From Biglaw to Gov to Biglaw again? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

I think your practice area could determine how doable that jump is. Someone with some kind of highly specialized knowledge base would be welcomed back in Big Law if a firm had a need for their expertise. I jumped from Big Law to government in 2021, the hours are amazing. I feel like I get a 2 day vacation every weekend because I get weekends now. I am part of a union, job security is nice especially with a recession looming. The pay cut is very real though, I will definitely weigh going back to the private sector when my loans are forgiven.

[Anonymous User]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

I knew a number of people who did this in regulatory (or enforcement) groups (think like biglaw environmental or pharma--> EPA/FDA --> back to biglaw environmental/pharma). didnt really hear of it much for general commercial lit. but why go back to general lit instead of back to a regulatory group that focuses on whatever agency you would work for, where your experience would actually be valuable.

[Wanderingdrock]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

I knew a number of people who did this in regulatory (or enforcement) groups (think like biglaw environmental or pharma--> EPA/FDA --> back to biglaw environmental/pharma). didnt really hear of it much for general commercial lit. but why go back to general lit instead of back to a regulatory group that focuses on whatever agency you would work for, where your experience would actually be valuable.

Right, especially as a second year I would think you'd have trouble coming back for general lit. If you had 5 years at a biglaw firm and then some government experience, you'd have more flexibility, I think. But with only 2 years at a firm, you'll be relying on your government experience to come back; why would a firm hire you for general lit as a 3rd or 4th year when they could snag a lateral from a firm with more recent and more applicable general lit experience, or train up their first years? If you hope to come back to biglaw, expect to do so in a specialist group based on your government experience.

[Anonymous User]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

I knew a number of people who did this in regulatory (or enforcement) groups (think like biglaw environmental or pharma--> EPA/FDA --> back to biglaw environmental/pharma). didnt really hear of it much for general commercial lit. but why go back to general lit instead of back to a regulatory group that focuses on whatever agency you would work for, where your experience would actually be valuable.

Right, especially as a second year I would think you'd have trouble coming back for general lit. If you had 5 years at a biglaw firm and then some government experience, you'd have more flexibility, I think. But with only 2 years at a firm, you'll be relying on your government experience to come back; why would a firm hire you for general lit as a 3rd or 4th year when they could snag a lateral from a firm with more recent and more applicable general lit experience, or train up their first years? If you hope to come back to biglaw, expect to do so in a specialist group based on your government experience.

Thanks for your comments. The area of law I would want to do with the gov is very specialized and many biglaw firms do not have much (if any) focus on it. That's why I would try to just get into a general group if I were to go back to biglaw. Even if they paid/gave me the seniority of a second year, I'd imagine that salary would be higher than working for the gov.

[Anonymous User]

Your plan doesn't make much sense. Getting a federal job isn't easy, and in fact getting hired at the more specialized agencies can be more difficult since they generally favor candidates with relevant experience. And if you're applying to biglaw lit from the government, you're probably going to have a tough time unless you have solid experience (preferably trials). So it seems like you're potentially trying to make two challenging moves over a short period of time. Why not just stay in biglaw until you're committed to making a long-term move to the federal government?

[Anonymous User]

Your plan doesn't make much sense. Getting a federal job isn't easy, and in fact getting hired at the more specialized agencies can be more difficult since they generally favor candidates with relevant experience. And if you're applying to biglaw lit from the government, you're probably going to have a tough time unless you have solid experience (preferably trials). So it seems like you're potentially trying to make two challenging moves over a short period of time. Why not just stay in biglaw until you're committed to making a long-term move to the federal government?

Not sure if you're at a firm/out of law school, but Biglaw sucks.
I'm only in it for the money and would only return for $.
Does that make sense?

But if anyone else has experience in doing something like this or know someone who has, would love to hear from you.

[sparty99]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

This sounds like a dumb idea. Why don't you just do big law for 2 or 4 more years
And make your money. The firm would only want you a second time if they do the same cases as the government. You already have big law. Might as well plan an exit plan by saving money and getting out of debt. Then when you start the government you will be more relaxed and won't be desperate to go back to big law.

[Sackboy]

Yeah, this plan doesn't really make any sense. Just stick out 4 years, gross your million, and hit the road. Makes zero sense to go biglaw --> Fed Gov't --> biglaw --> leave. If you were a L&E litigator and wanted to go to the EEOC/DOL/NLRB for 5 years, come back as a midlevel/senior L&E associate, and then gun for partner, that would at least make sense.

[Wanderingdrock]

Second year. In biglaw. I'm making ready to apply to some gov positions. (Not one of the fancy agencies. Think EEOC, DOL, DOT). Gameplan is to spend a few years doing that. If I love it, never leave. If I don't, I hope to be able to get back to biglaw and do some type of general commercial lit to make some money for a couple of years then probably leave law entirely.

Has anyone heard of this being done? I know it's easy to go from the DOJ/SEC/FCC back to a firm. But I'm curious as to whether a large firm would want someone who has spent 5 -6 years at an agency not related to general lit (despite doing some litigation).

I wouldn't expect to return as an eighth year. I'd expect if someone wanted to hire me, I'd come in as a 3rd/4th year seniority level (if that!).

Thoughts?

I knew a number of people who did this in regulatory (or enforcement) groups (think like biglaw environmental or pharma--> EPA/FDA --> back to biglaw environmental/pharma). didnt really hear of it much for general commercial lit. but why go back to general lit instead of back to a regulatory group that focuses on whatever agency you would work for, where your experience would actually be valuable.

Right, especially as a second year I would think you'd have trouble coming back for general lit. If you had 5 years at a biglaw firm and then some government experience, you'd have more flexibility, I think. But with only 2 years at a firm, you'll be relying on your government experience to come back; why would a firm hire you for general lit as a 3rd or 4th year when they could snag a lateral from a firm with more recent and more applicable general lit experience, or train up their first years? If you hope to come back to biglaw, expect to do so in a specialist group based on your government experience.

Thanks for your comments. The area of law I would want to do with the gov is very specialized and many biglaw firms do not have much (if any) focus on it. That's why I would try to just get into a general group if I were to go back to biglaw. Even if they paid/gave me the seniority of a second year, I'd imagine that salary would be higher than working for the gov.

So, what we're trying to tell you is that you're going to have trouble getting back into biglaw with only 2 years of biglaw experience under your belt, unless your gov't experience lines up well with general lit (e.g., trial experience or at least lots of the right kind of drafting work). As everybody else ITT is saying, your plan seems like a longshot and you're better off sticking it out in biglaw for a couple more years, getting that sweet, sweet midlevel experience, and then heading into the gov't. If you want to come back to biglaw a few years after that, you'll be in a better spot to do it. Different story if you actually spend a long time working in the gov't; then maybe you come back to one of the few firms that has your specialty, and they give you a counsel or junior partner position.