono work as I can, but do you know of any specific types of pro bono that are especially well suited for substantive litigation tasks? I'll apply to clerkships, but my grades are average, I didn't write a note, and won't get stellar letters. Debt isn't an issue, and im willing to move back to the Midwest. Anything to get back into litigation.

I hope you haven't given up on trying to find another firm right now. That's still the best option for you, I think.

I'm afraid you may find it challenging to find the time to do a lot of pro bono work. If you are stuck at this firm, I'd basically try--within the bounds of political reason--to offer to help with a litigation matter. Does your firm have a free market system?

[Hopefullitassociate]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Even if OP's firm were willing to go through the motions of throwing some lit work at the OP, it would still be a very bad sign that the firm is moving associates from lit to corp. That's not a firm that an aspiring litigator wants to remain at.

I'm definitely going to try to get out after a year. Do you have any advice on how to maximize that year to set myself up for litigation? I'll definitely do as much pro bono work as I can, but do you know of any specific types of pro bono that are especially well suited for substantive litigation tasks? I'll apply to clerkships, but my grades are average, I didn't write a note, and won't get stellar letters. Debt isn't an issue, and im willing to move back to the Midwest. Anything to get back into litigation.

I hope you haven't given up on trying to find another firm right now. That's still the best option for you, I think.

I'm afraid you may find it challenging to find the time to do a lot of pro bono work. If you are stuck at this firm, I'd basically try--within the bounds of political reason--to offer to help with a litigation matter. Does your firm have a free market system?

Why do you say that about pro bono? I was hoping that I could do as much as I can since I'll feel a little more comfortable allocating more resources there (while still doing my best in my Corp group of course). And no we have an assigning system. I spoke to the lit assigning partner and he said he would keep me in mind if anything came up but it didn't sound promising

[tyroneslothrop1]

Have you tried reaching out to your current firm? It is possible they will work with you.

Even if OP's firm were willing to go through the motions of throwing some lit work at the OP, it would still be a very bad sign that the firm is moving associates from lit to corp. That's not a firm that an aspiring litigator wants to remain at.

I'm definitely going to try to get out after a year. Do you have any advice on how to maximize that year to set myself up for litigation? I'll definitely do as much pro bono work as I can, but do you know of any specific types of pro bono that are especially well suited for substantive litigation tasks? I'll apply to clerkships, but my grades are average, I didn't write a note, and won't get stellar letters. Debt isn't an issue, and im willing to move back to the Midwest. Anything to get back into litigation.

I hope you haven't given up on trying to find another firm right now. That's still the best option for you, I think.

I'm afraid you may find it challenging to find the time to do a lot of pro bono work. If you are stuck at this firm, I'd basically try--within the bounds of political reason--to offer to help with a litigation matter. Does your firm have a free market system?

Why do you say that about pro bono? I was hoping that I could do as much as I can since I'll feel a little more comfortable allocating more resources there (while still doing my best in my Corp group of course). And no we have an assigning system. I spoke to the lit assigning partner and he said he would keep me in mind if anything came up but it didn't sound promising

Because you'll be busy as fuck. Or your stub year may be slow and you'll have plenty of time.

[Hopefullitassociate]

Yeah and I guess it's impossible to know how busy I'll be, but given my long term goals I'm going to try to take on as much pro bono as I possibly can

[rpupkin]

Yeah and I guess it's impossible to know how busy I'll be, but given my long term goals I'm going to try to take on as much pro bono as I possibly can

Yeah, part of the problem with pro bono is that, despite what the firm tells you and what the firm says on its web site, the firm won't necessarily be all that supportive of your efforts to do pro bono work. Another problem is that pro-bono work can be rather hit-or-miss when it comes to building skills. If you're going to try to lateral out after a year (and, again, it would be better for you to get out now), I think a firm would rather hear that you worked on some commercial litigation stuff (even if that work involved nothing more than doc review and legal research).

[Hopefullitassociate]

Yeah and I guess it's impossible to know how busy I'll be, but given my long term goals I'm going to try to take on as much pro bono as I possibly can

Yeah, part of the problem with pro bono is that, despite what the firm tells you and what the firm says on its web site, the firm won't necessarily be all that supportive of your efforts to do pro bono work. Another problem is that pro-bono work can be rather hit-or-miss when it comes to building skills. If you're going to try to lateral out after a year (and, again, it would be better for you to get out now), I think a firm would rather hear that you worked on some commercial litigation stuff (even if that work involved nothing more than doc review and legal research).

yeah it's just that no one is biting when it comes to my applications that i sent out. and i'm starting in about a week at my firm so time is running out to start elsewhere. is there anything else i can do? i don't think i can do a career in corporate work and it's starting to dawn on me that i might not have a career as a lawyer. i'm feeling so depressed and like a complete failure.

[rpupkin]

yeah it's just that no one is biting when it comes to my applications that i sent out. and i'm starting in about a week at my firm so time is running out to start elsewhere. is there anything else i can do? i don't think i can do a career in corporate work and it's starting to dawn on me that i might not have a career as a lawyer. i'm feeling so depressed and like a complete failure.

I understand your frustration, but there's really no reason for you to feel like a failure at all. You simply had some bad luck with the firm you chose--it happens. But you're fine. Keep sending out applications. Don't give up just because you're starting at your firm next week. I'm confident that something will work out for you.

[Hopefullitassociate]

Hey! So, just as a follow-up, I unfortunately did not find a position at another firm and started in the corporate group of my current firm. I'm still hoping though to eventually work in litigation, though I don't think it will be at this firm. I'm looking for some more advice:

One thing I'm really worried about is the fact that I've already applied to so many places in NYC. Will it be weird when I reach out to these places again in a year or so?

Speaking of timing, when would be the best time to start reaching out to other firms? I don't want it to be too early
That it makes it look suspicious, but I don't want to get pigeon holed in this current track.

I also have ties to two midsize Midwestern markets that I would happily return to if it meant working in litigation. My only issue is that I obviously haven't taken the bar for either state. Is it even worth applying before I take that states bar? And when should I take them? I won't even get my NY results back for a month or so and to be honest I don't feel great about how the exam went. But if, by the grace of God, I passed, should I look to take one of those states bar exam in February? I'll do whatever it takes, but the prospect of studying for another bar exam so soon is a bit depressing. But then again this whole situation is a bit depressing.

Thanks for the continued help guys. I really really do appreciate it.