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So, I moved to a NYC for a clerkship and will be starting with a large firm in the city in a few weeks. While I am excited about the work and enjoy living in NYC, I am missing home more and more and want to move back after another year (I have to stick around or else the clerkship bonus gets clawed back). Ideally I would be able to lateral to one of the top firms in my home market, which is a minor market.

Assuming that is a possibility, are there any adverse career consequences to only staying with my NYC firm for a year? I feel like it might be a red flag to future employers. By the time I am actually moving out I'll be a mid-level so I don't feel like it would be as bad as if I had bolted as a first or even second year.

If you're receiving a clerkship bonus, you may be required to stay a certain amount of time in order to retain said bonus. I think some firms have it up to 2 years.

How long have you stayed at previous firms? If you've never stayed anywhere for longer than a year, I'd be in favor of staying at least 2 years. You don't want to create an impression that you have difficulty staying anywhere long-term.

Anonymous User wrote:So, I moved to a NYC for a clerkship and will be starting with a large firm in the city in a few weeks. While I am excited about the work and enjoy living in NYC, I am missing home more and more and want to move back after another year (I have to stick around or else the clerkship bonus gets clawed back). Ideally I would be able to lateral to one of the top firms in my home market, which is a minor market.

Assuming that is a possibility, are there any adverse career consequences to only staying with my NYC firm for a year? I feel like it might be a red flag to future employers. By the time I am actually moving out I'll be a mid-level so I don't feel like it would be as bad as if I had bolted as a first or even second year.

Conventional wisdom is to stick it out a year or two. But if you hate it, no one can stop you from leaving. I’ve seen people left within months of starting at a firm.

Assuming you can actually land a job quickly in your preferred market, a quick jump shouldn't hurt you too much long term. You'll definitely have to put in a few years at the second place before another move becomes viable, though.

This is relevant to my current situation. I just finished up my summer at a V20. Got an offer for their corporate group but the firm was not what I expected at all. I actually feel like they painted a totally different picture of what they really are. It is unlikely I will stay past 2 years. But I feel its too late to switch firms since I am already going into 3L. If I am not clerking how does it look if I lateral after the first year?

It’s easier to change firms as a 3L than as a junior associate. Highly recommend changing before you end up at a place you don’t want to be as there really isn’t a robust market for the first year or second year associate generally. If you feel like it’s too late to change firms as a rising 3L, then I don’t quite understand when it would not be too late anymore...you are not even “early” in your legal career, as it hasn’t started yet.