Things to expect when going from midlaw to biglaw? Forum

[What the f.supp?]

Wife is considering making a move from a well-respected boutique (NYC) to a very large international firm (NYC). Anyone have any insight on what to expect if she goes through with it? The pay and hours requirements are both almost equal. More politics, rigid policies, and bureaucracy to navigate? Working with more people from other offices? The culture at her current firm is pretty laid back and casual. Would be grateful for any tips and anecdotes.

[Anonymous User]

Wife is considering making a move from a well-respected boutique (NYC) to a very large international firm (NYC). Anyone have any insight on what to expect if she goes through with it? The pay and hours requirements are both almost equal. More politics, rigid policies, and bureaucracy to navigate? Working with more people from other offices? The culture at her current firm is pretty laid back and casual. Would be grateful for any tips and anecdotes.

At my firm, we have several people who made the round-trip from firm to AUSA back to firm. They all talk about how much less bureaucracy/more flexibility they had while working for the federal government. So, that's one data point.

[Anonymous User]

Wife is considering making a move from a well-respected boutique (NYC) to a very large international firm (NYC). Anyone have any insight on what to expect if she goes through with it? The pay and hours requirements are both almost equal. More politics, rigid policies, and bureaucracy to navigate? Working with more people from other offices? The culture at her current firm is pretty laid back and casual. Would be grateful for any tips and anecdotes.

At my firm, we have several people who made the round-trip from firm to AUSA back to firm. They all talk about how much less bureaucracy/more flexibility they had while working for the federal government. So, that's one data point.

TBF, AUSAs run all their own cases, which is going to make being an associate basically anywhere feel less flexible. So whether it's comparable may depend in part on how much autonomy OP's wife has at her boutique.

[What the f.supp?]

Thanks guys. Yeah, wife has a fair amount of autonomy at her current firm (works directly with partners, manages junior associates, rare firedrills unless true client emergency). Would appreciate input from anyone else who has made the move from midlaw to biglaw on what to expect. Perhaps it is more similar than I originally thought.