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I’m a senior litigation associate at a big law firm, and was asked to go on secondment with a big institutional firm client. I was told the client specifically asked for me to fill an in house role for a few months. I said yes, because I didn’t think it would look good to say no. Now I’m beginning to wonder if this is going to hurt my chances for partnership, and/or if the partners agreed to let me go as an indirect way to show me the door. I’m eligible to apply for partner quite soon, and the secondment opportunity has been framed to me as both a good opportunity to go in house if I want it and good for client relations for when/if I’m a partner one day. Should I be concerned I’m being allowed to go on this secondment? A part of me feels paranoid, that if I were truly valued the partners would try to send someone else instead.

I think how it’s been sold to you - good for going in-house, good for client relations as a partner - is pretty reasonable. So I don’t think in a vacuum, going on a secondment means they’re trying to get rid of you. If they want you to stick around long term, it makes sense that they’d want you to have that inside view of the client perspective. And being able to get along without you for a few months isn’t a sign that you’re not truly valued - that’s not a long time, it’s comparable to if you took parental leave.

Plus, if it’s a valued client, it also makes sense that they’d 1) want to do as the client asks, and 2) want to send someone who is competent and will represent the firm well. I know the client asked for you specifically (or at least that’s how it’s being described), but the firm wouldn’t agree to that if they thought you’d make a bad impression.

That said, I don’t know your firm, its practice around this kind of thing (have other partners gone on secondments? Have other associates who’ve gone on secondments been eased out of the firm?), or your track record there. So I can’t say for certain what’s going on in your particular case.

Nonetheless, I don’t think there’s any point in worrying that saying yes has hurt your chances for partnership - if they want you to go b/c they don’t want to make you a partner, you saying no isn’t going to change that. I realize that’s not very reassuring to your concerns about what the secondment means, but I don’t think you should second-guess your decision. Even if this is a way to ease you out the door, I think saying yes and getting experience with that client is still valuable.

If they want to push you out, then saying no to the secondment won't change that. If anything, it might just make things worse. If that's what the partners wanna do, then they're trying to find you a good landing spot with this.

If they don't want to push you out, then this sounds positive and they may see this as a chance to develop you into a key relationship person with the client.

I don't really see a downside of doing this, and the "Maybe this means they don't like me" worry is just not very productive. (Not to say I wouldn't be thinking it in your shoes.)

I am a fellow senior lit associate who is also gearing up for a secondment. I would be very surprised if the firm would put anyone with a major client that they weren't confident would do a good job and represent the firm well. Not to say that it's per se a mark that you'll make partner, but it is definitely a sign that you are held in high regard. A secondment is an investment in you -- you are still getting paid but not billing much, if at all. Most firms aren't going to make that kind of investment in someone unless they see a real chance to get a return on that investment. Hopefully, that looks like you expanding or strengthening the relationship with the client, and upon your return to the firm, bringing in additional business or ensuring the existing business pipeline keeps flowing. At the worst, they figure it will be a great mutual fit and you will one day want to join the client inhouse and also keep sending business to the firm.

The one potential downside of a secondment in the few years before partnership candidacy is that your numbers will obviously be down for that year. The firm will know you did a secondment and in fairness should not hold that against you, but you know how that can go... Good luck and make the most of the opportunity!

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 18, 2024 9:36 am

I am a fellow senior lit associate who is also gearing up for a secondment. I would be very surprised if the firm would put anyone with a major client that they weren't confident would do a good job and represent the firm well. Not to say that it's per se a mark that you'll make partner, but it is definitely a sign that you are held in high regard. A secondment is an investment in you -- you are still getting paid but not billing much, if at all. Most firms aren't going to make that kind of investment in someone unless they see a real chance to get a return on that investment. Hopefully, that looks like you expanding or strengthening the relationship with the client, and upon your return to the firm, bringing in additional business or ensuring the existing business pipeline keeps flowing. At the worst, they figure it will be a great mutual fit and you will one day want to join the client inhouse and also keep sending business to the firm.

this might be going too far in the other direction. The firm can make its investment back and more even if it pushes OP out - by having an alum at the client and sending them back work.

I think it's a neutral sign, based on the limited info given. Neither positive nor negative

jotarokujo wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 18, 2024 10:09 am

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 18, 2024 9:36 am

I am a fellow senior lit associate who is also gearing up for a secondment. I would be very surprised if the firm would put anyone with a major client that they weren't confident would do a good job and represent the firm well. Not to say that it's per se a mark that you'll make partner, but it is definitely a sign that you are held in high regard. A secondment is an investment in you -- you are still getting paid but not billing much, if at all. Most firms aren't going to make that kind of investment in someone unless they see a real chance to get a return on that investment. Hopefully, that looks like you expanding or strengthening the relationship with the client, and upon your return to the firm, bringing in additional business or ensuring the existing business pipeline keeps flowing. At the worst, they figure it will be a great mutual fit and you will one day want to join the client inhouse and also keep sending business to the firm.

this might be going too far in the other direction. The firm can make its investment back and more even if it pushes OP out - by having an alum at the client and sending them back work.

I think it's a neutral sign, based on the limited info given. Neither positive nor negative

Agreed. I've seen it go both ways. I don't think it's anywhere near as positive as the poster above is hoping, but I also don't think it's a negative sign. The negative sign would be if they pushed you to go to it and said it might be a good opportunity. (But even then, is it that negative? Maybe it is in fact a good opportunity?)