How Much Notice to Give in Biglaw Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'll give somewhere between 2-4 weeks, but I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on this and if there's any advantage to more or less notice within that window. I'm leaving my firm for a non-legal job/industry, if that factors in at all.

[Prudent_Jurist]

It needs to be BIG notice for Biglaw or it won’t work. An email won’t do. Send a mariachi band to the relevant person’s address to announce your departure and finish the ordeal with a gripping performance by a mime whose “closed box” routine and subsequent rope escape symbolizes the freedom you feel escaping from the clutches of your current firm.

[Anonymous User]

I'll give somewhere between 2-4 weeks, but I'm curious to hear others' thoughts on this and if there's any advantage to more or less notice within that window. I'm leaving my firm for a non-legal job/industry, if that factors in at all.

I gave three weeks. I emailed my practice group leadership and let them know when my last day would be. Called a few other partners I was close with and did the same.

The benefit is people will stop giving you new work.

[papermateflair]

Two weeks is standard. I wouldn't give more than three weeks because frankly there's not much to do other than wrap up whatever you're working on (no one will give you new work) and lots of places really don't want you hanging around for long after you give notice. Plus it's awkward to stay too long when you are leaving. Since you aren't going to another firm they'll almost certainly let you work out your notice period rather than asking you to pack up quickly, but you should always be prepared when giving notice for that to be your last day (in any industry/job). I've never seen an associate not given their full notice period to transition out (unless they're lateralling with a partner and the partner's clients) but don't give a month of notice if you aren't prepared to lose a month of pay.

[Anonymous User]

Since you aren't going to another firm they'll almost certainly let you work out your notice period rather than asking you to pack up quickly, but you should always be prepared when giving notice for that to be your last day (in any industry/job). I've never seen an associate not given their full notice period to transition out (unless they're lateralling with a partner and the partner's clients) but don't give a month of notice if you aren't prepared to lose a month of pay.

The bolded is the same for me, so I am curious if anyone thinks the first part of this advice is a real concern for a biglaw associate. I've never seen a lateral be pushed out faster than their requested notice period. On the contrary, I've heard of multiple occasions where an associate said that they'd be leaving in two weeks and the partners pushed, prodded, and offered incentives to get them to stick around for even just a couple weeks more.

To the OP's question, give at least two weeks and consider giving more if you want to cruise for the notice period and collect your last two or so biglaw checks. I've seen associates give a month's notice "to allow for sufficient transition" and they've billed 20 hours in their last month.

[papermateflair]

Since you aren't going to another firm they'll almost certainly let you work out your notice period rather than asking you to pack up quickly, but you should always be prepared when giving notice for that to be your last day (in any industry/job). I've never seen an associate not given their full notice period to transition out (unless they're lateralling with a partner and the partner's clients) but don't give a month of notice if you aren't prepared to lose a month of pay.

The bolded is the same for me, so I am curious if anyone thinks the first part of this advice is a real concern for a biglaw associate. I've never seen a lateral be pushed out faster than their requested notice period. On the contrary, I've heard of multiple occasions where an associate said that they'd be leaving in two weeks and the partners pushed, prodded, and offered incentives to get them to stick around for even just a couple weeks more.

To the OP's question, give at least two weeks and consider giving more if you want to cruise for the notice period and collect your last two or so biglaw checks. I've seen associates give a month's notice "to allow for sufficient transition" and they've billed 20 hours in their last month.

No, I agree, I just think that folks shouldn't try and milk as much time as possible without understanding that the day you give notice *could* be your last day. It's a small risk but some folks who are living paycheck to paycheck and can't go a month without pay should be a little more cautious about the timing.

[Anonymous User]

OP. Thanks. That's exactly my consideration/concern. I would like to coast for a bit but on the other hand, while I'm definitely not living to paycheck to paycheck, I don't want to give a month's notice and then get fired and miss out on a month of my salary.

[jotarokujo]

if you want to max coast time just go on vacation 4 weeks before leaving for 2 weeks, then give notice 2 weeks before leaving

[target_corp]

Plus it's awkward to stay too long when you are leaving.

It's real issue-spotting like this that keeps me coming back to TLS.

[kaiser]

When I left, I gave around 3 weeks notice. Most people I know who left gave between 2-3 weeks. Theres never really a need for anything more than that. Though when I told my practice group leader I was taking a job elsewhere, he said I should take as long as I need, and that any period would be fine with him. Seemed to be the case for most.

[Anonymous User]

Since you aren't going to another firm they'll almost certainly let you work out your notice period rather than asking you to pack up quickly, but you should always be prepared when giving notice for that to be your last day (in any industry/job). I've never seen an associate not given their full notice period to transition out (unless they're lateralling with a partner and the partner's clients) but don't give a month of notice if you aren't prepared to lose a month of pay.

The bolded is the same for me, so I am curious if anyone thinks the first part of this advice is a real concern for a biglaw associate. I've never seen a lateral be pushed out faster than their requested notice period. On the contrary, I've heard of multiple occasions where an associate said that they'd be leaving in two weeks and the partners pushed, prodded, and offered incentives to get them to stick around for even just a couple weeks more.

To the OP's question, give at least two weeks and consider giving more if you want to cruise for the notice period and collect your last two or so biglaw checks. I've seen associates give a month's notice "to allow for sufficient transition" and they've billed 20 hours in their last month.

No, I agree, I just think that folks shouldn't try and milk as much time as possible without understanding that the day you give notice *could* be your last day. It's a small risk but some folks who are living paycheck to paycheck and can't go a month without pay should be a little more cautious about the timing.

I’ve seen it happen once where someone was pretty much asked to leave on the spot. And oddly it was over a junior associate that some partners seemed to get real upset about for some reason. He was good - but he was a junior...

I think after the dust settled they realized they acted pretty poorly. Note that it was a lateral to another firm as well. If OP is moving in-house, everyone is incentivized to act like adults on the way out.

[Anonymous User]

How does giving notice actually work in practice? I'm lateraling for the first time and am just waiting for the conflicts check to clear, but expect to give notice as soon as that's wrapped up. Do you just email or call the head of your group or a partner you're close with and they'll get the word to the appropriate folks at the firm for staffing/HR/etc? I've also seen people say they had their last day at my firm but not send out their farewell email/get removed from our website for 2-3 weeks after their "last day." Are they just taking vacation as part of their notice period?