Trying to go from JAG to lit boutique - any advice? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm currently a military lawyer (JAG in the Navy / Army / Air Force / etc.) and will be coming to the end of my contract. I've loved my job and experience - I got to spend the vast majority of my time doing criminal cases, serve some great people, and try multiple felony trials in front of juries. But I think I'd like to transition to the private sector.

Quick background (if it matters): went to T14 (top 10% / LR), and clerked for one year for a non-feeder Court of Appeals judge (think 1/3/4/5/6/7th cir.) before going active duty. 2L summer at a biglaw firm in DC / NY.

My goal is to end up in DC or NY, and I'd like to end up at a litigation boutique because I've heard they give you more responsibility and substantive work earlier on. I'd love to do white collar defense, commercial litigation, or appellate work if at all possible, though in this economy I know I should be grateful for any opportunity.

Questions: Do I have any shot at boutique lit firms like Mololamken, Susman, Robbins Russell, or Kellogg? Am I right in thinking that these firms will give me more responsibility and substantive work compared to biglaw? Do any of these places give associates real exposure to appellate work? Thanks in advance for any guidance anyone can provide.

[andythefir]

I bet the straightest path would be a USAO in DC>boutique firm. The USAO is a known quantity to firms, they love JAGs, and there’s a million USAO jobs in DC. It may be a pretty steep pay cut outside of DC because USAOs outside DC aren’t on the GS scale.

[nixy]

The thing with a USAO gig in DC is that most positions are basically being a local prosecutor, which isn’t going to add much to an application for a lit boutique. (Also I see job listings for the DC office which are paid on the AD scale, not GS.)

[Barrred]

JAG to biglaw/lit boutique is not a traditional path, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that many JAGs (at least AD JAGs) do not have the underlying credentials required to get one of those jobs (e.g., grades, T14, clerkships), so I think you have a good shot.

If you are dead-set on going into lit private practice, I wouldn't go to a USAO. Yes, having a couple years as an AUSA would be better in terms of getting hired at a biglaw firm/lit boutique, but by the time you rack up those couple years, you will be a 6th-8th year (depending on the length of your AD contract), which is way too senior to lateral in as an associate with no biglaw experience. At that point, you'd be better off spending 5-6 years in a USAO and attempting to lateral into a firm as a white collar partner.

If I were you, I'd shoot for a biglaw/lit boutique firm right out of the gate. In terms of your resume, I'd play up any trial/hearing experience you got while on AD, which is a lot more on-your-feet experience than most biglaw associates get. You basically want to mimic the applications of people who spent 3-4 years in a USAO through DOJ Honors after a clerkship, aka you need to convince those reading your application that you should be treated similarly to those applicants.

I'd reach out broadly to my network (law school classmates/co-clerks at firms you'd like to go to) to have them forward your resume on to their firms' recruiting team. Your intuition re: early experience at lit boutiques is generally right, but its not entirely true, so I wouldn't limit myself to applying to just lit boutiques, especially because that is a pretty small universe of firms, and you might be just as happy/get just as much experience at a biglaw lit powerhouse known for lean staffing. You might also consider searching law firm bios of people at your target firms to find prior service (or current reservist) associates/partners, and you could cold-email them to ask about their transition to private practice (I wouldn't cold email asking for a job initially, let them offer to forward on your resume).

Bottom line is that you're facing a somewhat up-hill battle as a mid-level lateral with no biglaw experience, so you should apply broadly, leverage your network/connections as much as possible, and even consider accepting a class-year cut (though I wouldn't lead with that--first see how the market responds to your resume).

Edited to add: You should also reach out to the firm you summered with in NY/DC, as they are much more likely to take you back (if you did well) than another firm that doesnt know you/hasn't pre-screened you. Don't dismiss them just because they're not a lit boutique--you could even just go there for a couple years and then lateral (much easier) to a lit boutique, if biglaw doesnt give you the kind of experience you're looking for. (Also, feel free to PM me---I haven't done what you are attempting to do, but I have some familiarity.)

[ConfusedNYer]

I would second all of Barred's advice but particularly their point about biglaw - yes it is easier to get substantive experience lit experience at a boutique, but it is also way easier to get substantive lit experience at a biglaw firm if you have good credentials/a COA clerkship/existing trial experience (compared to trying to get substantive experience at a biglaw firm as a generic first year.)

[Joachim2017]

I know of a people people who have done this (straight to lit boutique from JAG); there is no need to try USAO as a stepping stone. The key is to play up trial and substantive experience, maturity, responsibility, and (work) diversity. Firms will be intrigued by the JAG background + your actual and legit academic credentials. Reach out to the firms directly, and if you have time, also scan bios of associates who have done something similar.

Edited to add: I disagree with some of the posters above that not having Biglaw experience will be a big problem at many of these boutiques for you. I know offhand some boutiques in NYC will have former JAGs in the kind of position/career path you are interested in, and have not cared about the lack of Biglaw experience.

[Anonymous User]

you might be just as happy/get just as much experience at a biglaw lit powerhouse known for lean staffing

Any examples of firms like that that come to mind? Not OP but clerk with similar concerns about generic biglaw firms.

[Barrred]

you might be just as happy/get just as much experience at a biglaw lit powerhouse known for lean staffing

Any examples of firms like that that come to mind? Not OP but clerk with similar concerns about generic biglaw firms.

Firms like Munger come to mind, and you can probably find other similar firms using the proxy of Partner:Associate ratio (aka "leverage") on Chambers. (But to be honest, the level of responsibility at non-boutique biglaw firms varies greatly among associates. If you have the credentials/aptitude, you can get on leanly staffed teams with a lot of responsibility early in your career even at "generic" biglaw firms, you just have to prove yourself to a partner willing to trust you.)

[Anonymous User]

OP here - thanks everyone for your guidance! I forgot to mention I will be about 4 years out of law school if that affects anything.

[Anonymous User]

BLUF: Yes, I'll echo what others have said. You have a shot at the firms you mentioned, especially based on your trial experience, T14, LR and Circuit clerkship. Apply broadly and use your personal/military network. That being said, I can't imagine that COVID has helped the situation.

I did a google search and found some former JAGs at top tier law firms in DC/NY (e.g., Quinn Emanuel, Williams & Connolly, Covington, and Boies Schiller). I would say you have comparable stat. You can find these folks and reach out to them for advice as well.

With your clerkship and 4 years of substantive experience, I think you'd be reasonable asking to come in as a 3rd year (while still emphasizing that you're flexible).

When it comes to advice, I'd say you emphasize your (1) first/second chair trial experience and (2) leadership/teamwork on your cover letter and during your interview. The first one needs little explanation, so I'll focus on the second. When you join a firm as a mid-level, you'll become part of a litigation team. You'll have to work well with first years, providing substantive feedback and guidance, and also with the senior associates and partners above you. The military taught you these skills to work in a chain of command and also to look after your people. At the end of the day, working biglaw hours can be brutal, so they'll ask themselves, "will I enjoy working with this person."

Heard great things about Mololamken (substantive work right away) and Kellogg (interesting work, very busy, and huge clerkship bonus).

Two resources for you and other military members who read this post:

(1) join the JAG Alumni Group on LinkedIn: "Judge Advocate General's Corps Alumni"; and

(2) there's usually a career fair in the Fall around this time in DC for transitioning JAGs. https://www.veteranslegalcareerfair.com. A lot of employers participate, including biglaw firms. But I don't know how COVID has impacted this; hopefully they'll do a virtual one at the very least.