Asking to shave a class as a BL lateral Forum

[Anonymous User]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

[hoos89]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

[Anonymous User]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

So I’m coming from clerking/government. Consequently, there’s a lot of stuff I’m expecting I don’t know. Additionally, I figure that being a low class year will increase the ability to lateral if u want, while decreasing up or out and bring in business pressure.

Does this make any sense? If it’s dumb definitely tell me

[misterjames]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

So I’m coming from clerking/government. Consequently, there’s a lot of stuff I’m expecting I don’t know. Additionally, I figure that being a low class year will increase the ability to lateral if u want, while decreasing up or out and bring in business pressure.

Does this make any sense? If it’s dumb definitely tell me

This isn't really a "lateral" move, hence the confusion. In these situations you will more than likely be asked to take a cut, so it's not really your choice. I also started in gov and had a colleague make a switch to BL, he was a fifth year but went in as a third year.

That being said, I wouldn't ask for a cut. It suggests you aren't as capable as the firm thinks you are. Let them raise it if anything.

[Anonymous User]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

So I’m coming from clerking/government. Consequently, there’s a lot of stuff I’m expecting I don’t know. Additionally, I figure that being a low class year will increase the ability to lateral if u want, while decreasing up or out and bring in business pressure.

Does this make any sense? If it’s dumb definitely tell me

This isn't really a "lateral" move, hence the confusion. In these situations you will more than likely be asked to take a cut, so it's not really your choice. I also started in gov and had a colleague make a switch to BL, he was a fifth year but went in as a third year.

That being said, I wouldn't ask for a cut. It suggests you aren't as capable as the firm thinks you are. Let them raise it if anything.

Assume they are inclined to pay me in accordance with my graduation class, and that I’ve already gotten the offer (therefore no longer trying to convince them I’m capable in order to get hired).

Are my reasons for at least considering the ask off-base?

[gregfootball2001]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

So I’m coming from clerking/government. Consequently, there’s a lot of stuff I’m expecting I don’t know. Additionally, I figure that being a low class year will increase the ability to lateral if u want, while decreasing up or out and bring in business pressure.

Does this make any sense? If it’s dumb definitely tell me

It's certainly not unusual to take a year cut when lateraling, but it's a little unusual for the associate to ask for it. Regarding the bolded above, though, know that it won't help you lateral. Recruiters and potential employers won't ask what class year your current firm considers you to be.
They'll just look at your graduation year and go from there. So don't do it for that reason.

If you want to put off the up-and-out another year, I get that. But again, you only have so many prime lateraling years. The higher class you are, the more responsibility you're given, the better your resume looks. Sure, sink-or-swim sucks when you're sinking, but ask lots and lots of questions, and do the best you can. They're not going to hire you to watch you fail.

[Anonymous User]

Is it absurd to get a biglaw lateral offer to come in as a junior/mid in X class then ask to come in as X minus one?

So...you want to ask them to cut your pay?

So I’m coming from clerking/government. Consequently, there’s a lot of stuff I’m expecting I don’t know. Additionally, I figure that being a low class year will increase the ability to lateral if u want, while decreasing up or out and bring in business pressure.

Does this make any sense? If it’s dumb definitely tell me

It's certainly not unusual to take a year cut when lateraling, but it's a little unusual for the associate to ask for it. Regarding the bolded above, though, know that it won't help you lateral. Recruiters and potential employers won't ask what class year your current firm considers you to be.
They'll just look at your graduation year and go from there. So don't do it for that reason.

If you want to put off the up-and-out another year, I get that. But again, you only have so many prime lateraling years. The higher class you are, the more responsibility you're given, the better your resume looks. Sure, sink-or-swim sucks when you're sinking, but ask lots and lots of questions, and do the best you can. They're not going to hire you to watch you fail.

This type of advice exemplifies why tls is such a useful resource. For example, I did not know that new law firms one is lateraling to do not care about what class year the old firm has the associate at. Thank you!

[shock259]

I don't really think you gain anything by going in a year lower. People will, in very short order, give you work that is in line with your skill level. I suppose there's an argument that your higher rate as a higher class year will discourage people from putting you on a deal if you can't be that productive, but it's attenuated. The rate difference of 1 year isn't that big of a difference.

And obviously you (personally) are losing quite a bit in terms of salary if you come in a year lower.

I definitely don't see the rationale in asking for this.

[Anonymous User]

I don't really think you gain anything by going in a year lower. People will, in very short order, give you work that is in line with your skill level. I suppose there's an argument that your higher rate as a higher class year will discourage people from putting you on a deal if you can't be that productive, but it's attenuated. The rate difference of 1 year isn't that big of a difference.

And obviously you (personally) are losing quite a bit in terms of salary if you come in a year lower.

I definitely don't see the rationale in asking for this.

What about a concern that there’s just gonna be a lot that I, OP, don’t know how to do...and that this will be less of a big deal if I am more “junior,” independent of my graduation year?

[Barrred]

Even if you do come in at a lower class year, its unlikely that partners who are staffing a case will realize that you are not technically in the class-year that your graduation year indicates. Therefore, you may still end up getting asked to do (X)th year work for less pay (and you don't want to be the guy who tells a partner "I cant handle this, I'm actually only an (X-1)th year!").

[hoos89]

I don't really think you gain anything by going in a year lower. People will, in very short order, give you work that is in line with your skill level. I suppose there's an argument that your higher rate as a higher class year will discourage people from putting you on a deal if you can't be that productive, but it's attenuated. The rate difference of 1 year isn't that big of a difference.

And obviously you (personally) are losing quite a bit in terms of salary if you come in a year lower.

I definitely don't see the rationale in asking for this.

What about a concern that there’s just gonna be a lot that I, OP, don’t know how to do...and that this will be less of a big deal if I am more “junior,” independent of my graduation year?

As long as you didn't lie about your experience I don't see why this would be an issue. There's always an acclimation period. Don't shoot yourself in the foot...odds are you won't be there for that long anyway so make as much as you can while you can.

[unlicensedpotato]

Partner thought I was in the same class as a guy who is 4 years my senior. We both work regularly with that partner. Let that be your guide in terms of how much of a difference it would make.