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If you work at a firm with multiple branches in multiple cities what are the chances you could transfer within the firm to a market that's more desirable? Is this frowned upon?

It depends on the firm.

Anyone have any experience doing this?

I've heard it is doable, particularly in the first few years when you are more fungible.

Cavalier wrote:It depends on the firm.

This. I know a good number of people at my firm that have transfered. We have a large central office and a couple of regional offices around the country. The way it usually happens is someone starts at the central office and transfers to a regional office after a few years. I haven't heard of it ever happening the other way around.

Anonymous User wrote:

Cavalier wrote:It depends on the firm.

This. I know a good number of people at my firm that have transfered. We have a large central office and a couple of regional offices around the country. The way it usually happens is someone starts at the central office and transfers to a regional office after a few years. I haven't heard of it ever happening the other way around.

Any downside to putting in a transfer request that you've seen if it's denied?

I'll add that this isn't a question we can help you with. You need to ask someone at your firm what the policy is on transferring. A lot depends on the size of the offices you are transferring to and from, the practice group you're in, your experience in certain areas, and so on. If you're a corporate associate at a big NY firm and you want to transfer to your firm's 20 person DC office that does exclusively regulatory work, it's probably not going to happen. If you're trying to transfer to a large or medium size office that also does the work you currently do, your odds of success will probably be better. But again, it depends on the firm.

Cavalier wrote:I'll add that this isn't a question we can help you with. You need to ask someone at your firm what the policy is on transferring. A lot depends on the size of the offices you are transferring to and from, the practice group you're in, your experience in certain areas, and so on. If you're a corporate associate at a big NY firm and you want to transfer to your firm's 20 person DC office that does exclusively regulatory work, it's probably not going to happen. If you're trying to transfer to a large or medium size office that also does the work you currently do, your odds of success will probably be better. But again, it depends on the firm.

Thanks for the help. The reason why I'm asking though is because I'm not permanently with a firm (though have a 1L SA), and am about to go through OCI.

I don't really want to stay in my home market, but it's looking like that will be a strong possibility coming out of school. Just curious if that means I'll be stuck or if mobility is still an option.

Miller32 wrote: Thanks for the help. The reason why I'm asking though is because I'm not permanently with a firm (though have a 1L SA), and am about to go through OCI.

I don't really want to stay in my home market, but it's looking like that will be a strong possibility coming out of school. Just curious if that means I'll be stuck or if mobility is still an option.

I'd give the same advice as I do for 0Ls thinking about applying to a school and transferring: don't plan on it happening. Yes it happens, but you should be happy with the office you interview for because chances are it wont.