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Did college and JD in the US. And worked at a US BigLaw for about 5 years. Moved to Asia and worked at a top local law firm in general corporate practice for about 2-3 years. Thinking of moving back to US. ideally back to BigLaw.
What are my chances?
My top concerns are (1) seniority (at 7-8th associate level is it possible?) and (2) moving from local law firm in Asia (despite my previous US biglaw experience).
Any thoughts/advices? Thanks.

Could you do the work of a 7th/8th-year biglaw associate? Even if you can, you will probably have to sacrifice some seniority. It's not uncommon for foreign lawyers to be made to come in as first years. I think you would be lucky to keep your US biglaw seniority, but with your experience you should have a good shot at a job.

qxfr wrote:Could you do the work of a 7th/8th-year biglaw associate? Even if you can, you will probably have to sacrifice some seniority. It's not uncommon for foreign lawyers to be made to come in as first years. I think you would be lucky to keep your US biglaw seniority, but with your experience you should have a good shot at a job.

It seems to be stretching credulity to describe OP as a "foreign lawyer" (at least in the guise of one required to enter as a first year attorney) when they are US educated and have five years of US biglaw experience.

Seems the questions are two-fold. One, can OP lateral back into biglaw and, two, what level of seniority can they expect to preserve?

Is your suggestion that OP has a shot at a job based on any evidence? I can't imagine this situation is entirely unheard of. Some of it must be based on OPs reasons for leaving biglaw in the first place - were they told they're not going to make partner and asked to make way? Or did they leave of their own accord?

I'm still a junior myself so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I think this move wouldn't be that hard if you were willing to take a cut in class year.

At least in my market, 5-6th years are in high demand (FWIW I have heard that Kirkland is offering six figure signing bonuses for these class years in my market). I don't think my firm, for example, would normally let someone with 7-8 years of US biglaw experience join as a 5/6 year in our group but I think that your foreign experience puts you in a different category and it would be more natural to market yourself as someone willing to pick up where your US Biglaw experience left off and join as a 5/6 year - and I think firms would be more receptive to that. I think it is also to your advantage to have a bit more runway at the new firm and comp should be pretty similar once you get to those more senior class years.

Again, just my thoughts based on what I have heard in my market and around my firm but I very well may be off here.

albanach wrote:Some of it must be based on OPs reasons for leaving biglaw in the first place - were they told they're not going to make partner and asked to make way? Or did they leave of their own accord?

OP here. Wanted to move to a relatively small country in Asia (not HK or Singapore) so the best/realistic option was to work for its top local law firm.

At least in my market, 5-6th years are in high demand (FWIW I have heard that Kirkland is offering six figure signing bonuses for these class years in my market).

Which market is this?

I don't think my firm, for example, would normally let someone with 7-8 years of US biglaw experience join as a 5/6 year in our group but I think that your foreign experience puts you in a different category and it would be more natural to market yourself as someone willing to pick up where your US Biglaw experience left off and join as a 5/6 year - and I think firms would be more receptive to that.

This is actually what I'm also bit worried of. I'm not sure if firms are willing to hire someone from outside US even if they are willing to take a seniority cut.... And at the same time, if I can lateral as 7/8th year, not sure if I want/should offer upfront to be considered as 5/6 year and voluntarily take the cut and sell myself short.
Although right now the question is if I can lateral back to Biglaw in the US in the first place and at what level.

I'm in Texas - Kirkland has been very successful down here and aggressive in its hiring.

On your other point, I think it would be hard to lateral as a 7/8th year in my market. At least at my firm, those sorts of laterals would come in as junior partners or with some sort of informal understanding that they would be promoted within a year or two. I don't have a lot of data points, but usually these are people that have great reputations in the market and are expected make partner at their current firm. They don't necessarily have an independent book of business but they may have done work with some of our same clients, so we could bring them over to solidify the relationship.

Another way to look at it is that a competent 5/6th year can run a straightforward deal with relatively minimal partner supervision - of course, the partner will manage the client, step in on negotiating the main doc and help with any other unusual issues that pop up - but I think that is why 5/6th years are so valuable. Granted, a 7/8th year will be able to do this a bit better but unless there is a business development component, I don't think it is as good a value for the firm.

Again, this is all just based on my limited observations - you should definitely look into it more but I think marketing yourself as someone willing to come in as a 5/6th year would get some bites. Also, if you want to make the jump, I think you should move quickly - things appear to be slowing down a bit here with all the volatility in the markets and even though you can't really predict the market, I don't think people would be surprised if there was a market correction in 2019.

You can also apply broadly with a note that your class year is negotiable and then, if and when you get multiple offers, try to push for more.