Choosing a Firm for a Split
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 1:30 pm
TLS, I can use your advice.
I split between two firms in a regional market during my 1L summer, and I received offers to return from both firms for my 2L summer. I accepted an offer at a larger firm at a major market in CA for 2L, and both of my 1L firms have now offered a "split" of two to four weeks which would occur after my summer associate position at the CA firm ends. One of these regional firms is a litigation boutique, while the other firm is more of a biglaw firm (albeit in a much smaller market). Although things may change, if I get an offer this summer from the CA firm, I would probably accept (the pay difference between the CA firm and the regional firms is substantial).
So at this point, my main goal is to be able to keep the option of lateraling back to the regional market on the table for down the road. Both regional firms give offers to almost 100% of summer associates and pay associates on the same scale. I've mentioned to both firms that I may want to spend a few years in a major market, and they seem amicable to the idea of taking on a lateral down the road. However, while the larger regional firm has a long history of taking laterals, the litigation boutique told me that it would very much depend on whether or not they had an open spot at the time (as to be expected at a smaller firm).
The problem is, I really like the people at the litigation boutique. The work seems interesting, and the people seem very happy. That being said, the regional "biglaw" firm has much more diverse practice groups and multiple locations, and as they hired many laterals even during the downturn, it seems like the regional "biglaw" firm may be a little more financially stable.
Should I accept the offer of (and focus on building my relationship with) the boutique or the "biglaw" firm? Does anyone have any experience with accepting a split with the primary goal of retaining an option of lateraling down the road? How difficult is it to lateral from a major market to a regional market and is it more difficult to lateral to a smaller firm?
Thanks to everyone in advance.
I split between two firms in a regional market during my 1L summer, and I received offers to return from both firms for my 2L summer. I accepted an offer at a larger firm at a major market in CA for 2L, and both of my 1L firms have now offered a "split" of two to four weeks which would occur after my summer associate position at the CA firm ends. One of these regional firms is a litigation boutique, while the other firm is more of a biglaw firm (albeit in a much smaller market). Although things may change, if I get an offer this summer from the CA firm, I would probably accept (the pay difference between the CA firm and the regional firms is substantial).
So at this point, my main goal is to be able to keep the option of lateraling back to the regional market on the table for down the road. Both regional firms give offers to almost 100% of summer associates and pay associates on the same scale. I've mentioned to both firms that I may want to spend a few years in a major market, and they seem amicable to the idea of taking on a lateral down the road. However, while the larger regional firm has a long history of taking laterals, the litigation boutique told me that it would very much depend on whether or not they had an open spot at the time (as to be expected at a smaller firm).
The problem is, I really like the people at the litigation boutique. The work seems interesting, and the people seem very happy. That being said, the regional "biglaw" firm has much more diverse practice groups and multiple locations, and as they hired many laterals even during the downturn, it seems like the regional "biglaw" firm may be a little more financially stable.
Should I accept the offer of (and focus on building my relationship with) the boutique or the "biglaw" firm? Does anyone have any experience with accepting a split with the primary goal of retaining an option of lateraling down the road? How difficult is it to lateral from a major market to a regional market and is it more difficult to lateral to a smaller firm?
Thanks to everyone in advance.