How hard is it to switch practice groups in a firm? Forum

[somasomasomas]

I really want to practice labor & employment law, but am finding it tough to "break" into. Current junior/midlevel in a standard biglaw commercial lit department. Have an offer from one of the big firms that have a dedicated L&E practice one of Jones Day, Proskauer, Morgan Lewis, Paul Hastings, but that offer is for a commercial litigation position. Would it be stupid to join them with the hopes of getting staffed on L&E matters and eventually transferring over, or should I keep trying to just get a straight L&E position right now (have been looking for almost a year and have not got any hits)?

[papermateflair]

If you are trying to get into L&E, but are getting hired for commercial lit, I don't know how receptive the new firm would be to you trying to move over. In fact, I would say they would be less receptive than your current firm would be if you're generally well-regarded and your current firm wants to keep you happy. Firms don't hire laterals unless they have enough work to justify it, so I can't imagine you would have time to take on L&E matters, and when you start at a new firm you have to prove yourself (proving WHY they should keep you), when a lot of that goodwill has already been built up at the current firm.

Do you know if the new firm does any crossover? Any associates at the new firm who you can ask? A dedicated L&E practice may make it more difficult to break through because they're going to staff their own attorneys on L&E matters, rather than if the L&E group was small and could potentially be understaffed and need to steal some associates for a matter here and there. I'm not an L&E attorney, but our L&E team is pretty insular and doesn't really do any crossover, although from time to time some of our commercial lit attorneys work on employment matters, but it's not the bulk of their work, and getting staffed on one L&E matter every couple of years doesn't sound like what you're looking for.

Can you take a cut and start over in an L&E group as a junior? Or are you just not getting any bites at all for L&E work?

[somasomasomas]

I really appreciate your input and was thinking along the same lines and am glad to hear that someone else had the same instinct. My firm is very silo-minded and we're slammed in commercial litigation so transferring is an absolute no-no.

I did ask in my interview and they were a bit non-committal and said that while I could possibly get some assignments, it seemed unlikely. I'm not going to take the offer and will probably continue to grind trying to find a position. I'm getting zero bites for L&E work and will probably just continue to grind.

Thank you for the reply!

[FND]

I'm getting zero bites for L&E work and will probably just continue to grind.

Are you applying for L&E positions, and not getting interviews, or are you not even finding places to apply?

My guess (I know nothing about L&E) is that L&E isn't exactly the most in-demand area right now. L&E is linked to politics and legislation. The L&E Boom fo the #MeToo era has already subsided and the current administration is not passing new stricter regulations, they're actually making it easier to fire people, which happens to coincide with a good economy where employers are trying to retain their employees, not looking for excuses to fire them.

So I think it just might be the wrong time.

[beepboopbeep]

L&E still seems quite booming in CA. No idea about elsewhere. But I suspect that doesn't hold unless you have some experience/expertise already.