Lateraling from a low V100 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Is it likely that I could lateral from a low ranked V100 firm in a secondary market (ex: ATL) to a V20 firm in a major market (NYC)? I am an incoming com lit associate and am interested in moving to another city after 1-2 years (for family).

I don't want to stay at my firm because comp lags the market, even though it would probably be mellower than a V20 firm. I did very well at my T30/am pursuing a D. Ct. clerkship if that is also relevant. Is there any chance of trading up, or is it likely that I would probably be stuck at a lower-ranked V100 firm? Or should I just go for a low firm that is on $190k lockstep?

[malibustacy]

Depends on practice group and skillset, but without knowing specific details, sounds pretty tough for a junior with only 1-2 years experience.

[TigerIsBack]

It sounds like OP actually has 0 years of experience and is an incoming associate. It's probably going to be very tough to lateral right now if that's the case because all of the major firms have their first years starting in the next 1-3 months.

[Anonymous User]

It sounds like OP actually has 0 years of experience and is an incoming associate. It's probably going to be very tough to lateral right now if that's the case because all of the major firms have their first years starting in the next 1-3 months.

Yes, I start in Jan like many other 2020 associates. I'm looking to lateral after 1-2 years at my current firm.

[TigerIsBack]

It sounds like OP actually has 0 years of experience and is an incoming associate. It's probably going to be very tough to lateral right now if that's the case because all of the major firms have their first years starting in the next 1-3 months.

Yes, I start in Jan like many other 2020 associates. I'm looking to lateral after 1-2 years at my current firm.

Oh well in that case I think your question is a little early. There's not much you can do other than work hard and try to get good experience at your first firm. If the goal is v20 in 1-2 years, that will depend primarily on things that have already happened (e.g., your law school grades, and the quality of the firm you're starting at).

[Yea All Right]

It's possible, and even if you can't, don't forget that a lot of firms pay market (not just the V20).

[Anonymous User]

It sounds like OP actually has 0 years of experience and is an incoming associate. It's probably going to be very tough to lateral right now if that's the case because all of the major firms have their first years starting in the next 1-3 months.

Yes, I start in Jan like many other 2020 associates. I'm looking to lateral after 1-2 years at my current firm.

Oh well in that case I think your question is a little early. There's not much you can do other than work hard and try to get good experience at your first firm. If the goal is v20 in 1-2 years, that will depend primarily on things that have already happened (e.g., your law school grades, and the quality of the firm you're starting at).

Got it, yeah I did pretty well in school (think, kind of competitive for a potential D. Ct. clerkship) and my firm is reasonably prominent/(respected??) on the east coast. But I imagine the lateral market is also in somewhat uncharted waters right now. Guess I'll wait and see.

[TigerIsBack]

Yeah I don't mean to say that you can't. I started at a v50 and lateralled to a v30 in a major market that's known to be hard to lateral into when I was a junior (and I had pretty bad grades). But the group I lateralled into was slammed and needed bodies and I interviewed well and had a strong deal sheet, even though I wasn't coming from a "peer" or better firm.

So, get good experience so you have substantive things to talk about in an interview in a year or two, and let the chips fall where they may. More than likely there will be some firm in your desired practice group in your desired city that needs juniors at some point over the next couple years. So just continue to monitor firm websites in your target market for openings down the road and blanket apply to those positions that you like. I'd recommend getting at least a year in at current firm though first.

[Anonymous User]

Lateralling to a more prestigious firm with only 1~2 years of experience is very very tough. You will get a lot more interviews once you have 3 years of experience under your belt. I managed to lateral to a V20 from a V50 towards the end of my third year. I began to get some interviews and was close to getting an offer from one of my top choice firms from the last couple of months of my second year. Before that, I didn't get noticed. At this level, I'd say where you went to law school and your grades could matter to some extent.

[smorgasbord]

Also consider that there aren't that many lateral opportunities in the first two years. Most firms will be in the process of integrating and training their own first years and second years and will unlikely be looking for junior associates at that level. There is less attrition / lateral moves in the first two years so less opportunities to lateral in somewhere. As others have noted, you'll likely have a more robust market from and after year 3 when you've got some more skills under your belt and may be more in demand due to natural attrition going into mid-levels.

Of course, there are always exceptions, but in my experience the lateral move that's been proposed is quite rare.

[Anonymous User]

Also consider that there aren't that many lateral opportunities in the first two years. Most firms will be in the process of integrating and training their own first years and second years and will unlikely be looking for junior associates at that level. There is less attrition / lateral moves in the first two years so less opportunities to lateral in somewhere. As others have noted, you'll likely have a more robust market from and after year 3 when you've got some more skills under your belt and may be more in demand due to natural attrition going into mid-levels.

Of course, there are always exceptions, but in my experience the lateral move that's been proposed is quite rare.

Makes sense. Even if I pulled off a lateral to my target city within that timeframe, would I get odd looks if I lateraled again after a short period of time (so 3 laterals in 3-4ish years). Or would it be a better idea to just try and transfer to my current firms office there, which is quite large, and then lateral later on?

[ChickenSalad]

Also consider that there aren't that many lateral opportunities in the first two years. Most firms will be in the process of integrating and training their own first years and second years and will unlikely be looking for junior associates at that level. There is less attrition / lateral moves in the first two years so less opportunities to lateral in somewhere. As others have noted, you'll likely have a more robust market from and after year 3 when you've got some more skills under your belt and may be more in demand due to natural attrition going into mid-levels.

Of course, there are always exceptions, but in my experience the lateral move that's been proposed is quite rare.

Makes sense. Even if I pulled off a lateral to my target city within that timeframe, would I get odd looks if I lateraled again after a short period of time (so 3 laterals in 3-4ish years). Or would it be a better idea to just try and transfer to my current firms office there, which is quite large, and then lateral later on?

You 100% will get odd looks if you lateral three times in 3-4 years. If you last only a year each in three jobs, no one is going to want to touch you.

[TigerIsBack]

Also consider that there aren't that many lateral opportunities in the first two years. Most firms will be in the process of integrating and training their own first years and second years and will unlikely be looking for junior associates at that level. There is less attrition / lateral moves in the first two years so less opportunities to lateral in somewhere. As others have noted, you'll likely have a more robust market from and after year 3 when you've got some more skills under your belt and may be more in demand due to natural attrition going into mid-levels.

Of course, there are always exceptions, but in my experience the lateral move that's been proposed is quite rare.

Makes sense. Even if I pulled off a lateral to my target city within that timeframe, would I get odd looks if I lateraled again after a short period of time (so 3 laterals in 3-4ish years). Or would it be a better idea to just try and transfer to my current firms office there, which is quite large, and then lateral later on?

That sounds like only 2 lateral moves, which I think is kind of where the cutoff is for normal attrition. Moving more than twice beyond unique circumstances will be tougher because firms will be wary.