transferring offices after SA or a few years of assoc. work? Forum

[Anonymous User]

so... i badly want to be in DC (all of my family including significant other is there)... but have yet to have more than a few nibbles in DC. How much flexibility do firms typically have with associates wanting to transfer offices?

[rad lulz]

Depends on the firm, and depends on what you do at the firm.

Even if you work in a firm that has a DC office, but you've been mostly doing, say, hedge fund work, which there isn't a ton of in DC, it's gonna be harder to transfer.

[IAFG]

Depends on the firm, and depends on what you do at the firm.

Even if you work in a firm that has a DC office, but you've been mostly doing, say, hedge fund work, which there isn't a ton of in DC, it's gonna be harder to transfer.

This. If I wanted to move to DC, I'd 1) gun clerkships, HARD, 2) try for general lit to maximize lateral options 3) if I didn't get a clerkship or didn't get DC after clerking, put in 2 years and then try to move offices, but also be exploring options outside my firm.

[Loose Seal]

Agree that it depends on the firm. At our firm, we only take one or two transfers form the NY office a year, if that.

[englawyer]

i would ask to split your summer w/ your firm's dc office after they give you a summer associate offer but before you accept. you have a decent amount of leverage at that point. they know if they don't agree to a split, a competitor might and you will be gone.

[Aqualibrium]

i would ask to split your summer w/ your firm's dc office after they give you a summer associate offer but before you accept. you have a decent amount of leverage at that point. they know if they don't agree to a split, a competitor might and you will be gone.

Agree on the timing, but lol at summer associates having "leverage" or firms caring all that much if a summer decides to go elsewhere.

[Anonymous User]

Are ties still a relevant factor when lateraling between offices? Just accepted an offer to a satellite office in a city I'd rather not be in long-term.

[Anonymous User]

Are ties still a relevant factor when lateraling between offices? Just accepted an offer to a satellite office in a city I'd rather not be in long-term.

I don't think ties are that relevant. From talking to some biglaw partners they seem to need you to fill a niche and you practice area needs to be relevant to the other office's needs. It especially helps if the firm is trying to expand/build up the office in the city you want to switch to. [ie...Mike does good work on lit, we want to develop a strong lit practice in LA, let's send him there...].