Can you switch practice areas after getting an offer through 3L OCI? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer through 3L recruiting at a V10 for a niche practice area. It's a really great firm (big step up from my V50 this past summer) but they weren't hiring for general corporate, which I was initially aiming for (or maybe I didn't meet their criteria lol). My question is: Can I reasonably expect to request to switch into their corporate department before I start next fall? I had exposure to this specialty practice area at my 2L firm and liked it decently well - but I definitely would prefer to start off in M&A/cap markets/etc. as a junior before deciding on what I want to do long-term. FWIW, I also have a clerkship lined up, starting a year after graduation (think: Bankruptcy/Tax Court). Would it be possible to make the shift after my clerkship (at this same firm - don't want to recruit again haha)?

I know the generic answer will be that it obviously depends on hiring/staffing needs at a particular point in time, which no one can predict, but I'm just curious to hear if anyone has any experience doing this in the past. Are firms generally open to specialists pivoting to the general corporate (or lit) team if you show a "genuine" interest? Thank you!!

[Anonymous User]

Before next fall? No. You were hired by that niche group, that's the group you will start with.

I've also never heard of 3L recruiting for someone with a clerkship lined up, do they know about it?

[Anonymous User]

Before next fall? No. You were hired by that niche group, that's the group you will start with.

I've also never heard of 3L recruiting for someone with a clerkship lined up, do they know about it?

Yeah, they know. And my clerkship is 2023-2024 - not right after graduation.

[Anonymous User]

Got an offer through 3L recruiting at a V10 for a niche practice area. It's a really great firm (big step up from my V50 this past summer) but they weren't hiring for general corporate, which I was initially aiming for (or maybe I didn't meet their criteria lol). My question is: Can I reasonably expect to request to switch into their corporate department before I start next fall? I had exposure to this specialty practice area at my 2L firm and liked it decently well - but I definitely would prefer to start off in M&A/cap markets/etc. as a junior before deciding on what I want to do long-term. FWIW, I also have a clerkship lined up, starting a year after graduation (think: Bankruptcy/Tax Court). Would it be possible to make the shift after my clerkship (at this same firm - don't want to recruit again haha)?

I know the generic answer will be that it obviously depends on hiring/staffing needs at a particular point in time, which no one can predict, but I'm just curious to hear if anyone has any experience doing this in the past. Are firms generally open to specialists pivoting to the general corporate (or lit) team if you show a "genuine" interest? Thank you!!

"niche practice area" + 3L OCI...sounds like ECB lol. You signed up for it, so I doubt they'll let you switch before starting.

[enibs]

It’s unusual to get a 3L offer, particularly when you’re going to be leaving for a clerkship in less than a year after you join. The most logical explanation is that they’re desperate for help in the niche area. Which means, no, you cannot reasonably expect to start in a different practice area from the one you signed up to join.

[Anonymous User]

You can certainly ask but I’ve not heard of 3L hires making the switch. If you have an offer from the v50 for a general corp group, you should seriously considering taking that since it can be difficult to switch practice groups (esp from a niche group? once you start.