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Title pretty much says it all. I’m trying to leave the firm I lateraled to because it is not a good fit. The people are okay, generally, but the partners/associates in my practice group are very very difficult to get along with. I gave it a few months, but I need to leave. There is a very good chance I’ll be here past the 6 month mark given that it’s fast approaching, but, in the off chance I get an offer before then, should I reach out to the recruiter who placed me?

Anonymous User wrote:Title pretty much says it all. I’m trying to leave the firm I lateraled to because it is not a good fit. The people are okay, generally, but the partners/associates in my practice group are very very difficult to get along with. I gave it a few months, but I need to leave. There is a very good chance I’ll be here past the 6 month mark given that it’s fast approaching, but, in the off chance I get an offer before then, should I reach out to the recruiter who placed me?

Still in law school here but I worked for a long while before. I would reach out to them at least as a courtesy. Times are good now and recruiters remember how they are treated. You may need them when times get rough.

They may also be able to better place you and have an idea what might fit better.

Best of luck.

I’m in a very similar situation. My concern with reaching out to my previous recruiter is that I think recruiters get a payout after you have been with the firm for a year and I don’t think they are allowed to recruit you away after taking the firm’s money for the referral. Recruiters can be a bit shady so I’m not sure I would trust a recruiter to work hard to find a new position for you if he/she gets paid if you stay.

Yes your recruiter has a conflict of interest because they have a big financial incentive if you stay. I wouldn’t bother telling them. You also don’t owe them anything. Though, I’ve never gotten a job using a recruiter - no idea if you sign anything with them when you accept a job. I know you don’t when you’re just looking/interviewing.

Anonymous User wrote:I’m in a very similar situation. My concern with reaching out to my previous recruiter is that I think recruiters get a payout after you have been with the firm for a year and I don’t think they are allowed to recruit you away after taking the firm’s money for the referral. Recruiters can be a bit shady so I’m not sure I would trust a recruiter to work hard to find a new position for you if he/she gets paid if you stay.

I largely agree, though I'm not sure about the bolded.

I would be careful about talking to your previous recruiter. Speaking from experience, remember that a recruiter's loyalties are likely with the firm and not you, so if there's an issue at your firm that you're discussing with the recruiter, you don't have any guarantee that such discussions aren't being shared with the firm, the recruiter's "client."

This all makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your help.

I think that the recruiter I used has a 6-month clawback from the firm, so I guess it would be in her best interest for me to stay.

I guess I will avoid using a recruiter and keep applying elsewhere

Anonymous User wrote:This all makes a lot of sense. Thank you for your help.

I think that the recruiter I used has a 6-month clawback from the firm, so I guess it would be in her best interest for me to stay.

I guess I will avoid using a recruiter and keep applying elsewhere

Why not just use a different recruiter?