Lateral conflicts check question Forum

[Anonymous User]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

[Wubbles]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

[Anonymous User]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

I already gave notice to my old firm and I told the new firm of my earliest availability. They then scheduled that as my start date, but I haven’t received anything from new firm regarding conflicts.

[Wubbles]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

I already gave notice to my old firm and I told the new firm of my earliest availability. They then scheduled that as my start date, but I haven’t received anything from new firm regarding conflicts.

Well too late for this but you should not have given notice until clearing conflicts, unless you're both okay with (1) the possibility you don't clear and end up completely jobless, or (2) the more likely event that you won't clear for 2 weeks from whenever you submit your conflicts sheet and are temporarily jobless while fearing option 1 might occur. As a second year it took me 3 weeks to clear conflicts for reference.

[Anonymous User]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

I already gave notice to my old firm and I told the new firm of my earliest availability. They then scheduled that as my start date, but I haven’t received anything from new firm regarding conflicts.

Well too late for this but you should not have given notice until clearing conflicts, unless you're both okay with (1) the possibility you don't clear and end up completely jobless, or (2) the more likely event that you won't clear for 2 weeks from whenever you submit your conflicts sheet and are temporarily jobless while fearing option 1 might occur. As a second year it took me 3 weeks to clear conflicts for reference.

I’m now realizing this was a dumb move lol. I guess what triggered me to put in my notice was new firm telling me something like “welcome! Your start date is X date, can’t wait to work with you.” So me not knowing exactly how the process works immediately gave notice to my old firm so I could meet that start date.

[Wubbles]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

I already gave notice to my old firm and I told the new firm of my earliest availability. They then scheduled that as my start date, but I haven’t received anything from new firm regarding conflicts.

Well too late for this but you should not have given notice until clearing conflicts, unless you're both okay with (1) the possibility you don't clear and end up completely jobless, or (2) the more likely event that you won't clear for 2 weeks from whenever you submit your conflicts sheet and are temporarily jobless while fearing option 1 might occur. As a second year it took me 3 weeks to clear conflicts for reference.

I’m now realizing this was a dumb move lol. I guess what triggered me to put in my notice was new firm telling me something like “welcome! Your start date is X date, can’t wait to work with you.” So me not knowing exactly how the process works immediately gave notice to my old firm so I could meet that start date.

Well crossing my fingers for you! A little surprised they didn't tell you not to put in notice yet, both of my laterals I was explicitly told not to put in notice until clearing. I assume this is biglaw to biglaw, right?

[Anonymous User]

Second year lit associate who just accepted an offer and awaiting conflicts/BG check. I filled out info for BG check but the firm hasn’t contacted me regarding conflicts. I am scheduled to start next week and haven’t provided them with any information/case lists because they haven’t asked. This is my first time lateraling and I’m not sure if it’s standard for me to put together a list/basic info, or if the firm will send me something m, or the firm just works directly with my old firm to get the list?

Have you given notice if you're starting next week?

Standard procedure is the firm sends you a spreadsheet to fill in with various information about your matters, it takes them way longer than they initially say, then you finally get approved and can give notice after being completely checked out for weeks only to have another 2 weeks of being checked out. Standard procedure does not involve them reaching out to your firm, as in theory your firm isn't supposed to know you have an offer elsewhere until you clear conflicts. Really sucky process especially if they give you an offer letter than has a tight timeline that gets chewed up by HR and doubly sucks if moving markets

I already gave notice to my old firm and I told the new firm of my earliest availability. They then scheduled that as my start date, but I haven’t received anything from new firm regarding conflicts.

Well too late for this but you should not have given notice until clearing conflicts, unless you're both okay with (1) the possibility you don't clear and end up completely jobless, or (2) the more likely event that you won't clear for 2 weeks from whenever you submit your conflicts sheet and are temporarily jobless while fearing option 1 might occur. As a second year it took me 3 weeks to clear conflicts for reference.

I’m now realizing this was a dumb move lol. I guess what triggered me to put in my notice was new firm telling me something like “welcome! Your start date is X date, can’t wait to work with you.” So me not knowing exactly how the process works immediately gave notice to my old firm so I could meet that start date.

Well crossing my fingers for you! A little surprised they didn't tell you not to put in notice yet, both of my laterals I was explicitly told not to put in notice until clearing. I assume this is biglaw to biglaw, right?

Weird. I specifically told new firm “I’m putting in my notice X date” and they responded with the aforementioned welcome. It’s regional midlaw to satellite biglaw. Appreciate your input!