Changing Markets as a Corporate Associate
If you’re a corporate or transactional associate that feels stuck, maybe you need a change - not just of firm, but of location.
Different legal markets in the U.S. can offer different opportunities for corporate associates. Here are some examples on what different legal markets have to offer corporate associates looking to make a lateral move:
The Bay Area - for getting in-house at a tech company. Obviously the Bay Area is most known for its ties to the technology industry, and it’s what drives legal services as well. When I was a career advisor at Harvard Law, one of the most popular long-term career goals was: “I’d like to be in-house at a start up or established tech company like Google.” These types of positions are competitive and increasingly require more and more firm experience. But the best way to lay the ground work is to do company-side work at the firms that are in the tech companies’ backyard.
Boston - for wealth and investment management. At large law firms across the country, lots of private client, wealth and investment management practices have moved to smaller and midsize firms. In “old money” Boston, these practices still exist at some of the most prominent firms in the market. The practices are great for corporate attorneys that like to work directly with clients and enjoy relationship-building.
New York - for being a Big Deal Lawyer. There’s no other legal market in the world that will provide the opportunity to work on big capital markets and M&A deals like New York City. If you enjoy the rush that comes with quick turnarounds and same-day pricing decisions (as well as seeing your name attached to big deal announcements) then New York is the place to be or stay.
Chicago and Atlanta - for working with particular Fortune 500 companies. There are some major Fortune 500 companies based in the Midwest and Southeast. Some companies started there, while others strategically chose their headquarters in these regions for cost and/or tax reasons. When they need help on a major financing, purchase or sale, they look to those big firms in the nearest cities with big legal markets: Chicago and Atlanta.
DC - for being everyone’s financial regulatory expert. If you are a corporate associate that enjoys getting in the weeds and staying up-to-date on federal securities law and other financial regulations, you may need to be a lawyer in the D.C. market. The demand for specialized financial regulatory experts is always high. And lots of firms looks for corporate associates trained on “deal work” who are now looking for a tighter focus.
Your next move as an associate should be one that furthers your long-term career goals.
Ultimately, a physical move may provide you with the best opportunity for long-term career satisfaction as an attorney.