Entering 1st yr associate-Didn't get desired practice group-Should I plan on having to move? Forum

[Anonymous User]

As the title says, I was not given my practice choice preference. I wanted general corporate but was given RE/finance. Obviously, the only thing I can do is make the best of it and try to learn. However, my concerns are more long term. Not crazy about finance group exit options (banks, funds, etc.) But, perhaps the main issue is how the practice area seems to be NYC centric. I would like the more general exposure that corporate seems to get as to make potential future firm moves and geographic moves easier, like if I want to move closer to my family for example or have more flexibility in moving to a smaller shop.
Would appreciate insight or any advice on how to handle seeking a group change and/or how to prepare for a potential move rather earlier than anticipated (as a 1st or 2nd yr) if the group switch doesn't work out. I would love to stay at this firm long term but I also want to take control of my career before it becomes harder to retool etc. Thanks in advance!

[Best]

RE has some good overlap with corporate. Volunteer and stay involved when the RE transactions you have need more general corporate items (for example, some RE groups will hand off the JV agreements, some will do it internally) and try and get as much experience as you can. After a year or two look to move.

[CPA-->JD]

Why don't you try and find a new firm now? I know of at least one person who wanted lit and when told he was doing corporate, just switched firms. I bet it's more common than you think.

[JM14]

RE has some good overlap with corporate. Volunteer and stay involved when the RE transactions you have need more general corporate items (for example, some RE groups will hand off the JV agreements, some will do it internally) and try and get as much experience as you can. After a year or two look to move.

I disagree - the same can be said about Finance w/r/t overlap but if you want general corporate I don't think having been in an RE or Finance group and looking to lateral to general as a 3rd or 4th year (for example) is a good move... I believe your best move is to look to lateral early on with the intent of re-tooling (to general corporate). The earlier you make the move the more willing a firm will be to take you on to re-tool. They'd much rather pay you 205 to train you in general corporate as a first year (because that's what they do with all of their first years essentially) rather than pay you 240/275 to retrain you as a mid-level especially given you won't be bringing mid-level experience in the field. You will be receiving Recruiter emails basically as soon as you start at your firm and you should reach out to 9ne or Two of then and "pick their brain" on your concerns or questions. Not sure where you're starting but you'll probably have to take some "prestige" reduction but not necessarily a pay cut given the market rates being paid by so many of the V100s. I have some lateral experience so feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss.

[Best]

RE has some good overlap with corporate. Volunteer and stay involved when the RE transactions you have need more general corporate items (for example, some RE groups will hand off the JV agreements, some will do it internally) and try and get as much experience as you can. After a year or two look to move.

I disagree - the same can be said about Finance w/r/t overlap but if you want general corporate I don't think having been in an RE or Finance group and looking to lateral to general as a 3rd or 4th year (for example) is a good move... I believe your best move is to look to lateral early on with the intent of re-tooling (to general corporate). The earlier you make the move the more willing a firm will be to take you on to re-tool. They'd much rather pay you 205 to train you in general corporate as a first year (because that's what they do with all of their first years essentially) rather than pay you 240/275 to retrain you as a mid-level especially given you won't be bringing mid-level experience in the field. You will be receiving Recruiter emails basically as soon as you start at your firm and you should reach out to 9ne or Two of then and "pick their brain" on your concerns or questions. Not sure where you're starting but you'll probably have to take some "prestige" reduction but not necessarily a pay cut given the market rates being paid by so many of the V100s. I have some lateral experience so feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss.

I said look to move after a year, not as a mid level.

RE will give you plenty of interview talking points to talk about why you want to move to corporate and your related experience. You probably won't even get reset to a first year and can keep your second year salary. Also no reason you have to take a prestige cut, especially if you don't use a recruiter as a first year.

[Anonymous User]

I think you have you should lateral ASAP. Otherwise, you'll have to spend two to three years working 80-100 hours a week doing something that you don't care about.

If you just want to make a little money, it's OK, but it's still demoralizing -- at least it was in my experience.

Would you be willing to out the firm? Your situation seems common, but maybe it isn't.

[uncle_rico]

You should look to lateral ASAP, starting with firms that you turned down offers from. If you wanted to litigation and got stuck in corporate, this would be an entirely different conversation. However, firms are bending over backwards for associates, including juniors and even first years. Our summers have actually been working unlike past summers and I know of a few people who have lateralled as first years to firms that they otherwise wouldn't have even gotten a second look from during OCI.

Take advantage of the market and just be ready to work your ass off.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for responding I really appreciate your opinions.

I am scheduled to start in September. If i wanted to start looking for other firms rn, how would I go about doing that? I was just notified of the group assignment this past week and have been casually looking at openings at firms but I am also studying for the bar exam so I haven't really dedicated a lot of time to a "search" at the moment. I also am still not sure what the right move is atm, hence my posting here lol.

Many, if not all, of the few firm openings I've looked at in general corporate seem to be for "mid-level" or people with multiple yrs of experience. So I'm guessing there is a better way to find a job than browsing openings in that manner for someone at my experience level or a 1st yr.

Also, should I even attempt a group reassignment? (I do think the firm would be open to it, but I am not really thinking I should bring it up anytime this calendar yr at least?)

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for responding I really appreciate your opinions.

I am scheduled to start in September. If i wanted to start looking for other firms rn, how would I go about doing that? I was just notified of the group assignment this past week and have been casually looking at openings at firms but I am also studying for the bar exam so I haven't really dedicated a lot of time to a "search" at the moment. I also am still not sure what the right move is atm, hence my posting here lol.

Many, if not all, of the few firm openings I've looked at in general corporate seem to be for "mid-level" or people with multiple yrs of experience. So I'm guessing there is a better way to find a job than browsing openings in that manner for someone at my experience level or a 1st yr.

Also, should I even attempt a group reassignment? (I do think the firm would be open to it, but I am not really thinking I should bring it up anytime this calendar yr at least?)

Did you get other offers at OCI? Have friends going to other firms? Would try those first. Otherwise, just email the recruiting contacts. Firms are desperate for corporate bodies, I'm sure you can find something if you have even close to the right profile.

[Anonymous User]

Do you have any friends a little more advanced than you (at other firms) who may know of recruiters you can connect with? An incoming first-year is not usually a hot commodity, but like others have said, if you want to do corporate work and your story is that you got a different group assignment, some firms are frankly bound to be desperate enough for corporate bodies to give you an interview.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah I have some other NY firms I turned down offers at and friends at other places.

It doesn't look weird to firms when someone who is slated to start at a firm in the fall is already reaching out looking to make a switch? Even before having given their assigned group a shot?

Also, how would you go about approaching a firm you previously turned down? lol