Switch practice groups as a 5th or 6th year? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 4th or 5th year with a pending offer to lateral to a v10. Currently, I'm in a super-niche practice group at a non-ranked firm with a very compressed salary after 1st year, so this would be a huge gain in salary and prestige for me. However, I hate the niche that I practice, and that hate has been growing.

My two options appear to be:

1. Accept the offer and try to lateral again in a year as 5th/6th year and take a hit to my class year (which I have zero issue with).

2. Decline the offer and try to lateral into a desired practice group now, without V10 on my resume. I assume getting a market salary firm would be hard if not impossible without using my niche experience, so I'd be giving up on big law salary potential.

My only concern with #1 is how difficult it is for 5th/6th years to change practice groups. Anyone have any thoughts or experience?

Please don't quote this post.

[Anonymous User]

I’m in a similar position. I’m in a niche practice (comp and benefits), and while I am currently looking to lateral to another firm in the area, I’m not sure I want to keep doing this. The pros of moving are that I’ll have a better firm on my resume. But doing exec comp at a Kirkland/Latham or any of the million other firms hiring for the position would not make me any more marketable for a corporate role at any other V100 firm since that market is saturated with people who already have that experience looking to move.

I think part of this is that I lucked into my position. My grades/credentials are subpar and the only reason I am getting bites is because it’s a really hot area.

Secondly, after getting full market salary and bonus, I don’t know how willing I would be able to take a salary cut on top of class year cut for a corporate position.

Also, lateraling as a 5th/6th year into corporate sounds very rare.

I know none of this is helpful, but I wanted to write here to let you know you’re not alone.

Edit: I’m assuming you’re in an even more niche area given your description, but is your practice adjacent to another practice area?

[Anonymous User]

It’s pretty niche but a subsection of a major practice group. I’ve never seen a listing asking for experience in this niche, but I regularly get recruiters reaching out directly on behalf of firms trying to set something up. With that said, my time is probably limited being so far ahead, as it’s going to grow.

I guess that gives me a third option. I could try and despecialize then transition into a group that’s somewhat related to my current group.

I just know there’s no way I can do this for another 30 years or whatever my career will be. It’s making me resentful, but I’m struggling on the idea of giving up significant money at this point in my life.

Edit: I lucked into this as well. I struck out at OCI and have been carried by this niche ever since.