Would contacting your "predecessor" in a small market be considered as inappropraite? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm about to move to a different city which has a relatively small market in terms of positions for big law associates. I'm lucky enough to be able to choose from more than one options, and I'm seriously considering two of the firms. Both firms' offices in the city have less than 20 associates and even less in my practice group, and I'd really like to know more about the people and the culture of the office that I will be joining.

For both of the firms, I was able to find out who is the "predecessor" in the position that I'm applying to. In other words, they entered the firms with about the same level of experience as I do now, joined the same practice group that I'm going to work in, and they have both left the firms. My question is, would it be considered inappropriate if I contact them via email or linkedin, to ask about the culture and their experience with the firm that they previously worked for? If the firms found out that I've talked to them, would there be any problem?

To add some background, I don't know them in person. I went to the same law school as one of the individual, but there isn't any common friend who can introduce me to him.

I spoke with people who worked in each of the firm during the interview process, but all the people I talked to are way more senior than I am. I've also tried to seek advice on firm selection in TLS, but didn't get any helpful response. Alternatively, is there any other way that I can learn about the culture of a satellite office of a big law firm?

[Sackboy]

It's not inappropriate, but some folks might not be interested in talking after moving on from the firm. As long as you respect that, it's all good to reach out.

[snehpets]

I'm about to move to a different city which has a relatively small market in terms of positions for big law associates. I'm lucky enough to be able to choose from more than one options, and I'm seriously considering two of the firms. Both firms' offices in the city have less than 20 associates and even less in my practice group, and I'd really like to know more about the people and the culture of the office that I will be joining.

For both of the firms, I was able to find out who is the "predecessor" in the position that I'm applying to. In other words, they entered the firms with about the same level of experience as I do now, joined the same practice group that I'm going to work in, and they have both left the firms. My question is, would it be considered inappropriate if I contact them via email or linkedin, to ask about the culture and their experience with the firm that they previously worked for? If the firms found out that I've talked to them, would there be any problem?

To add some background, I don't know them in person. I went to the same law school as one of the individual, but there isn't any common friend who can introduce me to him.

I spoke with people who worked in each of the firm during the interview process, but all the people I talked to are way more senior than I am. I've also tried to seek advice on firm selection in TLS, but didn't get any helpful response. Alternatively, is there any other way that I can learn about the culture of a satellite office of a big law firm?

I don’t think there’s any harm in asking, but you can also ask to speak to someone more junior who’s still at the firm (unless there isn’t anyone). I would probably start there because it’s possible that the former attorneys are still friendly with people at their firms and will mention to someone “hey this random person cold-emailed me to ask about you?” To me that comes off as a little weird if you haven’t made any effort to talk to a current junior person.

[Anonymous User]

It's not inappropriate, but some folks might not be interested in talking after moving on from the firm. As long as you respect that, it's all good to reach out.

Op here, thank you for the response.

Yeah, I can totally understand if I don’t get any reply.

[Anonymous User]

I don’t think there’s any harm in asking, but you can also ask to speak to someone more junior who’s still at the firm (unless there isn’t anyone). I would probably start there because it’s possible that the former attorneys are still friendly with people at their firms and will mention to someone “hey this random person cold-emailed me to ask about you?” To me that comes off as a little weird if you haven’t made any effort to talk to a current junior person.

Thank you for the advice.
The firms are arranging to have me speak with their more junior members at the office, but I’m afraid they’d from another practice group or still much senior than I am. The offices are so small that each of them only had one person as midlevel/junior in my practice area.

[smorgasbord]

I'm about to move to a different city which has a relatively small market in terms of positions for big law associates. I'm lucky enough to be able to choose from more than one options, and I'm seriously considering two of the firms. Both firms' offices in the city have less than 20 associates and even less in my practice group, and I'd really like to know more about the people and the culture of the office that I will be joining.

For both of the firms, I was able to find out who is the "predecessor" in the position that I'm applying to. In other words, they entered the firms with about the same level of experience as I do now, joined the same practice group that I'm going to work in, and they have both left the firms. My question is, would it be considered inappropriate if I contact them via email or linkedin, to ask about the culture and their experience with the firm that they previously worked for? If the firms found out that I've talked to them, would there be any problem?

To add some background, I don't know them in person. I went to the same law school as one of the individual, but there isn't any common friend who can introduce me to him.

I spoke with people who worked in each of the firm during the interview process, but all the people I talked to are way more senior than I am. I've also tried to seek advice on firm selection in TLS, but didn't get any helpful response. Alternatively, is there any other way that I can learn about the culture of a satellite office of a big law firm?

Agree with the others that it would not be in appropriate to reach out. However, you should try to put each person's advice/thoughts in context. I spoke to my predecessor before joining my current firm and he had a markedly different (and more negative) experience than I have had, but I also asked around at the firm why this person had left. So if these people have left their respective firms, you'll want to understand why, but probably also do some digging on the firm side to get both sides of the story so that you can appropriately couch what they're telling you.

[notinbiglaw]

I don’t think there’s any harm in asking, but you can also ask to speak to someone more junior who’s still at the firm (unless there isn’t anyone). I would probably start there because it’s possible that the former attorneys are still friendly with people at their firms and will mention to someone “hey this random person cold-emailed me to ask about you?” To me that comes off as a little weird if you haven’t made any effort to talk to a current junior person.

Thank you for the advice.
The firms are arranging to have me speak with their more junior members at the office, but I’m afraid they’d from another practice group or still much senior than I am. The offices are so small that each of them only had one person as midlevel/junior in my practice area.

I have had very honest feedback from junior associates as long as they aren’t in the office. They really don’t have an incentive to lie to you or make the firm sound better than it is.