How Many of You Are Planning to Quit After You Get This Bonus? Forum

[Anonymous User]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

Just be normal and give two weeks notice and work like a normal associate until you have about 3 days left, at which point you start saying your goodbyes and cleaning out your office. Don't be the junior or mid-level associate that gives notice and checks out on the senior associate leaving them completely effed for two weeks. Having been the senior in this situation, nothing is more inconsiderate and unprofessional.

I wouldn't do that, but I have seen people take more than two weeks at my firm and they've coasted during the last (additional) week or two, which is attractive to me. The new firm is very flexible with start date, and I'd ideally like some time on my current's firm dime to recharge during a lengthier notice period (without leaving my teams in the lurch).

[Anonymous User]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

V10 M&A annon above leaving once bonus's are paid.

Here is my plan based on what I have seen from others that have left over the years:

1. I will give my 2 weeks (no more - 2 weeks is standard and more than enough) on the Friday after bonus $ hits my account (no chance of a reneg / claw back).

2. I will work to transition my matters / bring people up to speed for ~ 10 days. I am NOT working past business hours unless necessary to save someone I like an all nighter. I am leaving as an associate - any failure to hire sufficient cover is not my fault/problem.

3. Be available and very helpful answering questions / forwarding info to whoever will be taking over my matters until ~48 hours before my last day. Past that point, the firm's in ability to plan is not my problem. If there is some institutional knowledge I have that has not been tapped... you hade ~11+ days at this point, I am not that sympathetic.

4. Clean out my office / turn in my materials (last 2-3 days).

5. Drink heavily because I don't need to be sober to work (last week? maybe this should be #4).

6. Turn my computer in an delete my email off my phone knowing that the "firm" will figure it out and go on without me.

7. Engy my 2 week break between jobs.

8. Start new job and hope like hell I didn't make the worst mistake since I enrolled in law school at the end of 2011 for the class of 2015 (if I sound jaded, it is because I am. This profession is low-key total BS and law school/the bar are antiquated gate keeping mechanisms that could be reformed/eliminated materially with no drop off in quality of attorney representation in most material respects.

[Anonymous User]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

Just be normal and give two weeks notice and work like a normal associate until you have about 3 days left, at which point you start saying your goodbyes and cleaning out your office. Don't be the junior or mid-level associate that gives notice and checks out on the senior associate leaving them completely effed for two weeks. Having been the senior in this situation, nothing is more inconsiderate and unprofessional.

I wouldn't do that, but I have seen people take more than two weeks at my firm and they've coasted during the last (additional) week or two, which is attractive to me. The new firm is very flexible with start date, and I'd ideally like some time on my current's firm dime to recharge during a lengthier notice period (without leaving my teams in the lurch).

2 weeks is normal/plenty. Do enough to not be a dick / screw a jr. associate. If someone asks you to work past reasonable business hours after you give notice, give polite but firm push back in the vein of "LOL no", edited as appropriate.

[jbagelboy]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

V10 M&A annon above leaving once bonus's are paid.

Here is my plan based on what I have seen from others that have left over the years:

1. I will give my 2 weeks (no more - 2 weeks is standard and more than enough) on the Friday after bonus $ hits my account (no chance of a reneg / claw back).

2. I will work to transition my matters / bring people up to speed for ~ 10 days. I am NOT working past business hours unless necessary to save someone I like an all nighter. I am leaving as an associate - any failure to hire sufficient cover is not my fault/problem.

3. Be available and very helpful answering questions / forwarding info to whoever will be taking over my matters until ~48 hours before my last day. Past that point, the firm's in ability to plan is not my problem. If there is some institutional knowledge I have that has not been tapped... you hade ~11+ days at this point, I am not that sympathetic.

4. Clean out my office / turn in my materials (last 2-3 days).

5. Drink heavily because I don't need to be sober to work (last week? maybe this should be #4).

6. Turn my computer in an delete my email off my phone knowing that the "firm" will figure it out and go on without me.

7. Engy my 2 week break between jobs.

8. Start new job and hope like hell I didn't make the worst mistake since I enrolled in law school at the end of 2011 for the class of 2015 (if I sound jaded, it is because I am. This profession is low-key total BS and law school/the bar are antiquated gate keeping mechanisms that could be reformed/eliminated materially with no drop off in quality of attorney representation in most material respects.

Seriously, take more than two weeks. You won’t regret it.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

[Anonymous User]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

V10 M&A annon above leaving once bonus's are paid.

Here is my plan based on what I have seen from others that have left over the years:

1. I will give my 2 weeks (no more - 2 weeks is standard and more than enough) on the Friday after bonus $ hits my account (no chance of a reneg / claw back).

2. I will work to transition my matters / bring people up to speed for ~ 10 days. I am NOT working past business hours unless necessary to save someone I like an all nighter. I am leaving as an associate - any failure to hire sufficient cover is not my fault/problem.

3. Be available and very helpful answering questions / forwarding info to whoever will be taking over my matters until ~48 hours before my last day. Past that point, the firm's in ability to plan is not my problem. If there is some institutional knowledge I have that has not been tapped... you hade ~11+ days at this point, I am not that sympathetic.

4. Clean out my office / turn in my materials (last 2-3 days).

5. Drink heavily because I don't need to be sober to work (last week? maybe this should be #4).

6. Turn my computer in an delete my email off my phone knowing that the "firm" will figure it out and go on without me.

7. Engy my 2 week break between jobs.

8. Start new job and hope like hell I didn't make the worst mistake since I enrolled in law school at the end of 2011 for the class of 2015 (if I sound jaded, it is because I am. This profession is low-key total BS and law school/the bar are antiquated gate keeping mechanisms that could be reformed/eliminated materially with no drop off in quality of attorney representation in most material respects.

This is all perfect, and the best part is that your typos make it seem like you've already started drinking.

[Anonymous User]

What’s the usual range of notice periods? I assume two weeks is both acceptable and also on the shorter end? How long can folks stretch this out?

V10 M&A annon above leaving once bonus's are paid.

Here is my plan based on what I have seen from others that have left over the years:

1. I will give my 2 weeks (no more - 2 weeks is standard and more than enough) on the Friday after bonus $ hits my account (no chance of a reneg / claw back).

2. I will work to transition my matters / bring people up to speed for ~ 10 days. I am NOT working past business hours unless necessary to save someone I like an all nighter. I am leaving as an associate - any failure to hire sufficient cover is not my fault/problem.

3. Be available and very helpful answering questions / forwarding info to whoever will be taking over my matters until ~48 hours before my last day. Past that point, the firm's in ability to plan is not my problem. If there is some institutional knowledge I have that has not been tapped... you hade ~11+ days at this point, I am not that sympathetic.

4. Clean out my office / turn in my materials (last 2-3 days).

5. Drink heavily because I don't need to be sober to work (last week? maybe this should be #4).

6. Turn my computer in an delete my email off my phone knowing that the "firm" will figure it out and go on without me.

7. Engy my 2 week break between jobs.

8. Start new job and hope like hell I didn't make the worst mistake since I enrolled in law school at the end of 2011 for the class of 2015 (if I sound jaded, it is because I am. This profession is low-key total BS and law school/the bar are antiquated gate keeping mechanisms that could be reformed/eliminated materially with no drop off in quality of attorney representation in most material respects.

This is all perfect, and the best part is that your typos make it seem like you've already started drinking.

You're not wrong.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

Following on this, anyone else having the same experience? I am a 5th year M&A associate from v10 trying to get something in a secondary market and have been shocked how hard it is to land something. Wonder if I am just doing something way wrong.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

Following on this, anyone else having the same experience? I am a 5th year M&A associate from v10 trying to get something in a secondary market and have been shocked how hard it is to land something. Wonder if I am just doing something way wrong.

I'm basically same stats. I was in a similar situation (granted a couple months ago), so I started searching for positions that were specifically listed as "fully remote" and that generated a lot of options. Now I'm living in my secondary but the office is technically in SF. Obviously you have to be willing to be fully remote though.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

Following on this, anyone else having the same experience? I am a 5th year M&A associate from v10 trying to get something in a secondary market and have been shocked how hard it is to land something. Wonder if I am just doing something way wrong.

I'm basically same stats. I was in a similar situation (granted a couple months ago), so I started searching for positions that were specifically listed as "fully remote" and that generated a lot of options. Now I'm living in my secondary but the office is technically in SF. Obviously you have to be willing to be fully remote though.

I'm getting less traction on the fully remote positions than fully/hybrid on-site positions in both major and secondary markets.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

corp or lit? If corp, I would be surprised to hear you have difficulty landing anything just given deal volume.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning to quit, but in-house market is insanely competitive right now so my chances of departing after the direct deposit hits are rapidly dwindling.

corp or lit? If corp, I would be surprised to hear you have difficulty landing anything just given deal volume.

lit. if I was corp I would have gone in-house two bonuses ago.

[Anonymous User]

I’m still on the junior side for in house as a litigator (c/o 2017) but I have good credentials and have applied to openings asking for experience within my range. Haven’t gotten even one initial interview - submitted maybe 20 applications (all I could find open to c/o 17s). Lit in house is brutal. Focusing on moving to a boutique now instead

[Anonymous User]

I’m still on the junior side for in house as a litigator (c/o 2017) but I have good credentials and have applied to openings asking for experience within my range. Haven’t gotten even one initial interview - submitted maybe 20 applications (all I could find open to c/o 17s). Lit in house is brutal. Focusing on moving to a boutique now instead

Several senior comm lit associates posted above about applying to 45, 100, and even 300 in house positions.

[Anonymous User]

I’m still on the junior side for in house as a litigator (c/o 2017) but I have good credentials and have applied to openings asking for experience within my range. Haven’t gotten even one initial interview - submitted maybe 20 applications (all I could find open to c/o 17s). Lit in house is brutal. Focusing on moving to a boutique now instead

Good luck, but don’t count the “lit boutique” route as a panacea unless you really like what you do

I don’t know what the “answer” is for burned out litigators, but from personal experience, the boutique move (assuming we are talking about the main-line national lit boutiques usually discussed on TLS) doesn’t lead to a better quality of life

[Anonymous User]

I’m still on the junior side for in house as a litigator (c/o 2017) but I have good credentials and have applied to openings asking for experience within my range. Haven’t gotten even one initial interview - submitted maybe 20 applications (all I could find open to c/o 17s). Lit in house is brutal. Focusing on moving to a boutique now instead

Good luck, but don’t count the “lit boutique” route as a panacea unless you really like what you do

I don’t know what the “answer” is for burned out litigators, but from personal experience, the boutique move (assuming we are talking about the main-line national lit boutiques usually discussed on TLS) doesn’t lead to a better quality of life

The answer is we need a good recession to slow the work down. That's what I'm praying for, anyway. We can't staff cases, can't keep paralegals, and have so many trials that people are rejecting them. I need clients to stop being willing to pay for us, or we need to raise rates. But it's totally ridiculous and even people making $15 million are miserable since they don't have time to spend it.

Anon because past posts probably reveal my firm.

[Anonymous User]

I’m still on the junior side for in house as a litigator (c/o 2017) but I have good credentials and have applied to openings asking for experience within my range. Haven’t gotten even one initial interview - submitted maybe 20 applications (all I could find open to c/o 17s). Lit in house is brutal. Focusing on moving to a boutique now instead

Good luck, but don’t count the “lit boutique” route as a panacea unless you really like what you do

I don’t know what the “answer” is for burned out litigators, but from personal experience, the boutique move (assuming we are talking about the main-line national lit boutiques usually discussed on TLS) doesn’t lead to a better quality of life

Thanks. I'm being very picky about my next move, although I am learning that most firms that are still "sophisticated" come with a pay cut that's bigger than an expected hours cut. But it's just a question of how much I value the very top few hundred hours a year at.

I think I am learning that being a firm litigator will never allow me the lifestyle that I want, so I'm going to have to go in house or government eventually (outside chance at making a move to lit-adjacent regulatory). Being at a law firm is never going to be a "put your phone/laptop down at 5:30 on Friday and pick it up at 8:30 on Monday at least 48 weekends a year" kind of a job.

[Anonymous User]

Deleted. Weird world.

[thisismytlsuername]

I thought biglaw associates would be quitting in droves on January 1 for $500k 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs unless the bonus scale doubled. Where are you all?!

[Anonymous User]

Immediate post-bonus quitter senior going in house for a small pay cut checking in here. I’m sure there are others who have quit that haven’t posted yet.

[Anonymous User]

Immediate post-bonus lateral moving from NYC firm that was stingy with bonuses to a different firm checking in.

[EliteFlyer]

I thought biglaw associates would be quitting in droves on January 1 for $500k 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs unless the bonus scale doubled. Where are you all?!

Where are these $500K 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs you speak of?

[Sackboy]

I thought biglaw associates would be quitting in droves on January 1 for $500k 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs unless the bonus scale doubled. Where are you all?!

Where are these $500K 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs you speak of?

OP is making fun of the anonymous posters who alluded to the fact that they were jumping ship to greener pastures to only show up post-bonus with deafening silence.

[Anonymous User]

I thought biglaw associates would be quitting in droves on January 1 for $500k 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs unless the bonus scale doubled. Where are you all?!

Where are these $500K 11-4 permanent WFH in-house jobs you speak of?

I have two of these. Pretty chill to make a cool million working less than I did in big law. I just work from 11am-4pm, live my life, then work from 11pm-4am, then sleep and repeat.