"Spousal hire" for midsize firm?
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:57 pm
Hi TLS,
I need your advice. I'm currently a federal court of appeals clerk on a "prestigious" circuit. I have a job lined up at a mid-size regional litigation powerhouse that I'm really excited about, and the firm is excited about me. My partner is an HYS-grad, former state supreme court and federal appeals court clerk (for a "prestigious" judge), in their second and last year of a litigation fellowship that is highly regarded in this market. We are both very active in the local bar association; people know who we are and my firm knows my partner and likes them.
The relevant problem is this: My partner needs a job for when the fellowship ends. We want to stay where we are, which unfortunately has a small job market. They are pursuing other options, but one of the best jobs would be with *my* firm, which was very eager to hire them last year, when they still had a year of fellowship left. Now, though, the firm doesn't know yet what its need for laterals will be. There is still a good chance, given how competitive my partner's resume is and the fact that their current boss is well-connected there, that the firm will hire them, but not knowing is very stressful under the circumstances.
There are not a ton of job opportunities around here, and ideally I don't want to have to renege on my acceptance of this firm's offer and move out of town if my partner can't find a job here. Would it be: a.) okay b.) inappropriate or c.) fatal to mention in some way to someone in the firm that I trust who has some decision-making clout that I may have to move if my partner does not find employment soon? Many of the lawyers at this place are spouses of local law school professors, and it is a family-oriented place. However, it would suck if my hint either backfired or reflected badly on me as an individual.
Sorry if this is a weird question, but I've lost a lot of sleep worrying about it, and TLS sometimes has a lot of wisdom. Any help you want to give me, I will appreciate greatly. Thank you, TLS.
I need your advice. I'm currently a federal court of appeals clerk on a "prestigious" circuit. I have a job lined up at a mid-size regional litigation powerhouse that I'm really excited about, and the firm is excited about me. My partner is an HYS-grad, former state supreme court and federal appeals court clerk (for a "prestigious" judge), in their second and last year of a litigation fellowship that is highly regarded in this market. We are both very active in the local bar association; people know who we are and my firm knows my partner and likes them.
The relevant problem is this: My partner needs a job for when the fellowship ends. We want to stay where we are, which unfortunately has a small job market. They are pursuing other options, but one of the best jobs would be with *my* firm, which was very eager to hire them last year, when they still had a year of fellowship left. Now, though, the firm doesn't know yet what its need for laterals will be. There is still a good chance, given how competitive my partner's resume is and the fact that their current boss is well-connected there, that the firm will hire them, but not knowing is very stressful under the circumstances.
There are not a ton of job opportunities around here, and ideally I don't want to have to renege on my acceptance of this firm's offer and move out of town if my partner can't find a job here. Would it be: a.) okay b.) inappropriate or c.) fatal to mention in some way to someone in the firm that I trust who has some decision-making clout that I may have to move if my partner does not find employment soon? Many of the lawyers at this place are spouses of local law school professors, and it is a family-oriented place. However, it would suck if my hint either backfired or reflected badly on me as an individual.
Sorry if this is a weird question, but I've lost a lot of sleep worrying about it, and TLS sometimes has a lot of wisdom. Any help you want to give me, I will appreciate greatly. Thank you, TLS.