Accepted offer -> keep looking? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm graduating next week from a T1 with a good (but not amazing) résumé and recently accepted an offer from the midsize firm I've been clerking at. I really like the people and the office culture, plus I've learned a ton working there. When they offered me a position, I was absolutely thrilled. I knew the pay would be shit (turns out its even worse than I imagined), but at least I would be getting good experience.

Here's the catch. The offer is to work in a practice group that I have no experience in, no desire to practice long-term, and the part that really scares me is that I would have a tough time selling my experience if/when I tried to lateral to my desired practice.

At first I was so relieved to have an offer and with a firm that I like that I said yes despite my reservations. Now, a few weeks later, I just can't kick the feeling that I've made a mistake. If the pay was decent, I could do the shitty work. If the work was good, I would do it for low pay. I asked if there was a chance I could change practice groups within the firm after a few years, and was pretty much told not to count on it.

Is it wrong of me to keep an ear to the ground for other jobs even though I've already accepted?

My thought would be to work at the firm until July bar results come back and then try to land a job at a DA office or with the Attorney General. I've done state government work and it seems much more personally satisfying than what I would be doing in this practice group at the firm.

It's a small legal community and I know this would essentially wreck my chances of ever coming back to this firm. That sucks because I really like the firm overall, but is that a price worth paying to do work I find at least remotely satisfying?

[Aeon]

My thought would be to work at the firm until July bar results come back and then try to land a job at a DA office or with the Attorney General. I've done state government work and it seems much more personally satisfying than what I would be doing in this practice group at the firm.

Jumping ship after working at a firm for only a few months, especially if they paid for you to prepare for and take the bar exam, is really bad form. In a small legal market, word will get around quickly.

[Anonymous User]

My thought would be to work at the firm until July bar results come back and then try to land a job at a DA office or with the Attorney General. I've done state government work and it seems much more personally satisfying than what I would be doing in this practice group at the firm.

Jumping ship after working at a firm for only a few months, especially if they paid for you to prepare for and take the bar exam, is really bad form. In a small legal market, word will get around quickly.

No doubt. In this case though, no bar help and no salary/benefits until I pass the bar.

[Aeon]

My thought would be to work at the firm until July bar results come back and then try to land a job at a DA office or with the Attorney General. I've done state government work and it seems much more personally satisfying than what I would be doing in this practice group at the firm.

Jumping ship after working at a firm for only a few months, especially if they paid for you to prepare for and take the bar exam, is really bad form. In a small legal market, word will get around quickly.

No doubt. In this case though, no bar help and no salary/benefits until I pass the bar.

The idea is that you'll be working there but not getting paid until bar results come out?

[Anonymous User]

My thought would be to work at the firm until July bar results come back and then try to land a job at a DA office or with the Attorney General. I've done state government work and it seems much more personally satisfying than what I would be doing in this practice group at the firm.

Jumping ship after working at a firm for only a few months, especially if they paid for you to prepare for and take the bar exam, is really bad form. In a small legal market, word will get around quickly.

No doubt. In this case though, no bar help and no salary/benefits until I pass the bar.

The idea is that you'll be working there but not getting paid until bar results come out?

Working hourly as a clerk until bar results.

[swampman]

I think the biggest risk is your firm finding out you're looking before you land another position, and you ending up unemployed.
ie you send your resume to the DA/AG, guy there went to law school with someone at your firm and decides to call him up to ask about you --> firm revokes offer and for whatever reason the government isn't hiring.

[Aeon]

Ideally, you'd find another job before starting, but if you'll only be working as a law clerk on an hourly basis, then it probably wouldn't be fatal to move to another position. My inclination is--if you begin working there--to remain for at least a year before moving to another job, but there might be situations where it'd make sense to switch quicker.

A lot here depends on your judgment and how cross you think the firm would be about your committing to work there but then leaving quickly. If it's a smaller firm, it'll be tougher for them to adapt, since they're relying on your being there. With a larger firm, it's less likely they'll be impacted as much.

[Anonymous User]

Ideally, you'd find another job before starting, but if you'll only be working as a law clerk on an hourly basis, then it probably wouldn't be fatal to move to another position. My inclination is--if you begin working there--to remain for at least a year before moving to another job, but there might be situations where it'd make sense to switch quicker.

A lot here depends on your judgment and how cross you think the firm would be about your committing to work there but then leaving quickly. If it's a smaller firm, it'll be tougher for them to adapt, since they're relying on your being there. With a larger firm, it's less likely they'll be impacted as much.

Leaving with anything less than a year of work is the nuclear option and would definitely burn bridges.

I've thought about putting in a year or two then seeing where things stand, but I'm worried about being pigeonholed or stale goods on the market. Everything about me points to litigation, and this is a non-lit position.

[Aeon]

Ideally, you'd find another job before starting, but if you'll only be working as a law clerk on an hourly basis, then it probably wouldn't be fatal to move to another position. My inclination is--if you begin working there--to remain for at least a year before moving to another job, but there might be situations where it'd make sense to switch quicker.

A lot here depends on your judgment and how cross you think the firm would be about your committing to work there but then leaving quickly. If it's a smaller firm, it'll be tougher for them to adapt, since they're relying on your being there. With a larger firm, it's less likely they'll be impacted as much.

Leaving with anything less than a year of work is the nuclear option and would definitely burn bridges.

I've thought about putting in a year or two then seeing where things stand, but I'm worried about being pigeonholed or stale goods on the market. Everything about me points to litigation, and this is a non-lit position.

If the firm refuses to put you in a litigation practice, you should try and pick up some litigation assignments here and there. You could also do litigation pro bono work. Since you'll still be relatively junior a year later, it shouldn't be terribly difficult to assure prospective employers that your heart is with litigation and your year in transactional only reinforced your affinity for it.

[tyroneslothrop1]

You should take the job and start working. It is much easier to find a job when you have a job, even if you get stuck in a non-lit position for a year. Take the job and see how you like it. Discreetly look into other positions while there. Ramp up the search after you've been there 9 months. They're paying you shit money and you're not practicing in the area you want long term. Don't need to feel bad about leaving a year in.