NYC City Government Attorney to Big Law...Is it possible? Forum

[EvelynS]

Although I really appreciate work/life balance of working for a city government...but student loans make it very difficult to survive in NYC. I do transactional work at a big city agency, but looking to switch to private practice. Is it even possible to get hired at Big Law? I struck out of OCI during my 2L, so worked for a boutique law firm during my 2nd summer in a different state. Started working as a city agency attorney after graduation, but now looking for an associate position in Big Law. Should I even bother at this point? Any advice is highly appreciated.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Although I really appreciate work/life balance of working for a city government...but student loans make it very difficult to survive in NYC. I do transactional work at a big city agency, but looking to switch to private practice. Is it even possible to get hired at Big Law? I struck out of OCI during my 2L, so worked for a boutique law firm during my 2nd summer in a different state. Started working as a city agency attorney after graduation, but now looking for an associate position in Big Law. Should I even bother at this point? Any advice is highly appreciated.

I think it's worth it to apply if you really want it. I wouldn't get your hopes too high and would expect to come in as a 1st year associate. But I'd think your chances are best at the beginning of your career. My firm has hired a few people from small lit boutiques, etc., to essentially start over as 1st years in transactional when they really needed people. That being said, it's definitely a non-traditional path and nothing to bank on.

[EvelynS]

Thank you. That's what I thought. I do not have high hopes and I know that I will have to come in as a 1st year, which is not a problem since I have only a year under my belt.

[Anonymous User]

For sure. I was in a school-funded fellowship at the NYC Law Dept. and I made the transition to big law. I also know the former GC of City Planning joined Fried Frank as a partner in the real estate group. Neither is a very common outcome, but it's possible.

[Anonymous User]

Many Attorney's in the Labor and Employment division of the Law department lateral to big law firms so it's definitely possible. I don't know about the other divisions