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I am a 4th IP associate. I lateraled from a boutique IP shop after two years to a GP firm, which I have been working at for a little over two years. Atmosphere is great as well as pay. Work has been diverse ranging from litigation to prosecution. My practice is predominantly prep and prosecution. The problem I have is zero training. literally no training. Very little feedback. Long term I know this isn’t good as when I get up there in years, I won’t be on par with other colleagues at other firms.

My previous firm had excellent training, and given this I am considering going back. They will already take me given my work ethic, character and excellent work product (hiring partner said yes). The draw back is I will take a slight pay cut first year, and I won’t have access to diverse work as here. I don’t plan to do litigation so I am ok giving that up and going back to prep and prosecution. I also feel like my technical skills have suffered as at my previous firm I did high tech work while here I am doing very basic technogy.

I think training this early in my career is more important than anything else and my old firms outlook is very good. The boutique firm has lower overhead, and it’s easier to pitch work given lower rates and have a lot of attorneys with similar technical skills (my current firm hasn’t only 1 other attorney with my technical skills). Also, my old firm is well more established in IP than my new firm. I wouldn’t say my current firms long term outlook is good, namely, for lack of adequate training, high rates, and other parts of the IP group not being so great.

Is it a smart move to go back to my old firm? If anyone wants to know why I initially lateraled is because they painted a very colorful picture, however, in reality that picture is very black and white.

I appreciate the feedback and other thoughts.

You make a strong case for going back. On the facts you present, I don't see any compelling reason for you to stay at your current/GP firm. Rather than allowing you to broaden your practice and expand your skill set as you'd hoped, moving to your current firm has actually devolved your practice, downgrading your prosecution work to less complex matters and leaving you with little/no mentorship. Stagnating as a 4th-year at a GP firm isn't the best position to be in. I'd lateral back in your shoes.

integralx2 wrote:I am a 4th IP associate. I lateraled from a boutique IP shop after two years to a GP firm, which I have been working at for a little over two years. Atmosphere is great as well as pay. Work has been diverse ranging from litigation to prosecution. My practice is predominantly prep and prosecution. The problem I have is zero training. literally no training. Very little feedback. Long term I know this isn’t good as when I get up there in years, I won’t be on par with other colleagues at other firms.

My previous firm had excellent training, and given this I am considering going back. They will already take me given my work ethic, character and excellent work product (hiring partner said yes). The draw back is I will take a slight pay cut first year, and I won’t have access to diverse work as here. I don’t plan to do litigation so I am ok giving that up and going back to prep and prosecution. I also feel like my technical skills have suffered as at my previous firm I did high tech work while here I am doing very basic technogy.

I think training this early in my career is more important than anything else and my old firms outlook is very good. The boutique firm has lower overhead, and it’s easier to pitch work given lower rates and have a lot of attorneys with similar technical skills (my current firm hasn’t only 1 other attorney with my technical skills). Also, my old firm is well more established in IP than my new firm. I wouldn’t say my current firms long term outlook is good, namely, for lack of adequate training, high rates, and other parts of the IP group not being so great.

Is it a smart move to go back to my old firm? If anyone wants to know why I initially lateraled is because they painted a very colorful picture, however, in reality that picture is very black and white.

I appreciate the feedback and other thoughts.

You’ve given zero reason to stay at your current firm other than money. If that isn’t enough for you, you have zero reason to stay. You’ve been there long enough to know what your current firm has to offer.
I would go back and plan to make a career at the old firm if that is possible.

Npret wrote:You’ve given zero reason to stay at your current firm other than money. If that isn’t enough for you, you have zero reason to stay. You’ve been there long enough to know what your current firm has to offer.
I would go back and plan to make a career at the old firm if that is possible.

I mean, it also sounds like OP's stagnating at their current firm. Stagnating as a 4th year, just as you're starting to become a true midlevel, is kinda risky IMO. This isn't to say OP would necessarily make partner or counsel at their old firm, but if OP's able to stay there even a year longer than at their current firm, that'd more than wipe out any differential in current salary.