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So, as of a day ago, one of my biggest clients is hiring for a position I'm exactly qualified for. I'm currently a BigLaw mid-level and do a ton of work with them and know most of the business people on the team. They all seem to like me and I've gotten good reviews from them.

What's the play here? Would be weird if the clients found out I applied then didn't get it. Would also be weird if someone mentioned to the partners I work for that they got an app from me.

I feel like this is one of those quintessential exit opportunities but I'm not sure how to handle it. Anybody got any advice?

ETA: Just finished reading through the one other thread we’ve had on this subject, where the advice was to talk to your relevant partner and ask them to float you to the client for the open position. I do NOT think that would work in my situation — we are slammed and it would cause some major staffing issues if I left, so I think that would just piss my partners off.

My personal experience in this situation was to ask/notify the partner with the client relationship and also apply through strong connections at the company and not any recruiters or job board postings (no formal apps, just a resume and deal sheet - they know who you are). Partners understand that not everyone wants to make partner. Law firms want their associates to go in house at their clients because it solidifies the client relationship even further. If you have a good relationship with the partner this shouldn’t be an issue. The interview process will likely take a few weeks anyways and with your 2 week notice on top of that it would be *at least* a month before you would leave, if not more. That’s plenty of time to transition matters even if you are busy and for them to find a lateral if they really need the help. Contrary to popular belief, even mid-level associates are replaceable at the end of the day.

In my case, the position was a little bit of a reach (position was #2 attorney at client overall (AGC) and #1 transactional attorney at client (GC is litigator), and they wanted a more senior associate and I was a mid level) but having the partner back me and the prior deal work with them definitely helped getting me to the final round and it came down to me and the other person. Other person got the job (a few more years of experience at the end of the day won), I’m still at my firm - even did a deal for the client after with the other person working on that deal.

This was of course well before Covid, though, so not sure how that changes the calculus (if it even does).