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I was recently presented with the opportunity to hop on a political campaign for 2018 and am pretty interested. Currently working in big law in a major market while the campaign would be in flyover country. I'm a third-year associate and would like to return to the firm (or stay if that would be possible) post-campaign but am intrigued by the idea of working on the campaign and developing connections in the state I will likely move to if/when I decide to leave big law. I wouldn't need to start on the position until early-mid May at the earliest. Has anyone done anything like this? Not really sure how my firm would react.

Serious question: why would the firm allow a leave of absence like this? You are a third year. They are just going to replace you the moment you ask.

That said, I would take the political job (assuming the candidate has any sort of chance and isn't a reputation ruiner) over biglaw any day of the week. But if you think your firm is magically gonna hold your job for you, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

I think it would be possible. Ask a partner who likes you and with whom you work closely how they'd handle it and go from there. Really depends on whether the firm likes you. Some firms have formal fellowship programs where you can leave and work for a nonprofit for a year. While I doubt this would qualify for a fellowship since it's political, I'd try to pitch it as analogous. Make sure to think about how health insurance and other benefits will work.

I know a guy from an elite boutique who left to work for a 2016 campaign for a while.

I've heard of people doing this at my large NYC firm.

Yes, many firms will do this for you, particularly if you are well-liked. You should ask a mentor you trust before asking formally.

first poster is way too cynical and simultaneously not cynical enough. why would a firm do that? A connection to a politician is gold and it can be created by permitting exactly what OP is describing. I've seen it done.

I haven't heard of this specifically in my office, but people do take somewhat regular absences that the firm tolerates. 6 month maternity leave, secondment, etc. At least they don't have to pay you!

Lots of people at my firm left to go work for their home town operations of the Hillary Clinton campaign for the month before the election. All came back. The firm seemed fine with it.

I helped on a friend’s major statewide election by working late ass hours every day to juggle my biglaw job and campaign responsibilities. That sucked and I don’t recommend it.