1st Year Being transferred Forum

[Anonymous User]

While I doubt my firm uppers tune into TLS, I still thought posting anonymously would be prudent. I am a first year at a firm with 60 attorneys. I’ve been with the firm for just six months.

I was just given the opportunity to transfer from my location (second largest metro in the state) to a new office in the state’s largest metro. The partner heading up this new location is someone I truly enjoy working for. I’ll be working with four other associates (three just hired to our firm and one is from our smaller satellite office).

Has anyone here gone through a relocation with their own firm? Essentially, what I am asking…is this a good idea and am I leaving anything on the table.

I’ll receive a 10% bump and five flights to my new location along with car rental and they’ll cover moving costs. One extra incentive is an added vacation week. 45 day hotel stay with a $100 daily food & bev allowance (so I can’t go crazy with the wine list). I am here today, it is a pretty upscale hotel. I’ve seen the new office, impressive digs.

Housing is a bit up in the air. I bought a house three months ago but the agent (who got me a great deal) said not to worry her agency has a plan for these type of common occurrences. Plus her agency is finding me a home here…so far an ample selection for around what I paid for my home at my firm location.

That’s the deal. I am to formally respond next week. If there is anything you can add… please do.

[Jackie U]

The first thing I'd do.... ask for a corner office! If you are moving from a free parking location to a “pay to park” location, might see if they will reimburse. Good luck.

[Anonymous User]

OP here ….
Thanks, great tips. I will check out both of your suggestions.

What I didn’t point out in my post is that the home office is located in my home town (born and raised). I love it there to the point where I turned down a T14 school for a free TT ride (thank goodness that decision luckily worked out). Relocating means I would be leaving behind family and many great friends. The caveat is that the two cities are in the same state, a five hour interstate car drive…. not particularly close but near enough where I could travel every few months during long weekends.

The niceties (bump in pay and vacation) aren’t really a driving force inasmuch as this could be a promotion of sorts… bigger city and the fact that I was chosen over others in the firm that have been there longer. As far as I know I was the only associate from within the home firm offered this opportunity (most likely because I work really well with this particular partner).

If I said, thanks but no thanks, not sure how that would play…. could it negatively affect any long range partner chances? I was wondering if anyone else here had to make this kind of career choice. If so, what did you choose and how did it work out? Any regrets one way or the other?

(in the new city today, might as well check it out!)

[dead head]

The niceties (bump in pay and vacation) aren’t really a driving force inasmuch as this could be a promotion of sorts… bigger city and the fact that I was chosen over others in the firm that have been there longer. As far as I know I was the only associate from within the home firm offered this opportunity (most likely because I work really well with this particular partner).

If I said, thanks but no thanks, not sure how that would play…. could it negatively affect any long range partner chances?

Do you actually have a choice? Do you get most of your work from this one partner? Will you be able to get work if you stay?

How big is the new office going to be? Are they starting small and building organically? Do you really want to be one of a handful of lawyers in a new office, where none of the partners at the decision-making office really knows who you are? Is this the only partner moving? Are you comfortable effectively tying yourself to him?

[Jackie U]

OP here ….
Thanks, great tips. I will check out both of your suggestions.

YW. I was not aware of your conflict about moving away from home. Keep in mind that most of us did not have a LS in our backyard and our offer firm is way further than a couple hour drive. I have to ask, is the bigger market pretty cool or is it in an ice bucket?

Seems you are being groomed for more responsibility. I might feel a little differently if they were shipping you off to a new satellite office in a smaller area. Also, I was impressed with their relocation carrots. My friend asked her firm is she could switch offices from Philly to Boston, they said yes, and she’s pretty much on her own.

Considering you are a first year, I’d look at this as going up a rung and run with it!

[Anonymous User]

Do you actually have a choice? Do you get most of your work from this one partner? Will you be able to get work if you stay?

How big is the new office going to be? Are they starting small and building organically? Do you really want to be one of a handful of lawyers in a new office, where none of the partners at the decision-making office really knows who you are? Is this the only partner moving? Are you comfortable effectively tying yourself to him?

I receive nearly a third of my work from this partner, however most of her cases are lengthy so time wise probably 50%. As far as getting work, we are always swamped, so I haven’t thought about that aspect.

One floor, nice high rise near with a watery view (ditto my home firm). Firm is small enough that I doubt if I’ll be lost in the crowd. Only one partner moving…these days does it matter with all our electrical do-dads that keep us looped I know that our smaller satellite office started with a partner and three associates and now it’s up to ten and two of the ground floor associates became partner. So moving from the mother ship doesn’t seem to be a negative. Plus this is a major metro market.

I am here all week and I like the area and in a way I am excited. Biggest frustration is getting around. I know the way around my home town, I know the best restaurants, shortcuts, best bars, etc. Not here and unfortunately this rental doesn’t have a dash mounted GPS so I have to keep glancing at my cell which is nerve-wracking since everyone here drives at 95MPH. Also, I’m not liking that I can’t call a friend to come over or go out and do something during those precious downtime moments.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has gone through a relocation. Any tips?

[Anonymous User]

I have to ask, is the bigger market pretty cool or is it in an ice bucket?
Seems you are being groomed for more responsibility. I might feel a little differently if they were shipping you off to a new satellite office in a smaller area. Also, I was impressed with their relocation carrots. My friend asked her firm is she could switch offices from Philly to Boston, they said yes, and she’s pretty much on her own.
Considering you are a first year, I’d look at this as going up a rung and run with it!

Not an ice bucket (but neither is my hometown). I am visiting here for the entire week and for the most part I am liking it. I bought myself a GPS today so I don’t have to keep looking at my cell, which helps. Easy to get lost and miss an exit because the traffic is horrendous. I am deciding between two homes fairly close to the firm, so my spirits are better. I made a couple friends, happy about that too.

As far as the firm, I think career wise this could be a good move (hoping anyway). We signed up the firm for OCI and when the time comes I’ll be an interviewer. Don’t know why but I am psyched about that. We’re looking for two SAs and the hope is 100% offered, so I need to advise wisely.

Are you an associate? As always, I’d like to hear from any associate who has relocated.

[Jackie U]

I am an offered 3L starting in Oct. One reason this topic is of interest is because my firm has a satellite office in a southern market that I would love to transfer to since I am not a fan of cold and dreary.

Timing is important since I have the predicament of breaking a lease and then locating housing (probably rental since I have a sizeable tuition debt hanging over my head). My SA tax refund check was nice but by Oct I’ll be running on fumes. I don’t believe I can afford to fly to the satellite office and place deposits until the first of the year at best. My friend requested a transfer and has to handle all the costs herself. I doubt if many people requesting a transfer receive free transportation to their new location along with a generous accommodations allowance. Like yourself, I’d love to hear what other transferees are receiving.

I take it that since you’ll be an OCI interviewer, you’ll be agreeing their relocation offer.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats on your offer. Once you get past the bar enjoy your free time because it’s anything but after day one at the firm. However, the hours are not nearly as bad as it’s often portrayed.

Like yourself, I am no fan of the north so I hope you can work out a transfer. Are you in big law? I thought I was in big law with 60 attorneys but as I have come to learn, the big law term is reserved for firms with hundreds of attorneys.

I have no idea what kind of transfer amenities I would have been offered had I requested to relocate. I hope you can work it out. Sadly enough I hear the stories from associates stuck with tuition debt. The hope is that in a few years they’ll have a good chuck of it paid off. Their surprise is that the debt has an impact on their credit line even when the collateral is a house. Speaking of homes, I made an offer today but I might not get it (40K under their price but 95% of their ask).

It’s been hard getting general info or tips on relocation. I suppose this site is mainly for students trying to get into law school. 6AM comes early in this part of the country. Later.

[Jackie U]

I am so wanting October to be here so I can start earning a paycheck. Thank goodness the firm is handling all aspects of the bar and prep costs and are providing a small (but needed) stipend. That one nice thing about BL, they do take care of new associates.

There is a site somewhere with a forum catering mainly to lawyers but I also heard its pretty dead so I doubt if we’ll get any tips about the ins-and-outs of transferring and relocation. I agree that TLS is 99% focused on law school questions but they do have a number of threads discussing tuition debt and options of paying it off (not a pretty place). How in the world did you manage escaping debt free? BTW: Good luck with your house offer.

[Anonymous User]

On my free ride. I had a T14 offer but it came with a $50K annual sticker…no way in hell. The law school 15 minutes from my doorstep was available for free. Short read, I leveraged my stats and am glad I did.

I signed for the house yesterday but I had to up my offer $10K. Turns out I can move in before closing. The thing is I am really enjoying room service…especially their Lobster Cake Benedict breakfast, so not in any huge rush to phone the movers! This whole being-transferred thing is turning out to be a good thing. Partially because starting out on the ground floor of a new office just feels right.

I can relate to your waiting for 3L to end (what a giant waste) and then taking the bar followed by the incredibly long wait for the results so you can finally get down to business. You'll like it. I haven't regretted one moment of going into the law.

October will be here before you know it!