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Not sure about whether better than staying but will your outward facing title be “associate” like everyone else? If yes, then i don’t think it will hurt you.
I know a few ppl who took a “career attorney” job that still listed them as “Associate” publicly. One person transitioned at the firm into partner track and busted ass to do it. The other left used it to spring board to another firm’s partner-track associate position.
Pro
Agree, that title is weird. I would ask to just be called an Associate.
I’ve always been told, why would A firm pay you associate pay if they know your last position was staff attorney (making roughly half an associate salary), so ya that’s how it stains you. But I agree, if you will be listed at the firm as a strait associate, great. If your title looks different it may limit your future employment options.
Pro
My friend was a staff atty at Ropes in their fund group. She lateralled to a different big law firm.
My brother started as a staff attorney at a very large regional firm and made partner 12 years later.
It is very hard to get "promoted" at the same firm but I've heard that prestigious firms do have exit opps.
Pro
So assuming that the prospective firm is a really well regarded firm I would consider staff attorney experience on par with or more favorably than an associate position at a midsize or regional firm.
Pro
As a follow up, having worked at both of these firms i know the level of attention to detail, research, planning, complexity of legal matters is just no comparison and I value that more than a title - esp. for a junior attorney. All hiring panels will know and understand that.
What type/size of firm do you work in currently?
If I understand you properly- this will basically be a staff attorney position, so you wouldn’t be an associate. I have one friend who did fund finance work in biglaw that busted his ass to move from a staff attorney his first year to an associate his 2nd. This is unusual, and he had to work nonstop (think 3000 hrs/ year, paid 90k) to make this work. This was also his first post-grad job so I’m not sure I’d take it if you’re trying to move to an associate/partner track elsewhere and they aren’t willing to even call you an “associate”
I would negotiate that you get to hold yourself out as an associate. If/when you lateral, there will be a background check and they may ask for references and/or confirm your title and dates of employment with HR.