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Hi all,

I'm currently a practicing attorney (3rd year associate) at a large firm doing labor and employment litigation. While I enjoy L&E lit, I am concerned about continuing in this area of law for several reasons: 1) this is generally a low profit margin area and employers and more of a service/supplement to a full-service firm, 2) because its not as profitable as other areas, big firms are starting to decrease the size of their employment groups, and most importantly, 3) I don't get the sense that litigation in this area is particularly specialized and even if it is, I can't imagine it is that difficult for a non-L&E litigator to quickly grasp the fundamentals and be able to function in this area fairly quickly (as oppose to say patent law).

So my questions are...is my assessment off in any way? What are some other areas of law I can potentially transition into (from L&E lit) that are specialized in nature and difficult enough to master that another attorney can't just come in and fill the role without substantial experience. Are these concerns valid? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Well I'm not sure what you're asking, but your impressions seem spot on. At my firm, L&E is a specialized practice that may involve litigation. A general litigator could pick up most types of litigation with enough research and peers willing to advise in the field, sure, but that general litigator will not do any of the other things you guys do day to day that aren't litigation.

And in our firm, the L&E group hold their litigation close to the chest within the practice group and rarely draw in a regular civil litigator.

Labor IS specialized, specific statues and cases will always come into play, and while a general litigator could get involved and handle the case, you'll know the law better just because you've reviewed it repeatedly in different cases.

Let me put it to you like this. - the general litigator is worried he is not specialized enough. At least you've got a speciality. Not sure this was helpful, I'm not giving you options to leave labor and employment because I think you need t stick with that specialty.

Two peers of mine left my firm for more lucrative jobs because they were L&E. Those doors aren't open for me, I'm jealous.

TL:DR - Your lateral options may be enhanced because you're a specialist, look into that.

NotMyRealName09 wrote:Well I'm not sure what you're asking, but your impressions seem spot on. At my firm, L&E is a specialized practice that may involve litigation. A general litigator could pick up most types of litigation with enough research and peers willing to advise in the field, sure, but that general litigator will not do any of the other things you guys do day to day that aren't litigation.

And in our firm, the L&E group hold their litigation close to the chest within the practice group and rarely draw in a regular civil litigator.

Labor IS specialized, specific statues and cases will always come into play, and while a general litigator could get involved and handle the case, you'll know the law better just because you've reviewed it repeatedly in different cases.

Let me put it to you like this. - the general litigator is worried he is not specialized enough. At least you've got a speciality. Not sure this was helpful, I'm not giving you options to leave labor and employment because I think you need t stick with that specialty.

Two peers of mine left my firm for more lucrative jobs because they were L&E. Those doors aren't open for me, I'm jealous.

TL:DR - Your lateral options may be enhanced because you're a specialist, look into that.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.