BigLaw Practice & State Leg. Concurrently, Flame Right? Forum

[yossarian]

I'm being set up w/ this networking meeting in Atlanta to talk to a biglaw associate about how law firms are happy to let their lawyers run for/serve in state legislature (for states w/ citizen legislatures). This has to be untrue cuz too many hours lost, yeah?

Obv. citizen legislatures more likely to be in secondary markets. Secondary markets function differently, but I'm still not seeing a firm being cool w/ this. Firms have and like state leg partners. But I'm referring to being cool w an associate running.

[rayiner]

I'm being set up w/ this networking meeting in Atlanta to talk to a biglaw associate about how law firms are happy to let their lawyers run for/serve in state legislature (for states w/ citizen legislatures). This has to be untrue cuz too many hours lost, yeah?

Obv. citizen legislatures more likely to be in secondary markets. Secondary markets function differently, but I'm still not seeing a firm being cool w/ this.

I don't know about Atlanta, but in many secondary markets, the local "large" firms are happy to have a legislator on the payroll.

[yossarian]

Right. But after what kind of established commitment? Campaigning is a 35-40hr/week job. leg is 3-5 months/year. I assume they're not gonna be happy to have a junior assoc. jump on that train?

[BVest]

I'm being set up w/ this networking meeting in Atlanta to talk to a biglaw associate about how law firms are happy to let their lawyers run for/serve in state legislature (for states w/ citizen legislatures). This has to be untrue cuz too many hours lost, yeah?

Obv. citizen legislatures more likely to be in secondary markets. Secondary markets function differently, but I'm still not seeing a firm being cool w/ this.

Texas has some. They tend to be partners, but that's because it takes some time in the community (and some personal cash) before you can get elected; not to mention, you need to supplement the $7200/yr Texas legislator salary somehow. The current ones who are Big/TexasBiglaw attorneys that I can think of are

Rafael Anchia - Haynes & Boone
Dan Branch - Winstead
Sarah Davis - Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith

As an aside: Texas also has a rule of civil procedure that provides for a mandatory continuance if one of the attorneys is a legislator and requests the continuance for a proceeding during/near a legislative session. There was a lot of abuse of this (hiring of legislators just to get the continuance) so they've made it discretionary if the legislator is hired later in the process.

[DELG]

I'm being set up w/ this networking meeting in Atlanta to talk to a biglaw associate about how law firms are happy to let their lawyers run for/serve in state legislature (for states w/ citizen legislatures). This has to be untrue cuz too many hours lost, yeah?

Obv. citizen legislatures more likely to be in secondary markets. Secondary markets function differently, but I'm still not seeing a firm being cool w/ this.

Yes, firms are often cool with this.

[mono172000]

It's not clear to me how it works in practice, but from what I've heard firms can be accommodating with that kind of thing. A few of the local officials I've talked to have even expressed that their firm work became significantly more enjoyable after getting elected. Especially for firms with lobbying/govt. relations practices, having someone on the payroll in the legislature can be huge given their access and knowledge. Plus it just looks good on a website. But again, I don't know what the day-to-day looks like for someone in that position. My initial hunch would be that you may experience some kind of pay cut since you'd have to reduce hours, but I also remember reading that Marco Rubio's firm salary increased after he joined the state legislature. So who knows.

[09042014]

(DF TEA PARTYING UP)

[jd20132013]

Not in the least. I know multiple people who have done it. (Not personally, but have had conversations with them at networking/interviews etc)

[yossarian]

But I'm referring to being cool w an associate running.

Earliest I've heard is a 3rd year associate, and he almost got the boot. Seems to be more common around the 7-10 year mark.

And regarding the idea of being at a firm w/ a big gov't relations division. I agree and have had this confirmed by the state leg. lawyers I've talked to. It has to be a firm that has a large stake in the community and a large gov't practice. But it also seems like you can't really do gov't work. It would be too hard to wall your work off from your politics. But, a general litigator at a firm that has a large local gov't relations division is ideal, from what I've gathered anyway.