How to network to lateral as a 2nd year Forum

[Anonymous User]

I started last Fall (c/o 2021) at my firm and plan to lateral to a different firm in a different market after hitting the one-year mark.

I'm getting conflicting advice on whether to use a recruiter or not... I don't really know anyone in the market I'm trying to move and not sure how I should approach the process.

Do people generally cold-email people with similar backgrounds at the target firm (law school alumni) and ask for a referral? I'm sure they would have an incentive to make the referral for the bonus.

Also, I think Laterally.com is down? Are there any other reputable websites for biglaw job postings?

[Anonymous User]

I also wasn't sure if I should use a recruiter when I lateraled, but I am ultimately glad that I did. Some of them deal with certain firms on a regular basis and develop relationships with HR teams. They also provide market insight that can be difficult to find yourself (e.g., I received an offer with no signing bonus and my recruiter informed me that he knew that this law firm was giving signing bonuses worth at least $25k to other folks and that I should negotiate one). Find a senior person at Major Lindsey or Lateral Link or some other big lateral shop that has placed people in your target area. Good luck.

[Sackboy]

I also wasn't sure if I should use a recruiter when I lateraled, but I am ultimately glad that I did. Some of them deal with certain firms on a regular basis and develop relationships with HR teams. They also provide market insight that can be difficult to find yourself (e.g., I received an offer with no signing bonus and my recruiter informed me that he knew that this law firm was giving signing bonuses worth at least $25k to other folks and that I should negotiate one). Find a senior person at Major Lindsey or Lateral Link or some other big lateral shop that has placed people in your target area. Good luck.

Agreed. Good recruiters have contacts, have a good sense of how salary increases work/what type of comp to expect (if you're looking at a place like Miami, Philadelphia, etc. and not at one of the few market-paying firms), etc.