Reneging on accepted offer. Forum

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer at a NY v50 this week after accepting a European biglaw offer a month ago.

Am I at risk of losing both if I accept NY and renege on regional? I'm American and would love to stay in the country if at all possible.

[grand inquisitor]

you should be fine just play up the geographic element

[Genius]

You can always reneg just as your firm can withdraw the offer or fire you without notice in your first month. Dont feel bad about it. They do it all the time on both sides.

[Voyager]

Take whichever offer makes you happiest!

Reneg! They will happily rescind offers when it suits them so totally fair to do the same in reverse.

Will not have any impact on your career whatsoever beyond you being at a better job by reneging.

[ookoshi]

The above posts are correct, especially if you're doing this for geographic reasons, do it and don't look back. Most people will understand. Plus, the firm you are reneging on for geographic reasons is probably catching a break that someone who doesn't want to be in Europe let them know before they invested even more time and money into training them.

Is it possible that it might negatively impact your career in the states? I mean, I guess anything is "possible." It's also possible I win the lottery. I don't base my life decisions around those kinds of odds though.

[thegrayman]

A firm would have no issue yanking your offer if the numbers didn't work.

Do it and don't feel the slightest bit bad about it

Sincerely,
Member of BR offer-rescinding group

[acr]

Yeah, what everyone else said.

Don't worry about the firm.

And don't worry about your CSO either.

[Anonymous User]

So there is no risk of getting my New York offer revoked?

[ookoshi]

So there is no risk of getting my New York offer revoked?

I understand why you want to hear an answer that's an absolute. But you should already know there's no way anyone here can guarantee anything with 100% certainty. Please do not ignore reality (that the odds of your NY offer getting revoked over reneging on a European offer is almost none, so much so that the correct decision is to *definitely* take the NY offer) in search of fiction (someone giving you a meaningless guarantee that your offer won't get revoked).

[Genius]

There is no guarantee your first offer wont be pulled either. Most likely not. Not any more or less than the possibility of your second offer being pulled.

[Anonymous User]

Hijacking this thread for a similar scenario/question: Accepted an offer at at BL firm in NY after 2L summer. Now, via networking, might have an opportunity to join a significantly higher ranked firm in DC in a practice area that better fits my interests. How frowned upon would it be to reneg on prior offer, if I get an offer at the DC firm? Would I be burning significant bridges to the point where it will follow me throughout my legal career? I'm hesitant to go to career services because they typically seem to look out for their own interests.

[Anonymous User]

At my very small first firm, we had at least 5 people reneg over the years. It is completely acceptable to do. Any organization will appreciate not bringing someone on who does not have strong long term interest.

Firms also understand life happens and life situations necessitate these renegings. European firms especially appreciate this because many of their attorneys depart back for america after just a couple years.

Anyways, you have two cities in your example. Just say personal developments necessitate you being closer to your family or significant other. They will understand.