Lateraling to Midlaw - future exit options? Forum

[Anonymous User]

(Please don't quote)

Hi all. I received an offer to join a mid-size law firm. I've worked at two biglaw firms - the first of which is a V5, where I summered and then worked for as an associate for just over 3 years, and I was laid off from the second firm (which is forcing my hand here). I did M&A at both biglaw firms, and my practice at the midlaw firm would be primarily M&A and a little bit of general corporate work for company clients. From what I can gather, the midlaw firm is not very well known in my large market (but decently respected by the people who have heard of it). They tend to work on much smaller deals, so I'm not super surprised that not too many people in my network have heard of it. My eventual goal is to go in-house after another year or two, preferably to a larger, stable public company (I will not be doing any pubco work at the midlaw firm).

My question is, how much of a hit do I take for in-house exit options by going to the mid-sized firm after having some solid biglaw experience? Another wrinkle is that I would ideally like to move to another market as my next step, where the midlaw firm's name carries zero weight. I'm sure I can play the experience off in future interviews as wanting to expand my M&A/general corporate experience to better prep for an in-house move, but I'm worried about getting interviews in the first place coming from an unheard-of firm. Thanks so much guys.

[Anonymous User]

In 4 answers.

In a similar situation. From what little I've seen, it appears folks who spent their entire career at a lower am law 100 firm have more weight than me who was at v5 and now at midlaw. But I haven't been searching for that long tbh.

[Anonymous User]

Bumping this. Hoping there are at least a few people here that have experience with this.

[Anonymous User]

Trying one more time. Already started at this spot now but hoping to get more clarity, most of the exits I've actually heard about from people actually here were during the 2021 lateral craze.

[2013]

Trying one more time. Already started at this spot now but hoping to get more clarity, most of the exits I've actually heard about from people actually here were during the 2021 lateral craze.

I think the assumption will always be that you were fired from your second biglaw job. If possible, lateral to another biglaw firm in the new market then go in-house.

[trebekismyhero]

Trying one more time. Already started at this spot now but hoping to get more clarity, most of the exits I've actually heard about from people actually here were during the 2021 lateral craze.

I think the assumption will always be that you were fired from your second biglaw job. If possible, lateral to another biglaw firm in the new market then go in-house.

Depends on how long OP worked at their second big law job, if it was at least 2 years then ppl might just think they were trying for more WLB. Also in the current environment, being laid off or fired probably isn't going to affect the way people are viewed since plenty of competent people are getting laid off across many different industries.

OP, I would just start working with recruiters that do in-house now and see what comes up. If nothing comes up in the next year, then yes, agreed best to lateral to a big law firm in your desired market.