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Hey everyone,

I started my first full-time legal job in December after spending several awful months job-hunting after a May 2013 law school graduation. I am at a small-ish firm doing work I for the most part enjoy with people who treat me well and have given me a lot of opportunity for advancement and raised my compensation accordingly. There is nothing wrong with my situation but there are a few firms that are hiring now that I believe might fit better what I want out of a job. I don't know the salaries but would expect perhaps a 10-15k pay increase at these new jobs based on what I know of the market. The practice area at the prospective places is a step up in prestige but not my dream practice area because I don't really have a dream practice area (I like what I do and would expect to like this new area equally well).

Questions:

1) How bad does it look to a prospective employer if you are sending resumes out four months into your first job? Can it be handled with a graceful explanation? Or will they view you as a flight risk?
2) Would you trade in a ton of respect and support at a job that has many things you like about it and some that are a drag for a 10-15k salary increase and a somewhat significant step up in prestige/exit options?
3) Would you advise waiting until a year into the current job to reach out about making a switch just to have more time on the resume line?
4) OTOH prospective firms only seem to hire every couple years - strike while the iron is hot?

The current job is basically some kind of plaintiff-side work that is a step above shitlaw at a smallish firm where I entirely run my own cases and get to go into court/write briefs/go to administrative hearings/negotiate somewhat large settlements/take simple depos from time to time and would be totally in charge of building my own name/reputation. The prospective jobs are at extremely well-regarded midsize firms doing something like representing municipal governments and schools/NGOs/midsize businesses in both litigation and in-house/advisory roles. Pay is not market biglaw but probably in the $75k-$80k range to start.

I know I can always just send in resumes to the prospective jobs and see what happens, but I want to think through the implications first.

Thanks.

I switched jobs about 4 months after getting hired, but it was more by happenstance than by conscious effort. I'm very glad I did, but be damn sure that you'll be happy with the new job. I've since spoken to other attorneys about the switch, and the response is generally that moving once in the first few months is understandable if the new job is better or a different practice area or a better fit or something similar. More than once in the first couple of years, however, is a big flashing neon "warning" sign.

Give it 3-4 months at the first place. You may love the job and not want to switch. If you really dislike it, then you have a legit reason for wanting to make a move. I think it'll definitely be something you'll have to explain to a potential new firm, but probably not something that would be looked at poorly.

Don't trade a job you like for a relatively small salary bump and prestige. I was very worried about exit options when I made the move, and it hasn't even really crossed my mind since. Focus more on the quality of the firms and the work you'll do and if you'll like the work better. If you like what you do, you'll learn more about it and be better at it, and therefore be more desirable in a few years if something comes up. I traded (possible) general exit options for much more niche options. I won't have near the range of general options available, but if a firm has an opening in what I do, in a couple years I'll be a top candidate for that practice area.