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From the sounds of it, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take it.
I agree with this. Sounds like a much better alternative.
No regrets. You are a little early but by 5-7 years everyone else will have left. That was my experience. I took a pay cut but got my personal life back and left behind a bunch of toxic people. In my case, the work was better at the midsize firm so it was a total win for me.
Pro
The only reason to stay is if you want to make partner. Otherwise, everyone leaves eventually.
As someone who is lateraling boutique to big law I would say maybe explore a bit what comp looks like over the next few years. It’s easier for them to match early on and harder to do so later on when pay jumps a lot. My firm really dropped the ball entering my 3rd year after matching fairly well early on. It sounds like your boss sucks and mental health is very important so for that reason I’d get it if you moved, but I do think a lot of the rain makers at my boutique benefit from being able to say they had a good chunk of time in big law when they are doing bus dev. (Big law trained, not big law rates). Have you considered a big law firm with better associate reviews? National rankings for being good place to work? I know a lot of it is hot air but some are definitely better than others.
Take this with a grain of salt, I know most people move big law to smaller, but I’m the opposite right now and just wanted to present a different view. I think a lot of times smaller firms work you just as much and pay you less.
For context, I billed 2400 and 2300 both my first and second year at my boutique.
I also went from boutique to big law. In my experience, big law has generally provided more oversight of my career development. While I am moving in house now, I believe I was only able to gain the skill set that allows me to move because there were more opportunities in big law.
That being said, the people at my boutique were so much better/humane. It was a small group feel where everyone knows everyone. I miss that in big law. But it also came with its own negatives. Rude/bad partners were never held accountable because leadership looked the other way. Kind of like when your family member does something really bad, but the whole family brushes it off because hey, we’re family, right? I also worked longer hours at my boutique bc everyone did and that was the group mentality. While it was a grind, a lot of my days at the boutique reminded me of the “fun” parts of 1L - long nights and weekend work sessions, but with a good group of friends to keep you company and help you through it.
For more context I want to leave my current firm because my supervising partner is a nightmare to work for. He’s often rude and doesn’t care about my development and it’s really effecting my mental health. Should I take the offer or continue to apply?
A1, can’t, or won’t?
Chief
Yes, people can regret it. Pay match is easy for a 2nd year but doesn’t keep up and bonuses definitely won’t. Your training may not be as good since you’re not surrounded by the heavy hitters in the field and getting the biggest most complicated deals (not that midsize firms can’t have smart people and cool deals too, just saying on average). Your exit options (in-house, govt etc) won’t be as good. What are required billables? Every firm trots out nice people for interviews, it doesn’t mean the overall culture is perfect.
Not saying don’t take it, but take any midsize firm with a grain of salt. It’s not a magic cure. It’s still a law firm, expectations can still be intense, there may still be assholes, lower pay, and you’ll have less resources (may not have 24/7 word processing and support staff), may not have perks like late night dinner and cab reimbursements. Maybe you don’t work late nights anymore so you don’t need that stuff.
On the flip side, maybe it’ll be great and it truly is a lifestyle place and it’s not just the folks who interviewed you who are nice.
Also, if your main issue is asshole partners (as versus the general biglaw complaints of too many hours), there’s definitely biglaw firms that have nicer culture.
Consider all your options! Agree with the majority that it’s easy to match your comp as a 2d year, but you should inquire about the upward trajectory in comp from there.
In my experience:
biglaw = overworked/solid pay
boutique = underpaid/solid WLB
midsized = overworked/ok pay/barely a WLB
I tend to feel that most middle market places work their associates like its biglaw, but provide less oversight/guidance, with a comp that never feels enough.
Boutique is usually around 50 attorneys or lease. Midsized is 50-250 attorneys.
Go
Yes. Sometimes the hours aren’t actually better and there’s less oversight if partners are being bullies.
I support leaving. Imagine becoming partner there and then officially being stuck with that difficult person. Not worth it.
For those asking: current firm requires 2000 hours; midsize is 1950. Current firm also goes black box for comp and bonuses after this year. I’ve heard thru the grapevine that my firm does not pay market bonuses. I should also add the midsized is in the state I’m from and would like to move back to. I have a few pending big law applications out but this was the first offer I have received.
I’ve been applying since January. Using a recruiter and direct applying. This is my first interview and offer
I’ve done it all (boutique, mid-size, and now big law). I was overworked in all 3 categories. The more money I made, the less happy I became, and the worse my bosses became. Not saying that will always be the case, just my own experience.
The key is who is on your team. I don’t mind working hard when I got a good group, but it’s hard to stay motivated when your boss is shit. The partner I work for now is abusive and did serious damage to my mental and physical health after working with him for 2 years. Little by little he broke me. I didn’t even know the extent of the damage until last week when I had a mental break down and told him I am through.
I kept toughing it out, thinking it would get better. It doesn’t. Trust your gut. Toxic partners never change for real (even though they promise they would). They just get new associates when one breaks down.