Anybody make the transition from biglaw to public interest? Forum

intelcorei3 · Post by **intelcorei3** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:41 pm

I know it's mostly law students around here, but I'm not aware of any board for lawyers who've been out for a few years. I'm a litigation associate at a big firm and have an offer to be an attorney at a prominent public interest organization. The pay cut will be about 150k, so I want to make sure I'm sure about this before I accept.

Were you happy with the transition? Was your lifestyle much better at the public interest organization? What is the career path like for PI lawyers? How did you handle the pay cut?

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 4:26 pm

intelcorei3 wrote:I know it's mostly law students around here, but I'm not aware of any board for lawyers who've been out for a few years. I'm a litigation associate at a big firm and have an offer to be an attorney at a prominent public interest organization. The pay cut will be about 150k, so I want to make sure I'm sure about this before I accept.

Were you happy with the transition? Was your lifestyle much better at the public interest organization? What is the career path like for PI lawyers? How did you handle the pay cut?

I haven't done this myself, but I'm in PI, and several of my coworkers are BigLaw refugees. They're all happier now. But it's because they love the cause. The work itself isn't that much different (a lot of research and writing) from what it was in BigLaw. The hours are somewhat better, but it's not a 40 hour a week gig; prestigious PI is closer to 60 hours a week than 40. And most of them saved a lot of money when they were in BigLaw, bought houses and such, so the pay cut wasn't such a big deal.

Ultimately, do it if you will genuinely like the job better, feel better about yourself, etc. Don't do it because you think you'll be able to slack off. And if you love the money more than the cause, stay where you are.

intelcorei3 · Post by **intelcorei3** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:36 pm

Thanks, the PI organization I have an offer from is one that's known to work its attorneys pretty hard, but I'm prepared for that. Biglaw had plenty of 80-100 hour weeks, and that was never the problem. I'm glad your coworkers are enjoying it better than biglaw, so that makes me optimistic.

Neff · Post by **Neff** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:39 pm

intelcorei3 · Post by **intelcorei3** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:01 pm

Neff wrote:Anyone know if it's possible to transition from doing biglaw corporate work to PI? I'd imagine that would be kind of unusual, but do only/mostly top-flight litigators make the transition?

I'm not sure, but I can tell you that it was extremely difficult for me as a litigation associate who did a ton of pro bono litigation work to break into PI from biglaw. I'd imagine it'd be even harder as a corporate associate. In the interviews, they were really looking for skills (from pro bono cases and general commercial litigation) that I could transfer over to this job. I'm not sure how a corporate biglaw associate could answer those questions.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:09 pm

how long did your job search take? Did you have any connection to the organization?

I'm clerking now, and have one year of private practice under my belt as well. Appreciate any advice you have as far as setting myself to transition either following my clerkship, or following another law firm stint.

intelcorei3 · Post by **intelcorei3** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:17 pm

Anonymous User wrote:how long did your job search take? Did you have any connection to the organization?

I'm clerking now, and have one year of private practice under my belt as well. Appreciate any advice you have as far as setting myself to transition either following my clerkship, or following another law firm stint.

It took about a year. I had strong connections to the organization, otherwise I'm sure they would have just passed on my resume and went with somebody who did a Skadden fellowship. I did a lot of work for the org in the past and built good relationships with some of the lawyers there. I explained to them that I wanted to work there on multiple occasions.

If you go back to a law firm, make sure you do a ton of pro bono work (to the point where the firm gets irritated at you), make a lot of connections in the local PI community since I'm sure it's a small circle, and try to serve on the boards of a few pro bono organizations. I did that and got the job, but it was extremely difficult. It took a full year of looking just to get that one offer.

BearState · Post by **BearState** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:55 pm

Corporate work can transition to certain kinds of PI. For example I know an attorney who did corporate work at a big firm and then transitioned to a non-profit agency that funds community development projects and low-income housing. He handles their contracts and financial deals.

Anybody make the transition from biglaw to public interest? Forum

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