Senior Associate Lateral Help Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am looking to lateral to a big law firm for the first time.

About me: Been an AUSA for almost 3 years. I graduated in 2009, clerked for 1 year in flyover D. Ct. then went into DOJ Honors in DC. Then became an AUSA at the same flyover district I clerked in. I do organized crime work.

For a variety of reasons, including both personal and professional, I am now looking to leave my flyover district and move to a big city (LA/CHI/NY/SF) and join a big law firm. Obvsiouly, I would like to join as a partner but I doubt that will happen. Totally fine with coming in as a senior associate or counsel. Open to using a recruiter.

Can anybody give me advice or general comments on what I should expect in my search?

[gregfootball2001]

I have no idea what to expect, but if you haven't already, I recommend reaching out to former AUSAs at your target firms. It's always helpful to have someone on the inside, and they may be able to boost your app. It's no fun reaching out cold, but it could be extremely helpful.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, I would have done that but the folks in my office are pretty much in this location for life. Some transfer out to other USAO offices but the only two people I know who went to firms are the two former USAs lol.

I reached out to a few law school friends and soon I will reach out to other former clekrs of my judge.

[TheProsecutor]

I am looking to lateral to a big law firm for the first time.

About me: Been an AUSA for almost 3 years. I graduated in 2009, clerked for 1 year in flyover D. Ct. then went into DOJ Honors in DC. Then became an AUSA at the same flyover district I clerked in. I do organized crime work.

For a variety of reasons, including both personal and professional, I am now looking to leave my flyover district and move to a big city (LA/CHI/NY/SF) and join a big law firm. Obvsiouly, I would like to join as a partner but I doubt that will happen. Totally fine with coming in as a senior associate or counsel. Open to using a recruiter.

Can anybody give me advice or general comments on what I should expect in my search?

No firm is likely to make you a partner. You don't have any Biglaw experience and you work on organized crime. Partnership is reserved for those in high level DOJ positions, particularly those with public facing platforms and AUSAs with a significant body of work and high profile convictions.

As for counsel, it means different things at different places. To the extent you're looking for one of those counsel positions that pays the big bucks and gives you a strong shot to be partner, that's unlikely, largely for the same reason. These usually go to AUSAs in prestigious districts with relevant experience + prior biglaw experience at major firms.

You will likely get an associate position, if you want one, but an associate's life is no fun. Also, unless you're just REALLY phenomenal, coming in as a senior will not give partners enough time to evaluate whether you can be elevated for partner.

I would also use a recruiter, because, hey I actually don't know what the market is like for you. I'm just guessing. Come back and let us know so we'll have more information for the future.

[gregfootball2001]

Thanks, I would have done that but the folks in my office are pretty much in this location for life. Some transfer out to other USAO offices but the only two people I know who went to firms are the two former USAs lol.

I reached out to a few law school friends and soon I will reach out to other former clekrs of my judge.

Actually, I didn't mean only AUSAs from your office - I mean former AUSAs generally. You won't know them, sure, but you all worked at what was essentially the same nationwide "firm" of lawyers. Not everyone will be helpful, but some will be. Reach out and see if they'll get coffee so that you can learn more about their firm and their transition. Nothing to lose.

[justanotherlurker]

If you wanted to come in as a partner, you would have the best a shot at a good, regional firm in the market that you've been in for most of your legal career.

Your experience is valuable to a big law firm in a big city, but it's not a guarantee of bringing in any business, which is what you need to be made partner. (Of course, if you prove them wrong, they'll be happy to make you partner after a couple years.)

It's going to be hard to find an associate position, since you're at the seniority level that most associates are at the up-or-out stage. This is usually the time that people lateral out, not lateral in to big law firms.

You might have success being brought in as counsel/of counsel (whatever the firm calls it), possibly on some sort of modified compensation plan that is based on what you bill or the billable work you bring in. A recruiter might be helpful in structuring this kind of arrangement.

That said, I would recommend also looking at smaller white-collar boutique firms, which is where a senior associate at a big firm of your seniority would lateral to if they didn't make partner.

Finally, you didn't mention DC among your big cities, but you might want to consider it. I feel like firms there are more accustom to people going into/out of government service, and might value that time more than a firm in the other cities you mentioned.