"Lateraling" from public interest to firm Forum

[northernbelle91]

Topic in title - I've been out of law school for almost three years, graduated top half (just missed honors) from a T10. Passed the bar in one state in 2016, taking in another state (where I currently live) in February '19. Since I graduated, I had an academic fellowship at another law school and have been in a nontraditional law job that qualifies as public interest for about two years. I'm considering transitioning to a firm when I leave my current job (probably sometime within the next year), but I'm having trouble finding resources on transitioning from nontraditional law/public interest to firm work, as it seems like most people go the other way, so I'm asking here.

Is it possible to get hired in biglaw three years out of school without firm experience? Has anybody started off nontraditional out of law school and gone back into a more traditional career path?

[Jinjuice]

I’d also be interested in this.

(1) More specifically is it possible if someone has been working 2-3 years as a district attorney?

(2) ....and what if someone has worked in a smaller law firm, doing work that is not specifically niche related to big law, like insurance defense, immigration defense (deportation removal matters), general practice, etc.?

(3) Lastly, how easy would it be if it was niche related but was at a small-mid law firm practice?

[Anonymous User]

Topic in title - I've been out of law school for almost three years, graduated top half (just missed honors) from a T10. Passed the bar in one state in 2016, taking in another state (where I currently live) in February '19. Since I graduated, I had an academic fellowship at another law school and have been in a nontraditional law job that qualifies as public interest for about two years. I'm considering transitioning to a firm when I leave my current job (probably sometime within the next year), but I'm having trouble finding resources on transitioning from nontraditional law/public interest to firm work, as it seems like most people go the other way, so I'm asking here.

Is it possible to get hired in biglaw three years out of school without firm experience? Has anybody started off nontraditional out of law school and gone back into a more traditional career path?

One of my colleagues was able to do this. Was doing a fellowship for two years post-law school at an incubator then transitioned into our corporate team. However, he had to start as a first year. Not sure if you’re willing to do that, though.

[Npret]

Topic in title - I've been out of law school for almost three years, graduated top half (just missed honors) from a T10. Passed the bar in one state in 2016, taking in another state (where I currently live) in February '19. Since I graduated, I had an academic fellowship at another law school and have been in a nontraditional law job that qualifies as public interest for about two years. I'm considering transitioning to a firm when I leave my current job (probably sometime within the next year), but I'm having trouble finding resources on transitioning from nontraditional law/public interest to firm work, as it seems like most people go the other way, so I'm asking here.

Is it possible to get hired in biglaw three years out of school without firm experience? Has anybody started off nontraditional out of law school and gone back into a more traditional career path?

One of my colleagues was able to do this. Was doing a fellowship for two years post-law school at an incubator then transitioned into our corporate team. However, he had to start as a first year. Not sure if you’re willing to do that, though.

I feel that to get in without any firm experience you will need to be willing to come in as a first year. That may be negotiable as you do have at least something relevant to offer. Just don’t expect to be a third year when you have zero firm experience.
You will also need a decently convincing story as to why you want to be at a firm now, what has changed and what experience you can bring, or at least why you are a good fit.
Expect some skepticism as to your desire to practice law in a big law firm.
I’m not saying it isn’t possible. These are just the hurdles you will face.