The summer is an excellent time to start strategizing and thinking about a lateral move if you're a BigLaw associate, especially given the slower hiring market.
Here are some things you can do as a BigLaw associate over this summer to set you up for a move later in the new year or going into next year:
Get your materials up to date and in good shape. For a BigLaw lateral submission your recruiter will need an updated resume and a copy of your unofficial law school transcript, and then possibly a representative deals or matters list, a writing sample and unofficial transcripts from your other higher ed institutions. The resume is obviously the most important and you will want to ensure that you are including good amount of detail about your current BigLaw position, especially regarding drafting experience.
Make sure you are getting more of the work that you enjoy. I talk to lots of BigLaw associates that want to retool to a different BigLaw practice. This is not easy to do. However, to the extent you can obtain exposure to more interesting work at your current job, it will be easier to make a move that helps achieve your lateral goals when it comes to practice. For example, a corporate associate may be only working on M&A deals, but their group has been getting busier with SEC advisory and corporate governance work. To the extent the associate is planning a move to a firm where they can get a broader corporate experience, it will make sense to take on assignments in these busier areas to strengthen their candidacy for corporate generalist openings.
Consider whether geographic relocation makes sense and when. Maybe you are working in a city that you and your family did not plan on living in forever. If you are thinking about a geographic relocation in the future, there are important steps to take to make this type of move easier. First, what steps do you need to take to get admitted to the bar in the state to which you want to relocate? Can you get admitted via a score transfer? Admission by motion? Or will a new bar exam be necessary. (The National Conference of Bar Examiners has jurisdiction-specific information to answer these questions.) Second, you might need to shift your practice at your current firm or work to get assignments in practice areas that are larger or more popular in your target geographic destination.
Enhance your professional online presence: Update your LinkedIn profile and other professional social media accounts to reflect your current experience. Make sure to include descriptions about your work product as well as community activities and volunteer work that may be relevant. Start connecting with friends, colleagues and fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Follow the accounts of LinkedIn posters who share updates on opportunities and the market in general.
Network within your own firm: Take advantage of the summer months to build stronger relationships with partners and associate colleague. Some of the best advice for next steps in your career as a lawyer come from the people with whom you work for and with. With your closer co-workers, express your interest in new opportunities and seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support for your career goals.
Start talking to recruiters and industry professionals. Even if the timing is not right for a BigLaw lateral move this summer, it makes sense to start having conversations with recruiters and industry professionals. When BigLaw associates who are considering a lateral move reach out to me, I provide tailored and specific advice regarding what they can do to set themselves up for success.
If you or someone you know needs advice on making a lateral move, feel free to schedule a career advising appointment with me at calendly.com/gridline to explore potential opportunities and career pathways tailored to your goals and aspirations.
