Lateral job search support group Forum

[Anonymous User]

had 2 callbacks at biglaw firms early last week so it's been about a week. working w/ a recruiter, in a major non nyc/dc/sf market.

should i have heard by now or am i just being very anxious and these things take time.

I heard back from a firm 3 weeks after a callback recently. My recruiter said firms may be moving slower because of the second wave and concerns about hiring.

[Anonymous User]

had 2 callbacks at biglaw firms early last week so it's been about a week. working w/ a recruiter, in a major non nyc/dc/sf market.

should i have heard by now or am i just being very anxious and these things take time.

I heard back from a firm 3 weeks after a callback recently. My recruiter said firms may be moving slower because of the second wave and concerns about hiring.

offer or rejection?

[Anonymous User]

i got an offer that i’m very excited about (turnaround time of interviewing was 3 weeks), but am now in background check purgatory due to covid court closures — we’re talking 4 weeks when all of my past ones have taken 3 days. just flagging this as another factor right now.... (though maybe some firms will be more flexible)

[Anonymous User]

why do courts need to be open for background checks?

[Anonymous User]

I’m going to be accepting a lateral offer in the next week to move to a new market and new firm and will be giving 2 weeks notice to my current firm once my bonus clears, but can anyone speak to how I should be handling/working the next 3 weeks or so before I give notice? Was planning to take some time off around the holidays and not pick up new work from this point on as I have enough going at the moment to put me at a low hours month for December and then I’d most likely be leaving in January. Is that the wrong move here? First time lateraling and all I really care about is getting my bonus before I go, but would appreciate any advice on this.

[Anonymous User]

had 2 callbacks at biglaw firms early last week so it's been about a week. working w/ a recruiter, in a major non nyc/dc/sf market.

should i have heard by now or am i just being very anxious and these things take time.

I heard back from a firm 3 weeks after a callback recently. My recruiter said firms may be moving slower because of the second wave and concerns about hiring.

offer or rejection?

Offer.

[Anonymous User]

i got an offer that i’m very excited about (turnaround time of interviewing was 3 weeks), but am now in background check purgatory due to covid court closures — we’re talking 4 weeks when all of my past ones have taken 3 days. just flagging this as another factor right now.... (though maybe some firms will be more flexible)

I'm in the same boat. After a year of unsuccessful applications, I was finally able to get a lateral offer for my ideal practice. However, since accepting my offer and submitting conflicts, I have been in background check/conflicts purgatory for a month and a half. I'm just trying not to stress out at this point.

[Anonymous User]

i got an offer that i’m very excited about (turnaround time of interviewing was 3 weeks), but am now in background check purgatory due to covid court closures — we’re talking 4 weeks when all of my past ones have taken 3 days. just flagging this as another factor right now.... (though maybe some firms will be more flexible)

I'm in the same boat. After a year of unsuccessful applications, I was finally able to get a lateral offer for my ideal practice. However, since accepting my offer and submitting conflicts, I have been in background check/conflicts purgatory for a month and a half. I'm just trying not to stress out at this point.

how long after your final interview did you receive an offer? and what market?

[Anonymous User]

I was in conflicts limbo for months. It happens. I have a friend that was stuck in conflicts for eight months. If the firm wants to get waivers, that takes fooooorrrreeeeevvvveeeeerrrrr.

But, eventually it was all good. The worst part was trying to wind down knowing you're leaving, then thinking the move will never happen as the year end looms so now you gotta work because you don't want to miss bonus.

Also, always, always push for a full bonus. I've lateraled a couple times now and have always gotten a full bonus.

[Anonymous User]

after going through every lateral callback thread on this forum, seems like there's no hard and fast rule. lots of people have waited 3+ weeks and others waited a week or less. what a process.

[Anonymous User]

Reviving to ask more recent lateral applicants whether the timelines still just vary wildly during 2021. I'm looking to lateral as a more senior-ish associate (8th year biglaw to biglaw) and am a bit anxious about what to expect after a screener a few days ago that I think went pretty well.

[Anonymous User]

Reviving to ask more recent lateral applicants whether the timelines still just vary wildly during 2021. I'm looking to lateral as a more senior-ish associate (8th year biglaw to biglaw) and am a bit anxious about what to expect after a screener a few days ago that I think went pretty well.

They vary. I did four screeners in August and got four callbacks (3rd year, corporate). Timelines on receiving a callback ranged from during the interview to a full week later. I also used a recruiter who would bug the firms for updates. I think firms are moving pretty quickly because they know they're in competition with other firms for laterals right now.

[Anonymous User]

Reviving to ask more recent lateral applicants whether the timelines still just vary wildly during 2021. I'm looking to lateral as a more senior-ish associate (8th year biglaw to biglaw) and am a bit anxious about what to expect after a screener a few days ago that I think went pretty well.

They vary. I did four screeners in August and got four callbacks (3rd year, corporate). Timelines on receiving a callback ranged from during the interview to a full week later. I also used a recruiter who would bug the firms for updates. I think firms are moving pretty quickly because they know they're in competition with other firms for laterals right now.

I'm a corporate 7th year in a practice group where everyone needs bodies. Through a recruiter, I interviewed with 5 firms in the course of a week. One firm was a screener one day, 4 partner callback the next with an offer that night. Three firms were straight to 3 or 4 partner interviews (no screener), each with an offer the same day/night. The fifth was 2 partners one day, 2 partners the next and offer 2 days later. Virtual interviewing expedites everything and I was fortunate to have a relatively slow week work-wise but it was still crazy. Then I let the recruiter pit them against each other for signing bonuses and it worked out nicely.

[Anonymous User]

Reviving to ask more recent lateral applicants whether the timelines still just vary wildly during 2021. I'm looking to lateral as a more senior-ish associate (8th year biglaw to biglaw) and am a bit anxious about what to expect after a screener a few days ago that I think went pretty well.

They vary. I did four screeners in August and got four callbacks (3rd year, corporate). Timelines on receiving a callback ranged from during the interview to a full week later. I also used a recruiter who would bug the firms for updates. I think firms are moving pretty quickly because they know they're in competition with other firms for laterals right now.

I'm a corporate 7th year in a practice group where everyone needs bodies. Through a recruiter, I interviewed with 5 firms in the course of a week. One firm was a screener one day, 4 partner callback the next with an offer that night. Three firms were straight to 3 or 4 partner interviews (no screener), each with an offer the same day/night. The fifth was 2 partners one day, 2 partners the next and offer 2 days later. Virtual interviewing expedites everything and I was fortunate to have a relatively slow week work-wise but it was still crazy. Then I let the recruiter pit them against each other for signing bonuses and it worked out nicely.

You’re the dream candidate for many firms. My firm is bleeding midlevels and seniors and is replacing them with first years who don’t know anything because the firm keeps getting outbid for more senior associates. My friend interviewed at my firm and apparently the signing bonus was only $50k when other firms were in the $150-200k range for a midlevel (6th year). We’ve had maybe 10-15 midlevels/seniors leave in the past 3 months (m&a, which I’m assuming you are), and we’ve replaced them with 3 second years and 1 first year. It’s been brutal. Out of curiosity, how much did you end up getting? I’ve heard of seventh years getting 1x salary.