Lateraling to NYC from Mid-size Market Forum

[Anonymous User]

Long time reader, first time poster. Here’s my situation: I’m a 3L at a T25 school. I'm ranked in the top 10% of my class and have the usual extracurriculars on my resume (law review, moot court board, etc). I'm interested in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, and my goal is to work in NYC.

After my 1L year, I applied for summer associate positions in New York, but nothing panned out. I have an offer to join a firm in a mid-sized legal market (the city’s current metro population is in the 2-3M range, I believe). The firm definitely qualifies as “big law” (250-500 attorneys). It’s one of the best firms in the region and does a lot of really sophisticated legal work. The practice group I would be joining (finance, restructuring, distressed investing) is one of the firm’s most well-regarded, and many of the attorneys in the group have worked for top firms in NYC (Skadden, Weil, S&C, Cleary, etc).

My question is, if I accept a job at this firm, will I be permanently closing the door on working in NYC in the future? While looking for jobs, I have come across countless postings by NYC firms looking for associates with “3-5 years of large firm experience.” I know a lot of people move between NYC and a smaller market, but is this a one-way street? (i.e., NYC -> Smaller) Any info (even anecdotal tales) would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Long time reader, first time poster. Here’s my situation: I’m a 3L at a T25 school. I'm ranked in the top 10% of my class and have the usual extracurriculars on my resume (law review, moot court board, etc). I'm interested in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, and my goal is to work in NYC.

After my 1L year, I applied for summer associate positions in New York, but nothing panned out. I have an offer to join a firm in a mid-sized legal market (the city’s current metro population is in the 2-3M range, I believe). The firm definitely qualifies as “big law” (250-500 attorneys). It’s one of the best firms in the region and does a lot of really sophisticated legal work. The practice group I would be joining (finance, restructuring, distressed investing) is one of the firm’s most well-regarded, and many of the attorneys in the group have worked for top firms in NYC (Skadden, Weil, S&C, Cleary, etc).

My question is, if I accept a job at this firm, will I be permanently closing the door on working in NYC in the future? While looking for jobs, I have come across countless postings by NYC firms looking for associates with “3-5 years of large firm experience.” I know a lot of people move between NYC and a smaller market, but is this a one-way street? (i.e., NYC -> Smaller) Any info (even anecdotal tales) would be greatly appreciated.

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

[PeanutsNJam]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

[ND2018]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Your input is highly valued given your experience as a practicing attorney...

Seriously, let people who actually know what they are talking about answer OP's question.

[Anonymous User]

OP, No it won't close the door. If the market is hot for your practice you will be fine, and if you pitch things right (small teams, client contract earlier, etc.) you could be in a better position then a lower V100 peer in the larger market. At year 3 I went from v50 mid market to v5 NYC and semi-changed practice groups.

[Anonymous User]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Multiple recruiters can be trying to fill the same opening. I was called last week by, literally, 7 recruiters for the same position. It's somewhat niche and I have some experience in the area listed in my firm bio.

[PeanutsNJam]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Your input is highly valued given your experience as a practicing attorney...

Seriously, let people who actually know what they are talking about answer OP's question.

Except I asked a follow-up question and didn't give an answer of my own.

[runinthefront]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Your input is highly valued given your experience as a practicing attorney...

Seriously, let people who actually know what they are talking about answer OP's question.

Except I asked a follow-up question and didn't give an answer of my own.

In fairness to ND2018, your comment (even with the qualifying "I don't think they're lying, but...") kind of conveyed that you were disputing the anon associate's experience as either false or atypical.

[1styearlateral]

I think a lot of calls attorneys receive to fill a spot are used to push other candidates already in mind. So no, getting calls/e-mails from recruiters about available positions does not equal interviews. I've gotten several calls the last couple months asking for a resume, selling me on the position, but then never getting an interview.

As far as moving from mid-market to NYC... I've heard it's very hard to get into NYC if you didn't start here. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've heard and just the general notion I've had since practicing here. FWIW, I started here after law school and think that it will be easy for me to move to a firm outside NYC given the reputation NYC has in the legal community. But I don't expect to lateral out until I am 100 percent finished with NYC because I don't think I'd ever be able to get back in. I think many Manhattan attorneys have low opinions of other attorneys outside major markets, and outside NYC in general.

[echoes2018]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Your input is highly valued given your experience as a practicing attorney...

Seriously, let people who actually know what they are talking about answer OP's question.

Interesting take. Alas, I agree.

[smaug]

As a midlevel associate at am V100 firm in a midsized market, I get recruiting calls/emails every week looking to see if I'd move to a major market.

Ok I hear this from every atty who has ever interviewed me. I don't think they're lying, but do recruiting calls = interviews with other firms? How is every jr associate at every biglaw firm getting multiple recruiting calls every week.

Multiple recruiters can be trying to fill the same opening. I was called last week by, literally, 7 recruiters for the same position. It's somewhat niche and I have some experience in the area listed in my firm bio.

Beyond this keep in mind incentive differences: recruiters need to get people into positions. It's their living. Of course they're going to cast a wide net at the outset.