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I received an offer to join a Big Law firm’s mass tort, toxic tort, and product liability group. My current firm is a well-below-market NY boutique, and I’d like to make the Big Law jump. I have a bit of experience in these areas and don’t mind the work, but it seems like an area where I will likely get pigenholed.

Any advice or issues I should consider before making a decision? It seems like a practice area that isn’t going anywhere, so I could make a career out of it.

These are boring cases (toxic tort) and are pretty much all the same. However, you will get deposition experience and will likely travel the country. I am surprised Big Law does these cases.

For what it’s worth, I think the vast majority of Big Law firms have a toxic/mass tort defense practice. For example: https://www.gibsondunn.com/practice/env ... mass-tort/

sparty99 wrote:These are boring cases (toxic tort) and are pretty much all the same. However, you will get deposition experience and will likely travel the country. I am surprised Big Law does these cases.

Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a bunch of sources that these cases are not particularly enthralling. That being said, I know a guy who got hired into such a group at an amlaw100 and then transitioned to white collar/lit within a year. Might be a good way “in,” if you don’t have many other options and this is a goal.

Ab32 wrote:For what it’s worth, I think the vast majority of Big Law firms have a toxic/mass tort defense practice. For example: https://www.gibsondunn.com/practice/env ... mass-tort/

sparty99 wrote:These are boring cases (toxic tort) and are pretty much all the same. However, you will get deposition experience and will likely travel the country. I am surprised Big Law does these cases.

I'm pretty sure this will be defense work. And while it could be boring, the dollar figures are going to be high and there are areas you could establish yourself as an expert given time and opportunity. And, given that it's always going to be easier to move around inside biglaw that to find another initial opportunity that opens the door, I wouldn't pass it up.

albanach wrote:

Ab32 wrote:For what it’s worth, I think the vast majority of Big Law firms have a toxic/mass tort defense practice. For example: https://www.gibsondunn.com/practice/env ... mass-tort/

sparty99 wrote:These are boring cases (toxic tort) and are pretty much all the same. However, you will get deposition experience and will likely travel the country. I am surprised Big Law does these cases.

I'm pretty sure this will be defense work. And while it could be boring, the dollar figures are going to be high and there are areas you could establish yourself as an expert given time and opportunity. And, given that it's always going to be easier to move around inside biglaw that to find another initial opportunity that opens the door, I wouldn't pass it up.

These are exactly my thoughts. Thank you everyone for your help.