Going from AG's Office to BigLaw Forum

[drwatson2573]

Have gotten great experience at a State AG's Office (can't get specific without outing myself) doing civil litgation; I've worked there ever since I graduated from law school a year ago. Went to a T14; really want to go to BigLaw for litigation or a comparable boutique at some point in the near future so that I have as much time for consideration for partner as possible. I'm posting this to see if others have made the same move, have thoughts on the move to BigLaw at this point, etc. As best as I can tell, my strengths and weaknesses would be as follows, per my conversations with folks at these types of shops:

Strength: Experience. I've already had an few appellate briefs where I was first name, and handle about 20 civil litigation cases in state and federal court. A lot of it is 42 USC 1983 work (which is what big firms in my state use to train their junior/midlevel folks). I imagine my peers at Vault firms don't have nearly the experience I do.

Weaknesses:
OCI Strikeout: Didn't have great grades in law school and not working at a Vault shop is a big negative to my candidacy.
Prestige Factor: A lot of places, to the extent they are hiring, seem to be interested in mid-levels that are currently in BigLaw or have federal clerkships. As I am neither, I am told this severely limits the opportunities I can pursue.

If anyone has ideas regarding good places to look, etc., I would greatly appreciate it. I'm just looking for general commercial lit, but am open to specialties that are not L&E or insurance defense.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Jumping straight to biglaw sounds very tough ITE. Your realistic routes would be an AIII clerkship (did you get the grades at T14 for this? you could be a solid candidate with your AG experience) or getting into midlaw and then some diagonal lateraling, which carries the risk of getting you stuck in midlaw indefinitely.

[Anonymous User]

Your chances aren’t great without an Aiii clerkship so that’s what you need to focus on. Maybe if the 1983 lit is like takings claim or eminent domain or something else that biglaw might represent clients in you could pitch yourself, but if you’re just doing prisoner or 4A 1983 or similar things biglaw likely won’t be interested in your work

[Anonymous User]

Went from public interest lit to big law transactional in one year. It can be done, but requires networking, luck and timing. The latter two are not looking good now. A toss up candidate in a good economy had a higher chance of success, versus now when you have plenty of able-bodied folks with big law already on their resumes vying for your same seat.

[drwatson2573]

Jumping straight to biglaw sounds very tough ITE. Your realistic routes would be an AIII clerkship (did you get the grades at T14 for this? you could be a solid candidate with your AG experience) or getting into midlaw and then some diagonal lateraling, which carries the risk of getting you stuck in midlaw indefinitely.

Have had a clerkship interview earlier this year, but haven't heard back from them. Have been trying for junior lit associate positions at lower level AMLAW/boutique as well, but haven't gotten something yet.

[Anonymous User]

I did AG to big law. Similar background. You need to really hustle and network. Recruiters didn’t particularly think I was a great candidate, so that route didn’t work for me (recruiters like to sell someone who already has big law experience). I had two law firm interviews both gave me offers in a very hot market. Both were referrals from friends.

Someone else I know did AG’s honors program and then lateraled to big law after two years.

Very doable. Have confidence.