Paths forward after BigFed job cancelled? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

Last fall I received and accepted an offer from a BigFed agency that has just been rescinded pursuant to the hiring freeze. Working for the federal government had always been my goal, so I'm pretty disappointed in this turn of events and at somewhat of a loss as to what to do next--which is exacerbated since I'm currently in a clerkship set to wrap up in March.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is in the same position, and if so, what are you planning to do instead? Realistically, I think I would probably leave the legal profession rather than get a job in BigLaw, which I'm aware significantly curtails my options lol.

[nealric]

Biglaw can certainly bad, but not every Biglaw job is v10 M&A in NYC. I wouldn't write off all biglaw offices in all cases. No biglaw job is 9-5, but if you find the right gig it can be relatively sane (~50 hours a week most of the time). Not the end of the world for a couple of years if you need a landing spot, and Bigfed will eventually have to hire again.

Boutiques are also an option, but networking is even more important in the boutique world than biglaw. Who you know is everything. Obviously, that's hard for a young grand who doesn't know many people. But try and put yourself out there and set up informational interviews. I'm sure there are some people with great connections who would be willing to spend 30 minutes talking to someone in your position.

[Anonymous User]

I am in a similar position though on the normal clerkship timeline (fall to fall). I never wanted to do biglaw and I am so sad that it seems to be the only realistic option left. My issue is with the work itself (most of which I find unsavory on the big law end, especially in the field of law I was pursuing) and not just the hours/lifestyle. I was set to work for one of the agencies that pays above the GS scale, so the pay increase is not even as big as it will be for almost-DOJ attorneys who have to go into biglaw. Sigh.

[Anonymous User]

I am in a similar position though on the normal clerkship timeline (fall to fall). I never wanted to do biglaw and I am so sad that it seems to be the only realistic option left. My issue is with the work itself (most of which I find unsavory on the big law end, especially in the field of law I was pursuing) and not just the hours/lifestyle. I was set to work for one of the agencies that pays above the GS scale, so the pay increase is not even as big as it will be for almost-DOJ attorneys who have to go into biglaw. Sigh.

You sound like the exact profile to me. Were you going to OCC comptroller treasury? Biglaw feels like the only truly viable option rn…

[SecondArbiter]

You sound like the exact profile to me. Were you going to OCC comptroller treasury?

If so, then that means we have three of the six people would-be OCC hires in this thread, which is an amusing coincidence. I'm glad I posted this, if only for the chance to say "I understand, and I sympathize" to other people going through this exact awful situation.

[Anonymous User]

Hey all,

Last fall I received and accepted an offer from a BigFed agency that has just been rescinded pursuant to the hiring freeze. Working for the federal government had always been my goal, so I'm pretty disappointed in this turn of events and at somewhat of a loss as to what to do next--which is exacerbated since I'm currently in a clerkship set to wrap up in March.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is in the same position, and if so, what are you planning to do instead? Realistically, I think I would probably leave the legal profession rather than get a job in BigLaw, which I'm aware significantly curtails my options lol.

It's hard to answer this without knowing why you'd rather leave the legal profession rather than work in BigLaw. Is it ideological? The hours? The practice group options?

[Anonymous User]

I am in a similar position though on the normal clerkship timeline (fall to fall). I never wanted to do biglaw and I am so sad that it seems to be the only realistic option left. My issue is with the work itself (most of which I find unsavory on the big law end, especially in the field of law I was pursuing) and not just the hours/lifestyle. I was set to work for one of the agencies that pays above the GS scale, so the pay increase is not even as big as it will be for almost-DOJ attorneys who have to go into biglaw. Sigh.

You sound like the exact profile to me. Were you going to OCC comptroller treasury? Biglaw feels like the only truly viable option rn…

Different agency. I think lots of people who had offers revoked are in clerkships now. Can’t imagine that’s a good thing for how judges view the new administration.

[SecondArbiter]

It's hard to answer this without knowing why you'd rather leave the legal profession rather than work in BigLaw. Is it ideological? The hours? The practice group options?

The hours/lifestyle are the biggest issues for me. I have some health issues that are manageable with a normal job that accommodates the occasional sick day, but would probably be incompatible with a 70+ hour per week job.

I did also become a lawyer to do work that has some public utility, but I care more about doing work that's varied and interesting at this point.

[Anonymous User]

OP, maybe consider state government since you don’t seem to care a lot about money?

There are spots with good work-life balance in private practice, but it can be really hard to tell from the outside, especially for a new grad. Another idea is that if you have connections or interest in a smaller jurisdiction, hours are typically much more limited than biglaw, even in private practice.

[Anonymous User]

OP, maybe consider state government since you don’t seem to care a lot about money?

There are spots with good work-life balance in private practice, but it can be really hard to tell from the outside, especially for a new grad. Another idea is that if you have connections or interest in a smaller jurisdiction, hours are typically much more limited than biglaw, even in private practice.

All of the state-level honors programs deadlines have passed