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Biglaw lateraling to a new city.

Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:36 am
by holttc12435
Any advice for a TX big law attorney (starting in January) on how to move to either DC or NYC? I graduated with honors from a T-14 and took a job in TX (Dallas, Houston) for family reasons and also because that is where my finance needed to be. The relationship didn't survive quarantine and now I am regretting moving home and not trying for one of my preferred markets (DC or NYC). I understand right now is not the right time to be looking for a new job, but, assuming the market improves, is it possible to make that lateral move one to two years into my career? I am going to a firm with a very large presence in NYC and a smaller one in DC. I am currently slotted into an IP group, but I am hoping to change to general lit or corporate (a disappointing 1L fall meant I had to rely on my engineering background for OCI). Thanks!

Re: Biglaw lateraling to a new city.

Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 4:43 pm
by 12YrsAnAssociate
(1) I saw lots of people move from my former firm's Dallas office to its DC office. It's probably easiest to try to make that move in-firm first.

(2) The firm's DC office definitely took junior associates from other cities and tangentially related groups. The more senior you get, the harder it'll be to change groups. You should also try to get work in your desired group so you can put it on your resume and sell yourself as already having the requisite experience.

(3) I know of lots of people that moved to a DC office a few years in by doing a clerkship. My takeaway is that DC offices appreciate clerkships more than offices in other cities. So think about clerking if you can't find a direct path.