Would you look for a new job if... Forum

[Anonymous User]

Went in house as a 3rd year corporate associate. Pay is good, 225k base with potential bonus bringing that up to 270k. Only problem is the job seems very limiting - the work has shifted from the responsibilities initially advertised -- so I am mostly doing just NDAs (huge volume of these) every day. I'm trying to stay put because of the economy and so it looks like I was at the job for at least 1 year on my resume, but I am worried about what I think I can do next. I don't really want to go back to a big law firm and I worry I won't have much to talk about at another legal job interview. FWIW my practice at the law firm is not very useful for companies (i.e. think finance, banking).

ETA: The hours are not great here. Have to process NDAs on weekends too.

[Anonymous User]

Went in house as a 3rd year corporate associate. Pay is good, 225k base with potential bonus bringing that up to 270k. Only problem is the job seems very limiting - the work has shifted from the responsibilities initially advertised -- so I am mostly doing just NDAs (huge volume of these) every day. I'm trying to stay put because of the economy and so it looks like I was at the job for at least 1 year on my resume, but I am worried about what I think I can do next. I don't really want to go back to a big law firm and I worry I won't have much to talk about at another legal job interview. FWIW my practice at the law firm is not very useful for companies (i.e. think finance, banking).

ETA: The hours are not great here. Have to process NDAs on weekends too.

If I were you, I would look. Looking does not mean you have to take something. When is your one year mark? Its a good thing it is new, gives you some time to ride out this storm. $225 base is really good, but unless you can sell your experience, this position could limit you. I do a couple NDAs a week in-house, and once you have done a couple, you are not developing as an attorney after that. From what I have heard, lots of firms are in need of finance attorneys right now (lots of credit agreement issues), usually I would not recommend going back to a firm unless it was a huge comp increase, but in your case, you don't want to limit yourself this early. I don't think it hurts to at least see what is out there, right now it might not be much. I just wouldn't spend years negotiating NDAs. Then again, shouldn't those lead to deals? Assuming it is harder than just asking to be more involved?

[nealric]

FWIW my practice at the law firm is not very useful for companies (i.e. think finance, banking).

I wouldn't assume that. Even outside the banking industry, some companies have full time finance attorneys to support their treasury organizations.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW my practice at the law firm is not very useful for companies (i.e. think finance, banking).

I wouldn't assume that. Even outside the banking industry, some companies have full time finance attorneys to support their treasury organizations.

Really? I was under impression highyield lawyers mostly exited out to other big law firms or to banks.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, I've decided to stay put for as long as they'll have me and try to hit the 1 year mark at least. I have a "guaranteed" cash bonus according to my offer letter but it won't be paid out until April 2021. The fine print says I have to be employed then so I hope even if we enter a recession now that they wouldn't lay me off until then.

I've decided I'm OK leaving the law after if I can't find anything since I don't have any real passion for it. It will have been a good run in terms of $$$ and I should be financially comfortable though I'd have to give up pursuing FATFIRE. I want to do something else and it would be great if I could be my own boss. Just need to think of a way to be able to make even 100k doing so....

[Anonymous User]

OP I’m actually in the exact same boat as you (went in house less than a year ago and ended up just doing work that was not advertised and not liking), except my salary is a lot lower. I’ve actually decided to start looking, but there are not a lot of job postings now. Which city/industry do you work? I’m just curious where I can find jobs with such a good salary!

[wildcatatpenn]

Sounds like a p fuckin nice gig to me lol. That's a lotta cash, plus I'm assuming premium bennys, for a job you can coast through and focus on more important things in life than work

[Anonymous User]

OP I’m actually in the exact same boat as you (went in house less than a year ago and ended up just doing work that was not advertised and not liking), except my salary is a lot lower. I’ve actually decided to start looking, but there are not a lot of job postings now. Which city/industry do you work? I’m just curious where I can find jobs with such a good salary!

NYC, financial services. Thought it was normal honestly given how shitty it is with COL in NYC and taxes. If I was getting paid like 120k I'd definitely bounce too but now it makes it harder.

Sounds like a p fuckin nice gig to me lol. That's a lotta cash, plus I'm assuming premium bennys, for a job you can coast through and focus on more important things in life than work

True but not sure I have good job security which is the problem. If I could indefinitely just do NDAs without anyone thinking I was a huge cost center and just live a chill life where I could focus on nonwork stuff it would be a good deal - could even work on a side hustle while slow.

[Anonymous User]

Wanted to post a year-later update. I stayed at the job and continue to churn out NDAs all day long (I'm the only one doing it for the whole group). Got some new responsibilities, but mostly NDAs. The hours continue to be bad, and stress is high because of volume. Q1 2021 has been crazy. 50-60 hour weeks (few hours on weekends). I tried looking for some other jobs but the truth is but my resume is not great and nearly all job postings seem to have requirements that are out of reach for me. I seriously wish I went to a different first law firm and did M&A. On the bright side if I can manage to stay 1 more year, I'll have a $1mm saved up and may just quit law.

Any tips for job switching? I mostly look for 'junior' and 'commercial counsel' type roles. Anything that someone who has been doing NDAs for a year can manage lol. Biglaw experience was just junior capital markets stuff (dealing with specialists, comfort, backup, closing certs, etc.).

[Buglaw]

Wanted to post a year-later update. I stayed at the job and continue to churn out NDAs all day long (I'm the only one doing it for the whole group). Got some new responsibilities, but mostly NDAs. The hours continue to be bad, and stress is high because of volume. Q1 2021 has been crazy. 50-60 hour weeks (few hours on weekends). I tried looking for some other jobs but the truth is but my resume is not great and nearly all job postings seem to have requirements that are out of reach for me. I seriously wish I went to a different first law firm and did M&A. On the bright side if I can manage to stay 1 more year, I'll have a $1mm saved up and may just quit law.

Any tips for job switching? I mostly look for 'junior' and 'commercial counsel' type roles. Anything that someone who has been doing NDAs for a year can manage lol. Biglaw experience was just junior capital markets stuff (dealing with specialists, comfort, backup, closing certs, etc.).

No reason not to go back to a law firm. People are desperate right now. We'd likely hire you as a junior if you have big law experience. Your reason for wanting to go back in house (work was boring, hours rough, pay less, etc.) would sound good to me. I wouldn't bail on doing 2-3 years of big law M&A.

[Anonymous User]

Have you tried maybe going back into biglaw for another year or two? Lateral markets is HOT right now so wouldn't surprise me if you could pull it off (if that's your concern). I'm guessing it would be easier to do that then go back out to a better in-house gig than to go straight from this job to something else.

[Anonymous User]

I haven't considered biglaw again, but it might be the way to salvage my career. And tbh, being a junior again wouldn't be a bad thing now that I've gotten a taste of non-big law work - would be nice to work on teams trying to accomplish the same goal again (mostly work solo now).

What would be the best way to try to go in? Reach out to friends? Recruiter? I know for a fact now that I never want to exit into financial services again. Will a firm take a chance on me in putting me into M&A? I literally have no experience besides NDAs and high yield capital markets (so barely even know any real securities law). I would also settle for a junior role in a normal capital markets role (not HY).

ETA: Also, will i take a pay cut? I made 270k last year in my current job.

[Buglaw]

I haven't considered biglaw again, but it might be the way to salvage my career. And tbh, being a junior again wouldn't be a bad thing now that I've gotten a taste of non-big law work - would be nice to work on teams trying to accomplish the same goal again (mostly work solo now).

What would be the best way to try to go in? Reach out to friends? Recruiter? I know for a fact now that I never want to exit into financial services again. Will a firm take a chance on me in putting me into M&A? I literally have no experience besides NDAs and high yield capital markets (so barely even know any real securities law). I would also settle for a junior role in a normal capital markets role (not HY).

ETA: Also, will i take a pay cut? I made 270k last year in my current job.

Given what you told me of your experience, you could probably get hired as a second or third year. You would get paid as a second or third year. I'd reccomend reaching out to friends and using a recruiter. Friends are your best shot. Market is CRAZY hot right now though. We almost hired some person who has only been in-house. Your story would not be a difficult sell for us (we are desparate).

[BrainsyK]

OP, PM me. My firm is looking.

[BigLawer]

Op, pm me as well, we are also looking. What city are you in?

[DiligentSage]

Since this is apparently a free for all on referral options, I'll throw my hat in the ring -- feel free to DM me, OP.

[nealric]

Wanted to post a year-later update. I stayed at the job and continue to churn out NDAs all day long (I'm the only one doing it for the whole group). Got some new responsibilities, but mostly NDAs. The hours continue to be bad, and stress is high because of volume. Q1 2021 has been crazy. 50-60 hour weeks (few hours on weekends). I tried looking for some other jobs but the truth is but my resume is not great and nearly all job postings seem to have requirements that are out of reach for me. I seriously wish I went to a different first law firm and did M&A. On the bright side if I can manage to stay 1 more year, I'll have a $1mm saved up and may just quit law.

Any tips for job switching? I mostly look for 'junior' and 'commercial counsel' type roles. Anything that someone who has been doing NDAs for a year can manage lol. Biglaw experience was just junior capital markets stuff (dealing with specialists, comfort, backup, closing certs, etc.).

Dang... how many NDAs can a company have that it requires someone working 50-60 hour weeks to churn them out?

Anyhow, any chance of convincing your boss to hire a junior to help with the workload and give you space to help with more interesting work?

[Anonymous User]

OP here, thought I'd provide a 2 year update

I stayed at the job, because volume got easier to handle because of improvements I made to streamline our processing and also because last year was fully remote due to covid. I also found lots of enjoyment outside of work.

Was offered new responsibilities when one of the other attorneys left late summer, but realized that I do not see my self at the firm and doing the type of work the rest of the legal team does (also volume based, and even more stressful). I also told my employer that I did not want to return to the office.

I was placated of course and told it was all good, but sure enough once offices opened, the tone changed. Refused ultimatum of returning to office early winter and offered to help transition my role to a new hire. Currently in transition period, but expect to be 'relieved' sometime this month or next. What a ride!

I'm thinking of what kind of non-legal entry roles I can take on now. Looking at lawyer job postings leaves me uninspired and uninterested (and I don't meet most qualifications anyway). My main requirement for my future rule is that it be something semi-enjoyable that I can grow at and that it is a fully-remote culture. The plus side is I am in my early 30s, single with a $1mm NW. So financially, I can afford to coast as long as health insurance is provided, and super grateful for being in this position.

[NoLongerALurker]

Thanks for the routine updates! Been interesting to follow.

[Poldy]

How many NDAs = 50-60 hours/wk? I'd think that has to be 75+, especially since I'd assume if you are doing that many they have to be largely on your form. Having a hard time imagining what this company could be.

[strawberrieee]

How many NDAs = 50-60 hours/wk? I'd think that has to be 75+, especially since I'd assume if you are doing that many they have to be largely on your form. Having a hard time imagining what this company could be.

Also curious about the company. It took me approximately 30 mins to review a NDA when I was a BigLaw junior who occasionally had to do it in M&As. If OP did it every day for 50-60 hours/week, OP must be more efficient in reviewing NDAs. I guess it must be 150 or so NDAs per week.

[Rule23andMe]

How many NDAs = 50-60 hours/wk? I'd think that has to be 75+, especially since I'd assume if you are doing that many they have to be largely on your form. Having a hard time imagining what this company could be.

Also curious about the company. It took me approximately 30 mins to review a NDA when I was a BigLaw junior who occasionally had to do it in M&As. If OP did it every day for 50-60 hours/week, OP must be more efficient in reviewing NDAs. I guess it must be 150 or so NDAs per week.

The Trump Organization

[Anonymous User]

How many NDAs = 50-60 hours/wk? I'd think that has to be 75+, especially since I'd assume if you are doing that many they have to be largely on your form. Having a hard time imagining what this company could be.

Also curious about the company. It took me approximately 30 mins to review a NDA when I was a BigLaw junior who occasionally had to do it in M&As. If OP did it every day for 50-60 hours/week, OP must be more efficient in reviewing NDAs. I guess it must be 150 or so NDAs per week.

The Trump Organization

Probably the genuinely funniest post this forum has ever seen. That’s all folks - we can go ahead and shut this site down now.