How to lateral? Forum

[Anonymous User]

2nd year lev fin associate working at a V50 firm in NY. Looking to move back home to south Florida and would like to stay in BL. Not really sure how this whole thing works -- I've started responding to a couple recruiters that hit me up weekly. Is the play to find one solid recruiter, or should I try to spread out across as many as I can?

I should note that while I am from the area, I have zero connections to the south Florida legal market, which is why I think I need to go the recruiter route.

FWIW, also flexible on practice area -- fine with staying in lev fin, but also ok with branching into general corporate/M&A.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Anonymous User]

I work in South Florida. I came to the market with no connection to Florida without the use of a recruiter. Honestly, I’d avoid using a recruiter. If you’re flexible with practice area, you have a lot of firms you can apply to. I’d reach out to any alum from your school working at the offices.

The firms that are probably hiring in corporate are: Weil, White and Case, McDermott, Morgan Lewis, Greenberg, Bilzin, Gunster, Jones Day, Holland & Knight, Akerman. There are more firms but they have smaller south Florida offices so you may not have as much traction at them.

[Anonymous User]

I work in South Florida. I came to the market with no connection to Florida without the use of a recruiter. Honestly, I’d avoid using a recruiter. If you’re flexible with practice area, you have a lot of firms you can apply to. I’d reach out to any alum from your school working at the offices.

The firms that are probably hiring in corporate are: Weil, White and Case, McDermott, Morgan Lewis, Greenberg, Bilzin, Gunster, Jones Day, Holland & Knight, Akerman. There are more firms but they have smaller south Florida offices so you may not have as much traction at them.

Thanks. My only worry with that is the confidentiality part -- I don't really want my current firm to know I'm interviewing. Is there a general understanding among firms that they keep these things confidential?

[Anonymous User]

I work in South Florida. I came to the market with no connection to Florida without the use of a recruiter. Honestly, I’d avoid using a recruiter. If you’re flexible with practice area, you have a lot of firms you can apply to. I’d reach out to any alum from your school working at the offices.

The firms that are probably hiring in corporate are: Weil, White and Case, McDermott, Morgan Lewis, Greenberg, Bilzin, Gunster, Jones Day, Holland & Knight, Akerman. There are more firms but they have smaller south Florida offices so you may not have as much traction at them.

Thanks. My only worry with that is the confidentiality part -- I don't really want my current firm to know I'm interviewing. Is there a general understanding among firms that they keep these things confidential?

Yes, they take this very seriously. In fact, when I was clearing conflicts and getting a background check, the new firm literally called me to warn me not to check the box allowing their provider to call my current employer and told me not to give notice until everything clears.

Everyone gets paranoid but its a very normal thing that almost all associates end up doing.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. Mind shedding some light on how'd approach these firms? I can reach out to some alumni at south Florida firms, but should I approach it as I would a mass mail? I.e., let them know I'm looking to lateral, send resume, what about references? writing sample? Obviously will let them know about my ties.

I've never done this before, so don't want to blow it by sounding too formal/not formal enough in my first email.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. Mind shedding some light on how'd approach these firms? I can reach out to some alumni at south Florida firms, but should I approach it as I would a mass mail? I.e., let them know I'm looking to lateral, send resume, what about references? writing sample? Obviously will let them know about my ties.

I've never done this before, so don't want to blow it by sounding too formal/not formal enough in my first email.

I've lateraled to a different market before and although I don't know anything about the Florida market, I think these types of emails are all pretty much the same. Find alum of your undergrad/law school and just tell them that you're a 2nd year associate who is originally from S. Florida and are looking to move back. Tell them that you saw that there was an opening for a corp associate at their firm (obviously, only if there actually is an opening) and that you'd enjoy the chance to chat with them over the phone about their experience there. I went to a T14 with a ton of school pride. I've probably sent out 20 such emails over the past few months and I've never not gotten anything but an insanely enthusiastic response. Lawyers love to make connections and help people, especially fellow alum.

I also agree on the not using a recruiter thing. I know that most biglaw firms are making tons of money, but even if it's an issue on the margins, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by forcing a firm to pass on you because it doesn't want to pay the recruiter's fee. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Thanks. Mind shedding some light on how'd approach these firms? I can reach out to some alumni at south Florida firms, but should I approach it as I would a mass mail? I.e., let them know I'm looking to lateral, send resume, what about references? writing sample? Obviously will let them know about my ties.

I've never done this before, so don't want to blow it by sounding too formal/not formal enough in my first email.

I've lateraled to a different market before and although I don't know anything about the Florida market, I think these types of emails are all pretty much the same. Find alum of your undergrad/law school and just tell them that you're a 2nd year associate who is originally from S. Florida and are looking to move back. Tell them that you saw that there was an opening for a corp associate at their firm (obviously, only if there actually is an opening) and that you'd enjoy the chance to chat with them over the phone about their experience there. I went to a T14 with a ton of school pride. I've probably sent out 20 such emails over the past few months and I've never not gotten anything but an insanely enthusiastic response. Lawyers love to make connections and help people, especially fellow alum.

I also agree on the not using a recruiter thing. I know that most biglaw firms are making tons of money, but even if it's an issue on the margins, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by forcing a firm to pass on you because it doesn't want to pay the recruiter's fee. Good luck!

Recruiter here, most law firms have agreements with recruiters in place. It wouldn't make sense to submit someone's materials without that agreement. It's not fruitful to the recruiter, the firm, or the associate looking to lateral. JM2C (ps. K&L Gates is looking for a lev fin associate in Miami. Best of luck!)