Timeline/advice for lateral to boutique/biglaw from DOJ Honors? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hired as an honors attorney in one litigation component (civil) three years ago after an A3 clerkship, transitioned to another (white collar) a year ago. I think I’d like to eventually make the move to defense side work—ideally coming in as counsel. What’s the best way to set myself up for this? Is it a pipe dream to make the move as an eighth-year-plus such that I should do it ASAP and work my way up as a midlevel (or write off the possibility entirely)?