Taking a huge paycut to break into a specialty a bad idea? Forum

[snappeadragon]

Mid-senior commercial lit associate at a market paying Vault ranked firm. I have decent credentials (CCN/Fed Clerkship). I am definitely realizing that if I don't want to make partner or stick around as a super senior associate/counsel (which I have no desire to do), my career prospects as a generalist litigator are basically to go into the government as there are so few in-house litigation positions, and the few that are out there are ridiculously competitive. I also dislike the idea of having to litigate for the rest of my career and am ridiculously burned out as I've been billing ~2400/yr pretty much since COVID started without any end in sight which has given me no time to spend with my husband or 6 month old son.

I've done some employment law and enjoy it and am looking to make a pivot to a biglaw L&E department because I like that the practice has non-litigation aspects and has much better exit options, but most firms seem completely uninterested given my seniority and relative lack of substantive L&E experience. Given this, I've started to apply to more regional non-market paying firms. I really want to break into L&E, but is it crazy of me to take a significant paycut/prestige hit to get that experience? Obviously, I would hopefully have the opportunity to bounce to a bigger shop in a year or two after I've gotten the necessary experience, but is it silly to go to such a firm right now so I can get my foot in the door and get that experience? I don't have any more law school debt and have a good nest egg, so the salary cut wouldn't be that big of a deal for me.

Curious if anyone has done something similar as I'm looking to move fairly soon, as the longer I wait, the harder it'll get for me to make the switch.

[trebekismyhero]

Not crazy at all if it is what you want. Have you done any L&E work to know if you like it? I would say it is worth it either to give you more options since you have no desire to be a litigator.

[Anonymous User]

Apply to Seyfarth Shaw. I work there and we're desperate for people. We don't pay market but pay far more than places like Littler.

[CanadianWolf]

Curious as to whether or not regional, non-market paying firms will want to invest in one who appears to be a flight risk.

[snappeadragon]

Not crazy at all if it is what you want. Have you done any L&E work to know if you like it? I would say it is worth it either to give you more options since you have no desire to be a litigator.

Appreciate the input. I have done a fair bit of L&E work and really enjoyed it.

[snappeadragon]

Apply to Seyfarth Shaw. I work there and we're desperate for people. We don't pay market but pay far more than places like Littler.

Already did, but got rejected

[nixy]

Why would the OP appear to be a flight risk? Presumably they're not going to tell the regional firms that they want to bounce in a couple of years.

[pkeller]

Why would the OP appear to be a flight risk? Presumably they're not going to tell the regional firms that they want to bounce in a couple of years.

The regional firms would question if OP really wants to work there after being in big law. And even if OP does want to work there, they'd question if OP would stay or go back to another big firm eventually (like OP's plan).

I will say it's tough to break into a new area, even If you have some experience with it, at this point in your career. It will also be hard to go back to big law after leaving it--you'll probably experience a class year cut. Are you sure you'd want to do big law in L&E? Sure, you like L&E but that seems like a gamble. You might be better off staying at a regional firm doing L&E--less money and prestige, but better QOL, which seems important to you.

[pkeller]

Curious as to whether or not regional, non-market paying firms will want to invest in one who appears to be a flight risk.

It's a tough sell. I'm sure OP could find one out there, but it is difficult. If you're not from the area and don't have ties, firms are skeptical (especially when you have a T14 degree and are coming from big law). Best bet would be to lean into any regional ties.

[snappeadragon]

Why would the OP appear to be a flight risk? Presumably they're not going to tell the regional firms that they want to bounce in a couple of years.

The regional firms would question if OP really wants to work there after being in big law. And even if OP does want to work there, they'd question if OP would stay or go back to another big firm eventually (like OP's plan).

I will say it's tough to break into a new area, even If you have some experience with it, at this point in your career. It will also be hard to go back to big law after leaving it--you'll probably experience a class year cut. Are you sure you'd want to do big law in L&E? Sure, you like L&E but that seems like a gamble. You might be better off staying at a regional firm doing L&E--less money and prestige, but better QOL, which seems important to you.

Honestly, good points and I'm not totally sold on going back to biglaw at all. I was mostly talking about the potential of going back given the enormous pay gap. The people I've met from these smaller firms all seem far more down to earth and seem to have much more reasonable lifestyles, so that's definitely hugely appealing to me.

[CanadianWolf]

OP wrote:

"I was mostly talking about the potential of going back [to biglaw] given the enormous pay gap."

[nixy]

OP wrote:

"I was mostly talking about the potential of going back [to biglaw] given the enormous pay gap."

But presumably OP would be sensible enough not to tell potential non-biglaw employers this, and they have perfectly convincing reasons for wanting to go to the more regional firms.

[CanadianWolf]

OP wrote:

"I was mostly talking about the potential of going back [to biglaw] given the enormous pay gap."

But presumably OP would be sensible enough not to tell potential non-biglaw employers this, and they have perfectly convincing reasons for wanting to go to the more regional firms.

Of course, a job applicant in this situation should not suggest a possible return to biglaw, but regional firms are savvy enough to consider the possibility.