How to approach lateral search as a first year Forum

[Anonymous User]

For reasons I would rather not get into, I have decided that I want to lateral asap from my firm. Unfortunately I am only a first year. From everything I have gathered, lateral hiring is only really hot for 3-5th years. How should I go about the search? I am not getting pushed out, so I should have plenty of time. However I would like to make the switch within a year, if possible. My only handicap is that I am limited geographically to my current market and I am not in New York.

[estefanchanning]

What market are you? Primary? Secondary? DC? LA? What are your stats? Are you currently in big law? Lit or corp?

We need a lot more info.

[Anonymous User]

For reasons I would rather not get into, I have decided that I want to lateral asap from my firm. Unfortunately I am only a first year. From everything I have gathered, lateral hiring is only really hot for 3-5th years. How should I go about the search? I am not getting pushed out, so I should have plenty of time. However I would like to make the switch within a year, if possible. My only handicap is that I am limited geographically to my current market and I am not in New York.

1) avoid using a recruiter. I made the mistake of using a recruiter as a first year. It sucks because you’re competing against a lot more people and those people don’t have a 25%+ referral fee attached.

2) the best way to lateral is probably to switch practice areas. That would be a compelling reason. When you go to interviews you can say “I’m interested in X. My current firm’s office in Y doesn’t do X. Etc., etc.”

3) use your network. Do you have friends atfirms in your city? Reach out to them. Do you have professors who know partners (I.e., former student)? Reach out to them as well.

4) Prepare to search for a while. I started my search 9 months ago and haven’t found the right fit yet. I’ve been getting a lot more traction now that I’m a second-year. But even still, it’s been rough.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, Anon. How did you do your DD with regards to fit. Fit is a huge part of the reason why I want to move right now, and I don't want to make the same mistake again.

[QContinuum]

Thanks, Anon. How did you do your DD with regards to fit. Fit is a huge part of the reason why I want to move right now, and I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Did you press current associates on the firm culture? IME that's the biggest part of "fit." Current associates are generally pretty forthright. (Of course they are most likely not going to say the culture "sucks," but you can divine a lot about whether it'd be a good fit for you from whether they describe the culture as "competitive"/"eat-what-you-kill"/"free market" vs. "collaborative" etc.)

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, Anon. How did you do your DD with regards to fit. Fit is a huge part of the reason why I want to move right now, and I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Did you press current associates on the firm culture? IME that's the biggest part of "fit." Current associates are generally pretty forthright. (Of course they are most likely not going to say the culture "sucks," but you can divine a lot about whether it'd be a good fit for you from whether they describe the culture as "competitive"/"eat-what-you-kill"/"free market" vs. "collaborative" etc.)

I was a summer, and I did ask current associates in my group. I feel like they were less than forthright with me regarding the working styles of the partners that I am working for and the general firm culture. In hindsight, there were little signs that the culture was toxic, but I was too much of a naive summer to really see them. Plus, I think I was too scared to roll the dice on changing firms after the summer.