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I'll be heading to a market leading practice that is not highly ranked on vault.

Is it ever possible to lateral up? And if so, what does it usually require?

God forbid you aren't at a V5! Why would you ever work at a firm that's guaranteed career suicide???

The general formula for lateraling is:

(V/Y) * B

V = Vault Rank of Current Firm
Y = Class Year
B = Chambers Band


To take an example, let's say you're currently a third-year associate at a V30 in a Band 1 practice group:

(30/3) * 1 = 10.

That means you can lateral to a V10!

Now, let's take a more junior associate at a less prestigious firm—say, a second-year associate at a V40 in a Band 3 practice group.:

(40/2) * 3 = 60

The most this associate can hope for is to lateral to a V60.

rpupkin wrote:The general formula for lateraling is:

(V/Y) * B

V = Vault Rank of Current Firm
Y = Class Year
B = Chambers Band


To take an example, let's say you're currently a third-year associate at a V30 in a Band 1 practice group:

(30/3) * 1 = 10.

That means you can lateral to a V10!

Now, let's take a more junior associate at a less prestigious firm—say, a second-year associate at a V40 in a Band 3 practice group.:

(40/2) * 3 = 60

The most this associate can hope for is to lateral to a V60.

Poster above's forumula is largely correct, but there are other variables involved such as pro bono opportunities, culture and partner's dick size to take into account.

This formula is interesting. Regarding vault ranking, is it the general or city specific?

For example, if I'm at Arnold & Porter in DC, but doing corporate rather than antitrust for two years, would my score be:

(5/2) * 2 = 5. Because they're ranked 5th in DC but band 2 for Corp. in chambers.

Or

(25/2) * 2 = 25

I like the first one better.

rpupkin wrote:The general formula for lateraling is:

(V/Y) * B

V = Vault Rank of Current Firm
Y = Class Year
B = Chambers Band


To take an example, let's say you're currently a third-year associate at a V30 in a Band 1 practice group:

(30/3) * 1 = 10.

That means you can lateral to a V10!

Now, let's take a more junior associate at a less prestigious firm—say, a second-year associate at a V40 in a Band 3 practice group.:

(40/2) * 3 = 60

The most this associate can hope for is to lateral to a V60.

I appreciate the laugh

Bravo sir/madam!

It's all true. I tried to round down from my 25.57 to 25. No one really notices that stuff right? who would ever know or care. I mean it's basically an even 25 anyways. If it wasn't for that one stupid adjunct professor in HR deferring me for 3 months I would have been in year 3.

Well now a few weeks after swinging my DREAM FIRM of jones day Cleveland they checked my transcript and I'm facing a C&F inquiry and disbarment.

Do. Not. Round.

Rp has been on a roll recently.