Can one be overqualified for an associate position by years of experience? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Or is that not a thing?
(in accordance with the job description have more years of experience than asked for)

[The Lsat Airbender]

Yes. A lateral opening for a midlevel associate probably won't be a good fit for someone with 15 years of legal experience, for several reasons.

[Anonymous User]

I have occasionally seen people with multiple years of legal experience (like 10) appear to "start over" as an associate at a firm, but usually with no prior firm experience (so coming over from state government or the like). But it's possible these firms may have had really long associate tracks as well. Also, full disclosure, this has primarily been in local firms (good ones, in small markets without a lot of national big law, but it may just be a weird quirk of small local firms).

[CanadianWolf]

Might be helpful to consider two different situation:

One in which the applicant has no experience in the practice area (such as earning an LLM in Taxation when all prior experience is in another practice area) and one in which the applicant has too much experience in the practice area.

The first area might result in starting as a low level associate, while the second scenario might result in an Of Counsel position. Of course, both situations might result in a quick rejection letter.

[nealric]

Might be helpful to consider two different situation:

One in which the applicant has no experience in the practice area (such as earning an LLM in Taxation when all prior experience is in another practice area) and one in which the applicant has too much experience in the practice area.

The first area might result in starting as a low level associate, while the second scenario might result in an Of Counsel position. Of course, both situations might result in a quick rejection letter.

There was a career-changer in his late 40s in my LLM class (straight after JD) who ended up an associate at a tax boutique after graduation, so it can happen. But someone who has actually been practicing law for 10+ years is unlikely to be given an associate title.