Switching Practice Group Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi All,

In a bit of a pickle here. I joined a V20 firm's corporate practice recently and kinda hate it. I feel extremely fortunate to have ended up at my firm as a lateral first-year associate, but I like neither the substance of my work nor the people I work with. I'm hoping I can transfer to a different corporate practice area eventually within my firm, but I really don't have a good handle on how to go about doing this. This is probably a firm-specific inquiry to a large extent, but there's really no one at my firm with whom I feel comfortable raising this. All I know is that switches are possible.

If anyone has experience with this and can offer some advice, I'd be extremely grateful. Browsing past posts, I get the impression that the earlier one tries to transfer, the better. On the other hand, I've been with the firm for a very short time (less than 5 months), and I don't want to come off as though I haven't given my group the ole college try. A further consideration is that my sanity would appreciate me transferring sooner than later.

[filibuster]

Talk to the professional development coordinator at your firm. This is not an uncommon occurrence at my firm (NYC V100). Every year for the last three years a first year associate has switched practice groups. Last year somebody switched from corporate to litigation and this year someone is switching within corporate. I don't think it hurts to ask.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I was actually thinking about whether I should speak with the professional development coordinator, so that's very helpful. Do you by chance have a sense of how soon the first-years began inquiring about the switch?

Many thanks for the help.

[filibuster]

The people that I knew began inquiring around 6-8 months in. I don't think there is any hard and fast rule. You can feel free to PM me, OP. Best of luck.

[DildaMan]

Do you by chance have a sense of how soon the first-years began inquiring about the switch?

Generally, the earlier the better. If you wait too long it becomes more difficult and comes with a drop in class year. Associates are generally fungible early on.

Anecdotally, a buddy of mine went from ip lit to tech trans during his second year. He started looking 6 months into his first year.