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Current 4th year corporate associate in NYC. Spent 2.5/3 years at prior firm, moved to current firm about 6 months ago. I like it, getting good experience, but I'm also just so sick of biglaw and the ridiculous deadlines/firedrills on weekends, etc. I really don't mind working hard long hours but I absolutely hate the unpredictability. Really want to try to go in-house, even if its for a substantial pay cut, but wondering if there is a minimum amount of time one should spend at a firm before bolting. Would one year at this firm be enough, or better to stick it out longer?

Honestly, who cares? I've switched jobs 3 times in 4 years (2 of them being big law) and no one seems to care. If going in-house is your goal, why not try and see if people hold it against you? I've had multiple recruiters tell me companies don't care but other firms will. For what it's worth, I've done (i) 2 years in big law with first firm, (ii) 6 months in non-legal role where I realized i made a mistake going there, (iii) 6 months at new big law firm. I'm already feeling the same way as you. I get inhouse calls all the time and no one really cares when i mention that i've hopped around a lot. I think people get big law is miserable

I think the only potentially tricky thing about 6 mo. in isn't that you'll be looked at as a flight risk, so much as a company may wonder why you made that switch to another firm if it only took 6 more months to get sick of it. I.e., I don't think people are going to worry you'll jump ship in another 6 mo., but they may wonder "Well then why didn't you try to go in-house back when you were actively applying elsewhere?" But this is assuming they care at all; many don't and are happy to poach biglaw associates regardless.

So apply away with this in the back of your head, just in case. Good luck!

OP here. Thanks for replies. My goal is to stick it out for at least one full year, and keep my eye on opportunities along the way. I just have to hold on to the hope that my biglaw time is nearing its end, because I'd really like to have a life again. I'm not in this for the money, I just need a good exit option that pays decently and lets me have at least some weekends and nights free.

op, are you in a city where there is a decent stream of in-house jobs? are you willing to relocate for an in-house job? my point is that you may not want to wait until you have a full year if there are good opportunities passing you by. if something seems too good to pass up, don't. i recently went in house in a city where in-house jobs in my specialty are hard to come by. there was a boom earlier in the year were probably 5-6 positions were open at one time (i snagged one of them), but there has been nothing for almost 4 months now.

Anonymous User wrote:op, are you in a city where there is a decent stream of in-house jobs? are you willing to relocate for an in-house job? my point is that you may not want to wait until you have a full year if there are good opportunities passing you by. if something seems too good to pass up, don't. i recently went in house in a city where in-house jobs in my specialty are hard to come by. there was a boom earlier in the year were probably 5-6 positions were open at one time (i snagged one of them), but there has been nothing for almost 4 months now.

I'm in NYC and work in PE fund formation (at one of the three top firms in this practice area) (also have a bit of M&A and cap markets experience from my prior firm), so there is usually a decent stream of in-house gigs, and I think I'm getting to be within that zone of class years desired by Funds/asset managers, etc. That's good advice though in general. I've been taking recruiter calls and hearing them out about different in-house roles. I think I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities and keep my resume up to date in case I want to jump on something.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:op, are you in a city where there is a decent stream of in-house jobs? are you willing to relocate for an in-house job? my point is that you may not want to wait until you have a full year if there are good opportunities passing you by. if something seems too good to pass up, don't. i recently went in house in a city where in-house jobs in my specialty are hard to come by. there was a boom earlier in the year were probably 5-6 positions were open at one time (i snagged one of them), but there has been nothing for almost 4 months now.

I'm in NYC and work in PE fund formation (at one of the three top firms in this practice area) (also have a bit of M&A and cap markets experience from my prior firm), so there is usually a decent stream of in-house gigs, and I think I'm getting to be within that zone of class years desired by Funds/asset managers, etc. That's good advice though in general. I've been taking recruiter calls and hearing them out about different in-house roles. I think I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities and keep my resume up to date in case I want to jump on something.

Just curious, but how do recruiters get a hold of you? Like where do they find your resume/info and decide they want to call you?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:op, are you in a city where there is a decent stream of in-house jobs? are you willing to relocate for an in-house job? my point is that you may not want to wait until you have a full year if there are good opportunities passing you by. if something seems too good to pass up, don't. i recently went in house in a city where in-house jobs in my specialty are hard to come by. there was a boom earlier in the year were probably 5-6 positions were open at one time (i snagged one of them), but there has been nothing for almost 4 months now.

I'm in NYC and work in PE fund formation (at one of the three top firms in this practice area) (also have a bit of M&A and cap markets experience from my prior firm), so there is usually a decent stream of in-house gigs, and I think I'm getting to be within that zone of class years desired by Funds/asset managers, etc. That's good advice though in general. I've been taking recruiter calls and hearing them out about different in-house roles. I think I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities and keep my resume up to date in case I want to jump on something.

Just curious, but how do recruiters get a hold of you? Like where do they find your resume/info and decide they want to call you?

your bio on your law firm's website