How bad is it to renege my 3L offer? Forum

[stressedmuch]

I received a 3L offer at a V30, which I ended up accepting due to its deadline. I recently ended up receiving another offer from a V10, which I am tempted to take. How bad is it to renege the 3L offer that I just accepted?

[Anonymous User]

I think you need to do what you believe is best for you. Ppl may say you’re not acting with integrity but I just don’t think that true at all. This is a personal decision about what is best for your life.

This whole process is flawed. For you to be punished for reneging in anyway sounds like radical injustice to me.

Look, with how hot the market is right now, there will probably be a lot of this.

[LittleRedCorvette]

I received a 3L offer at a V30, which I ended up accepting due to its deadline. I recently ended up receiving another offer from a V10, which I am tempted to take. How bad is it to renege the 3L offer that I just accepted?

The worst that I can see happening is you might not be able to work at that V30 for a few years. Turnover is insane right now (and nobody seems to care to fix it), so the folks you "piss off" (which probably they won't even care) likely won't even be there should you be in the lateral market in a few years.

[Pneumonia]

It is not bad at all and you shouldn’t feel bad for doing it.

[Anonymous User]

The firm would not hesitate to renege if it needed or wanted to. Don't feel bad and do it.

[Anonymous User]

No need to tell the first firm where you’re going. That’s not their business.

[Anonymous User]

No need to tell the first firm where you’re going. That’s not their business.

Agree with all the above.

I reneged on an accepted offer in May of my 3L year to go to a better firm. I called the hiring partner and told her that this was a tough decision but that I had decided to pursue another opportunity. It was definitely an uncomfortable phone call, but she took it well and the call was over in under 2 minutes. Haven't regretted it since. Do what you have to do and don't look back.

[Anonymous User]

what if the firm knows which firm i am going to? also, would it be worse since i found out about the position i was extended initially from a partner who was an alum and had checked in a few times during the process?

[Anonymous User]

Out of curiosity what do you think your new firm would have done had they found out you reneged on another offer? Not cared?

[stressedmuch]

i am not sure. i feel like the new firm would def care but they're in two diff locations albeit same state.

[jotarokujo]

yeah this isn't a clerkship, it's fine to renege there is actually no reason to think it wouldn't be fine, unlike with a clerkship

[Anonymous User]

I'm going to go against the grain a bit and say it's bad. It could be bad without anyone really caring. It may not have any negative repercussions—in fact, it probably will not have any negative repercussions. But it also could. So I would take anyone telling you that it is fine to do this with a grain of salt.

A lot could depend on the size of the market you're in — if it's a smaller city or practice area, I think your reputation could be tarnished a bit.

Just wanted to caution that this is not a risk-free enterprise. That being said, it's also true that law firms would renege on you if they had to. So do it if it is the right move for you. At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you. But I'd factor in some negative risk to this.

[Anonymous User]

I also don't agree with the growing CW that you should renege. Mainly because here I don't see a pressing need to. You had a market paying, V30 offer. Yet you still continued interviewing, why? Is the glitter of the V10 so much better? I canceled my interviews once I accepted an offer. I thought that was standard.

And while it's true that firms do occasionally Latham people, it's also true that the reputation follows them.

[Anonymous User]

I also don't agree with the growing CW that you should renege. Mainly because here I don't see a pressing need to. You had a market paying, V30 offer. Yet you still continued interviewing, why? Is the glitter of the V10 so much better? I canceled my interviews once I accepted an offer. I thought that was standard.

And while it's true that firms do occasionally Latham people, it's also true that the reputation follows them.

I agree it is weird that OP continued to interview after accepting an offer (unless the exploding offer came with a tight deadline), but there could be some very real differences between the two firms (e.g., practice groups or personalities), regardless of pay or Vault.

[Pneumonia]

i am not sure. i feel like the new firm would def care but they're in two diff locations albeit same state.

Why do you think the new firm would care? The market is insanely hot right now. Firms really love to cultivate the impression that loyalty is important and that you owe them something for extending you an offer, or at least most firms don't to anything to dispel that false notion. It is something you have to actively reject. Because I promise no partner will every be sitting around a table questioning whehter loyalty is enough to keep you employed when work has dried up or if they otherwise don't like you. Partners at the old firm may be sad to have lost you, or irritated at the situation in general, but at the end of the day they understand and they would do the same thing--and indeed they do, lateralling all the time after promising their fellow partners that they won't.

"Reneging" on an offer in these circumstances is basically doing a pre-employment lateral, and of course lateraling is common and accepted. If anything, the old firm would prefer you leave now rather than 6 or 12 months in. This timing at least gives them a chance to look for someone else.

Do your best not to burn the bridge with the old firm and you'll be fine. Anyone lawyer trying to tarnish your reputation on the basis that you reneged on an offer would be laughed at to be honest. That just isn't how it works. As long as you do your best to communicate clearly, no harm done. You may even find the old firm targeting you to lateral in a few years. That happens all the time.

ALSO--from your post it appears that you did not even summer at this firm, in which case the answer here is even easier. You owe the old firm absolutely nothing. They tried to hire you, but you got a better offer 12+ months before you would even begin. Reneging qua reneging should play no role in your decision (although I agree with the previous poster that not every v10 gig is automatically better than every v30 gig).

[DiligentSage]

i am not sure. i feel like the new firm would def care but they're in two diff locations albeit same state.

Why do you think the new firm would care? The market is insanely hot right now. Firms really love to cultivate the impression that loyalty is important and that you owe them something for extending you an offer, or at least most firms don't to anything to dispel that false notion. It is something you have to actively reject. Because I promise no partner will every be sitting around a table questioning whehter loyalty is enough to keep you employed when work has dried up or if they otherwise don't like you. Partners at the old firm may be sad to have lost you, or irritated at the situation in general, but at the end of the day they understand and they would do the same thing--and indeed they do, lateralling all the time after promising their fellow partners that they won't.

"Reneging" on an offer in these circumstances is basically doing a pre-employment lateral, and of course lateraling is common and accepted. If anything, the old firm would prefer you leave now rather than 6 or 12 months in. This timing at least gives them a chance to look for someone else.

Do your best not to burn the bridge with the old firm and you'll be fine. Anyone lawyer trying to tarnish your reputation on the basis that you reneged on an offer would be laughed at to be honest. That just isn't how it works. As long as you do your best to communicate clearly, no harm done. You may even find the old firm targeting you to lateral in a few years. That happens all the time.

ALSO--from your post it appears that you did not even summer at this firm, in which case the answer here is even easier. You owe the old firm absolutely nothing. They tried to hire you, but you got a better offer 12+ months before you would even begin. Reneging qua reneging should play no role in your decision (although I agree with the previous poster that not every v10 gig is automatically better than every v30 gig).

This all the way. Notwithstanding that we need more info to make a call on V10 vs. V30 (what practice group, location, etc.), the notion that there would be blowback for reneging is almost entirely wrong. If the V10 is better choice, then just do it.

[12YrsAnAssociate]

I backed out on a post-clerkship offer I had accepted at one of the top plaintiff's firms in the country. I gave the firm like 1 weeks notice that I wasn't coming, and I instead went to traditional biglaw firm. I felt really shitty about it, but also that although I liked the people, I wouldn't really fit in there for various reasons not worth discussing here. This was like 10 years ago. I looked at the firm's website and none of the people I interviewed with are still at the firm. Not even the partners. So the moral is that none of this matters man. Whether you go to the v10 or v30, you're probably going to leave within a few years and within a few years after that everyone you knew at the firm will also be gone. Go wherever you think will put you in the best position in life. Tell everyone at the other firm that you're sorry. Give them a palatable reason for why you're not coming so they have something to say if someone asks, and don't ever look back because either way there will be days when your job sucks no matter which firm you go to.

[Anonymous User]

Do you have any leverage as a 3L to go back to your summer firm to match a signing bonus offered by the new firm? Has anyone seen this?

[Anonymous User]

Woah - what kind of signing bonus did you get as a 3L?

[Anonymous User]

Woah - what kind of signing bonus did you get as a 3L?

I don't want to out myself, but enough to make me consider switching haha. Any advice?

[Anonymous User]

Woah - what kind of signing bonus did you get as a 3L?

I don't want to out myself, but enough to make me consider switching haha. Any advice?

Wow. Unprecedented. Congrats. What's the firm V range?
I do think you can leverage. But don't go back to your summer firm asking for more money. Just make up a reason for why you were interviewing with other firms but why you still would like to work with them if they match. Sound genuine. I guess it's not easy to pull it off but it's a big career decision. Don't give up easily.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, both are v10’s. Do you think there is a risk my original firm pulls that offer (which I’ve already accepted) or otherwise develops hard feelings that would be a detriment to me if I decide to go back there?

[enibs]

Thanks, both are v10’s. Do you think there is a risk my original firm pulls that offer (which I’ve already accepted) or otherwise develops hard feelings that would be a detriment to me if I decide to go back there?

Just so I have this straight, you accepted a V10 offer where you were a summer associate, you then interviewed with another V10 firm that gave you an offer with a signing bonus, and now you want to leverage that into asking for more money from the first firm? Seems like a very high risk strategy. It’s unlikely the first firm will give you more money - how could they do that without giving more to your fellow summers who have accepted their offers too, which they’re not going to do. And while I don’t think they would pull your offer if you decide you want to go there anyway, there is a high likelihood that at a minimum you’ll rub some people the wrong way. You should decide whether the signing bonus is worth your reneging and joining the second firm. If so, do it - I agree with others in this thread that doing so is a relatively lower risk. If not, just stay with the first firm and don’t ask them for more money.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks, both are v10’s. Do you think there is a risk my original firm pulls that offer (which I’ve already accepted) or otherwise develops hard feelings that would be a detriment to me if I decide to go back there?

Just so I have this straight, you accepted a V10 offer where you were a summer associate, you then interviewed with another V10 firm that gave you an offer with a signing bonus, and now you want to leverage that into asking for more money from the first firm? Seems like a very high risk strategy. It’s unlikely the first firm will give you more money - how could they do that without giving more to your fellow summers who have accepted their offers too, which they’re not going to do. And while I don’t think they would pull your offer if you decide you want to go there anyway, there is a high likelihood that at a minimum you’ll rub some people the wrong way. You should decide whether the signing bonus is worth your reneging and joining the second firm. If so, do it - I agree with others in this thread that doing so is a relatively lower risk. If not, just stay with the first firm and don’t ask them for more money.

Yep, that's the picture. Is it any different if a class year bump is also on the table at the new firm? I didn't mention it at first to try to stay as anon as possible, but I have no idea what to do. If the first firm would just match the bump and not the bonus I'd definitely stay.

[LBJ's Hair]

Just so I have this straight, you accepted a V10 offer where you were a summer associate, you then interviewed with another V10 firm that gave you an offer with a signing bonus, and now you want to leverage that into asking for more money from the first firm? Seems like a very high risk strategy. It’s unlikely the first firm will give you more money - how could they do that without giving more to your fellow summers who have accepted their offers too, which they’re not going to do. And while I don’t think they would pull your offer if you decide you want to go there anyway, there is a high likelihood that at a minimum you’ll rub some people the wrong way. You should decide whether the signing bonus is worth your reneging and joining the second firm. If so, do it - I agree with others in this thread that doing so is a relatively lower risk. If not, just stay with the first firm and don’t ask them for more money.

Yep, that's the picture. Is it any different if a class year bump is also on the table at the new firm? I didn't mention it at first to try to stay as anon as possible, but I have no idea what to do. If the first firm would just match the bump and not the bonus I'd definitely stay.

forgive my skepticism here but is it actually on the table. if it is you should just take it lmao