Any way to use firm's moving expenses in this situation? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 3L going to a regional large firm pretty far from where I go to school on the East Coast. They offer ~$10k for moving expenses. They direct bill to movers, and reimburse for stuff like gas for driving your own vehicle, hotels ,etc...

Well, I am obviously gonna end up there when I need to start work, and I guess I need to be in the State to take the Bar in July

But, I just moved to Mexico. I loaded up my car with my important shit and drove to a crib in Mexico distrito federal where I'm crashing for now. Might go down to Jalisco in a little while. I will be doing my 3L unofficially "away" from school. Basically just taking BS no-attendance required doctrinal classes

I think it would be a bad idea to admit to the firm I'm basically doing jack shit in my last semester, especially since its a smallish regional office.

My gut is that I'm gonna need to just eat all of my costs myself. But it would be nice to take advantage of this $10k they offer. At the very least to cover some hotels and crap I used to get here. But, like, the time frame wouldn't match up at all with when they expect. And gas stations: I could show my cross country drive receipts, but they would be off like 6 months from when I was supposed to move lol

tips? anyone done something similar to what I'm doing?

[BigZuck]

Doesn't your reimbursable move have to be within like 3 months of starting work at the firm or something like that? They don't stipulate anything like that?

But basically you're trying to get them to pay for moving from Mexico to their office right? You're not trying to get them to pay for you to move TO Mexico are you?

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't your reimbursable move have to be within like 3 months of starting work at the firm or something like that? They don't stipulate anything like that?

But basically you're trying to get them to pay for moving from Mexico to their office right? You're not trying to get them to pay for you to move TO Mexico are you?

Na, no timeframe stated in my offer letter at least

And either one I suppose. Doesn't really make much of a difference. Yea probably the move to the office. But like, neither would make logical sense in terms of the path from my law school to the firm's location. These are all changed, but say, just for example, my path would be NYC to Mexico to Atlanta. If anything the trip to Mx is the closest to the right path, but timing is off by about 7 months or so lol

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, if you move from Mexico to your job, sure, although someone will see documents showing you're moving from Mexico. Doubt anyone will be paying attention or care, though. Paying for your moving expenses now? Please.

Also, spending your entire semester hanging out in Mexico while "enrolled" in school? I know 3Ls "never go to class" but that seems to be taking it to an extreme.

[Br3v]

I think by ABA rules you'd def fail all your classes so yeah seems like a good idea to have a paper trail proving it

[A. Nony Mouse]

Also, are you supposed to be in Mexico now? Like, posting from Mexico?

[Anonymous User]

I mean, if you move from Mexico to your job, sure, although someone will see documents showing you're moving from Mexico. Doubt anyone will be paying attention or care, though. Paying for your moving expenses now? Please.

Also, spending your entire semester hanging out in Mexico while "enrolled" in school? I know 3Ls "never go to class" but that seems to be taking it to an extreme.

I mean, I've never been a very good student and realized the notes I take have always been like 100% useless anyways. But that's neither here nor there..

you don't think it could come back to harm me in some kind of way expensing my move from mexico? It would be pretty blatantly obvious i wasn't at my law school... I think my office (large firm, but smallish office) is only like 30 attorneys, and literally only a few in my group. I'm one of like 3 incoming associates.

While I don't give a flying fuck about law school, I do care very much about my career and reputation, especially since I am going to a (supposedly) more lifestyle/long-term sort of place than NYC biglaw. Thus I'm considering whether just eating all of the costs would be most prudent.

I guess I could couch it as, I took my bar trip to Mexico and then drove back from there.. do people typically get that sort of thing expensed? Obviously this wouldn't really apply to everyone working in NYC without owning cars



edit:

Also, are you supposed to be in Mexico now? Like, posting from Mexico?

not at this very second, I'm with my paretns for xmas, but all my shit is in ciudad DF. why?? lol

[Br3v]

To be clea, are you asking whether or not using the firms money to skip out on 1/6 of law school by laying low in Mexico can hurt you in any way?

[A. Nony Mouse]

I guess I figure the people you're actually going to work with aren't going to be looking at your moving reimbursement forms. But I'm not an expert on this. I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

[Anonymous User]

To be clea, are you asking whether or not using the firms money to skip out on 1/6 of law school by laying low in Mexico can hurt you in any way?

cmon man you know full well that's both untrue and not what I'm asking

Ideally I would just like to get the same $ as if I were moving from my law school to employer's location. But not sure how to or if I should even try given my choice of locale for my last semester

[Br3v]

edit:

Also, are you supposed to be in Mexico now? Like, posting from Mexico?

not at this very second, I'm with my paretns for xmas, but all my shit is in ciudad DF. why?? lol

Oh so you just drove down down to Mexico first for a day and left all of your belongings at some random apartment in Mexico while you drive back? Seems very believable.

[ggocat]

If you're living in Mexico and will be moving more or less directly from Mexico to the firm city, I think it is perfectly fine to expense costs of the move. They budgeted $10k. That's $10k for you to spend moving to the city. I don't see them complaining about it if Mexico has been your residence for the entire semester. Don't use the "bar trip" story. That's worse and I think shouldn't be reimbursed.

And JFC, I'm sure you can spin a semester in Mexico as a positive.

In the other hand, how much money are you actually talking about? Few hundred in gas? If the firm is paying relocation expenses presumably it's a good salary. Maybe just don't worry about a few hundred.

Edit: I see you said all your stuff is in Mexico. This is definitely a reimbursed move imo.

[ggocat]

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

[Anonymous User]

If you're living in Mexico and will be moving more or less directly from Mexico to the firm city, I think it is perfectly fine to expense costs of the move. They budgeted $10k. That's $10k for you to spend moving to the city. I don't see them complaining about it if Mexico has been your residence for the entire semester. Don't use the "bar trip" story. That's worse and I think shouldn't be reimbursed.

Agree. Not quite the same situation, but I know firms have paid for friends of mine to move back from Europe if they studied there spring of 3L.

[Anonymous User]

edit:

Also, are you supposed to be in Mexico now? Like, posting from Mexico?

not at this very second, I'm with my paretns for xmas, but all my shit is in ciudad DF. why?? lol

Oh so you just drove down down to Mexico first for a day and left all of your belongings at some random apartment in Mexico while you drive back? Seems very believable.

school got over like almost a month ago bro, and no I flew, because I always see my family for xmas which is nowhere near any of the aforementioned locations. what's with the inquisition? would u like my life story?

If you're living in Mexico and will be moving more or less directly from Mexico to the firm city, I think it is perfectly fine to expense costs of the move. They budgeted $10k. That's $10k for you to spend moving to the city. I don't see them complaining about it if Mexico has been your residence for the entire semester. Don't use the "bar trip" story. That's worse and I think shouldn't be reimbursed.

And JFC, I'm sure you can spin a semester in Mexico as a positive.

In the other hand, how much money are you actually talking about? Few hundred in gas? If the firm is paying relocation expenses presumably it's a good salary. Maybe just don't worry about a few hundred.

Edit: I see you said all your stuff is in Mexico. This is definitely a reimbursed move imo.

Yea I was basically thinking both of the points you made. Good to hear it from someone else. Yea the cost would would prolly only be a couple hundred. Maybe 1 or 2 nights in hotels if I take my time and see some sights on the way back. My "stuff" is basically everything I could fit in my vehicle, not like I got a U-haul or something. I guess in the grand scheme of things and actually typing it out its seeming maybe pound foolish to worry about getting it reimbursed.

really just a part of me feels like I'm missing out on something when the $10k free $ and not using it. I've never had a job high class enough to pay moving expenses before.

I totally appreciate the thoughts, thank u!!

[Anonymous User]

If you're living in Mexico and will be moving more or less directly from Mexico to the firm city, I think it is perfectly fine to expense costs of the move. They budgeted $10k. That's $10k for you to spend moving to the city. I don't see them complaining about it if Mexico has been your residence for the entire semester. Don't use the "bar trip" story. That's worse and I think shouldn't be reimbursed.

Agree. Not quite the same situation, but I know firms have paid for friends of mine to move back from Europe if they studied there spring of 3L.

Interesting, thanks for the data point

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

"I wanted to hone my Spanish language skills in hopes of providing a small amount of pro bono representation to local latino immigrants during my practice." wouldn't even really be a lie. Maybe not my primary motivation but it is a truth

Unfortunately Spanish AFAIK doesn't seem to be particularly relevant to any of most firms' paying matters

[A. Nony Mouse]

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

Eh, I wouldn't, and would worry about what else said law student would blow off if he got the opportunity, but I'm not his boss. (Choose a study abroad program for second semester 3L? Sure. Just bail on the semester entirely? Not so much. But again, doesn't matter what I think.)

[Anonymous User]

"I studied for the bar in Mexico. It was cheaper than renting in the US and a good opportunity to do something different while I had the chance." This is more and more common and it shouldnt raise two many eyebrows.

[Anonymous User]

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

Eh, I wouldn't, and would worry about what else said law student would blow off if he got the opportunity, but I'm not his boss. (Choose a study abroad program for second semester 3L? Sure. Just bail on the semester entirely? Not so much. But again, doesn't matter what I think.)

Figured some people would have that sort of opinion and not really a perception I'd like to have

appreciate your thoughts Mr. Mouse

"I studied for the bar in Mexico. It was cheaper than renting in the US and a good opportunity to do something different while I had the chance." This is more and more common and it shouldnt raise two many eyebrows:

good stuff. basically my thinking for why I wanna do it (though maybe just a slightly longer timeframe )

[A. Nony Mouse]

"I studied for the bar in Mexico. It was cheaper than renting in the US and a good opportunity to do something different while I had the chance." This is more and more common and it shouldnt raise two many eyebrows.

Yeah, that's completely different - sounds totally reasonable.

[BigZuck]

Whoa, I thought the OP was "studying abroad" in Mexico and just gonna kind of blow off school like all study abroaders do.

So apparently he's still going to his normal school, just living in another country?

Yeah man, you're going to have to take all this on the chin. That's the choice you made, no biggie.

[ggocat]

really just a part of me feels like I'm missing out on something when the $10k free $ and not using it.

Try to leave this mentality in law school, in my opinion. Time to stop going to fed-soc meetings just for the free pizza. It's not becoming.

[ggocat]

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

Eh, I wouldn't, and would worry about what else said law student would blow off if he got the opportunity, but I'm not his boss. (Choose a study abroad program for second semester 3L? Sure. Just bail on the semester entirely? Not so much. But again, doesn't matter what I think.)

I got a different impression fro the OP -- thought he/she was taking doctrinal classes and, I assume (for god's sake), cleared his/her plan with the school's administration. I agree it looks bad if OP fails/gets dropped from school for some reason due to not being there. But if OP were in the school physically, OP could just be taking stupid pass/fail classes anyway.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I am pretty sure the only person who approved this plan is the OP. If the school approved, yeah, that's different.

[Anonymous User]

I agree it could look bad that you're just hanging out in Mexico, sure.

I'd actually be impressed by any law student who could swing this (and bs about it in a positive light).

Eh, I wouldn't, and would worry about what else said law student would blow off if he got the opportunity, but I'm not his boss. (Choose a study abroad program for second semester 3L? Sure. Just bail on the semester entirely? Not so much. But again, doesn't matter what I think.)

I got a different impression fro the OP -- thought he/she was taking doctrinal classes and, I assume (for god's sake), cleared his/her plan with the school's administration. I agree it looks bad if OP fails/gets dropped from school for some reason due to not being there. But if OP were in the school physically, OP could just be taking stupid pass/fail classes anyway.

thanks for all the reasonable advice

at the risk of taking more flak... didn't even realize the bolded was a thing lol. I was planning on showing up for the 1st day of class so maybe swing by and let them know then... no idea what I would do if they said no though.. I will admit I am soooo not used to a school being as all up your grill as they have been. Compared to UG where it's basically do whatever the fuk u want. But I'm kinda committed at this point. No lease in the city of my school, all of my stuff gone, etc, lol. I wouldn't figure they'd be down but idk how they'd ever really know. But I know people take extravagant trips as 3Ls year and the school admin definitely knows, so maybe they wouldn't care?

I mean, honestly, I really only had like 50% attendance in doctrinal classes anyways and never ever read so there is like zero practical difference