How to find laterals that left your firm Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'll be a summer associate at a V10 and I'm interested in the perspectives of people that have left the firm.

What are the best ways to search for these people on linkedin? Or elsewhere?

Is it a bad idea to try to talk to people prior to the summer? I don't feel I'm doing anything inappropriate but at this point, I'm not choosing between two or more firms, so it might come off as me trying to get dirt on a particular firm. Not sure. If I do reach out to people, how would you recommend framing the email?

[papermateflair]

My gut reaction is you should absolutely not do this. Maybe if you're friends with someone or otherwise really well acquainted with someone who left - for example, if you interviewed multiple times with someone and have some sort of connection (maybe chatted a few times after interviews), catching up with them and finding out about their new role isn't a terrible thing to do. But if you're not choosing between two firms, what is the point of talking to people who have left? Would you go out on the 3L job market looking for a different firm? At this point, you're looking to secure employment, and if things don't work out at the V10, you can lateral elsewhere. What would you be trying to learn that you can't learn from another associate who is at the firm while you're a summer associate?

Personally, as someone who has lateralled, if a summer associate at my old firm reached out to me and asked why I left, I would probably not engage with them at all, but I would definitely think it was super odd. I've been gone long enough that I probably wouldn't contact any old friends at the firm about it and tell them (I'm not vindictive), but it would depend on how unreasonable the questions were.

[jotarokujo]

i don't think it's as risky as the above is saying, but yeah probably don't cold email anyone who left. go for alums of your law school or undergrad or where there's a connection. i think the information could honestly be useful

[Anonymous User]

You can find them easily on LinkedIn. But every firm has people who left for various reasons. You never know if your experience will match, and you already accepted the summer offer. You'll learn a lot more from just feeling out the vibe for yourself.