Accepting an offer (non-law firm) but renegging before starting Forum

[Anonymous User]

If you accept an offer, say inhouse or government, but later get a better/preferred offer, how do you reneg on the first offer? I mean there's no great way of doing this but due to time constraint and the possibility that the preferred job might not come through, i might have to accept. What's the best approach? What are the consequences?

[Anonymous User]

This happened to me. After I had received and accepted my offer I just called my supervisors and told them the deal. Said I enjoyed working with them. It wasn't a problem; lawyers know that going big law at the beginning of your career is generally what most people want.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I understand law firms generally don't care. My situation is reneging on in house or government positions

[Anonymous User]

I did this years ago. I had struck out at OCI and was supposed to work at the SEC for the summer, then I got a last-minute Summer Associate offer right before finals at a firm in a different market (where I ultimately started as a first-year associate). I called the contact from the SEC and told him that I appreciated the opportunity to work there but that my ultimate goal was to work for a private law firm. He was nice about it, and there have been zero consequences since. Maybe I’m blacklisted from working for the SEC in the future, but I’m in a different practice area anyway.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I understand law firms generally don't care. My situation is reneging on in house or government positions

Yes I'm the second poster. I struck out at OCI and got a summer gig in-house and they gave me an offer which I accepted, but a few months later I got a big law offer and reneged. They understood. Literally my supervisor chuckled and said "haha I know they pay more" (genuinely, not passive-aggressively). Lawyers know that big law is the most desired outcome for most young attorneys, especially at higher ranked schools (I was at a t14).