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I'm lateralling as a junior/mid from a boutique lit firm to a big(ish) law firm. West coast. My experience to date has been handling everything (depos, arguing motions, drafting MSJs, etc.). Any tips on adjusting to big firm life? I don't expect to be working on the same level of substantive work I have been handling at my current job. I would, however, like to know what your experiences have been making a similar move.

Thanks!

Anonymous User wrote:I'm lateralling as a junior/mid from a boutique lit firm to a big(ish) law firm. West coast. My experience to date has been handling everything (depos, arguing motions, drafting MSJs, etc.). Any tips on adjusting to big firm life? I don't expect to be working on the same level of substantive work I have been handling at my current job. I would, however, like to know what your experiences have been making a similar move.

Thanks!

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Out of curiosity, why are you moving? I am a mid-level who would like to go in the opposite direction (biglaw to boutique).

OP Here: Stability, money, commute, family stuff.

I made a similar move a few years back and majorly regretted it. I would say the main thing you will need to adjust is your expectation of being treated like a professional adult; at least at first you will most likely be spoken to like a child servant. If your experience is like mine, people will not be interested in your actual opinion (even if they act like they are), but will be more interested in super fast response and turnaround times, high volume of output, etc. I think the people who are happy as associates in my firm are the ones who either really have a shot at being a rainmaker partner down the road and are doing what it takes, or the ones who are perfectly content to basically sacrifice their sense of human agency in exchange for nicer material things.