Advice please on if I should consider offers for Staff Attorney or Non-Partner track positions.

I have gotten a few calls from BL recruiters and mid-size firms recently asking if I would consider accepting a Staff Attorney or Non-Partner track position until they have a partner track position open up. So far I have turned them down out of concern I might get stuck in that role, but do any of you have advice on if I should reconsider this?

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If you actually want to ascend the ladder, hard pass. It’s just a waste of your time and energy. I’m in big law and staff attorneys are staff attorneys for a reason - they have no interest in promotion, and they get paid slightly less to make up for that. They’re also relegated to crummy assignments sometimes.

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Thank you, thats what I figured.

I would be careful with staff attorney bc from my understanding they get paid a bit less. Non-partner track I think is fine because you can always move to another firm if a partner track position doesn’t open as soon as you’d want. Your next job will not be your last job

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Thank you!

In my experience there’s a huge difference between staff attorneys and “career associates” aka non partner track associates. I would be very weary of staff attorney roles if you want to be on partner track. It’s just a reality that associates and partners often look down on staff attorneys. Career associates are the exact same as typical associates but they get paid less of course. However no one even knows that they’re not partner track so that wouldn’t hurt your partnership chances if you lateral.

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Thank you, I didn't even know there were career associates.

I moved from BigLaw partner track associate to hourly non-partner track attorney at another BigLaw firm and it was the best decision I ever made for my mental health. When billing 40 hours a week I make the same amount I was making as a partner track associate billing 65-70 hours a week. I can turn down or pick up more hours based on what I have going on. The scary part is that I’m only making money if I’m billing, but I’ve yet to run into any issues.

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Thank you!

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