Has anyone ever switched from litigation to corporate when they’re a senior associate? I was forced into lit due to need at my first firm and then I was stuck. I don’t really care about making partner any time soon, but I can’t imagine doing this for 30 years. Do I just try to get out and go do something else sort of using my law degree or is there a chance a bigger firm would take on a litigator?

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I switched from litigation to environmental as a senior associate (still in the same firm) for that exact reason. It took some timing and luck, but I am so much happier.

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What area do you specialize in?

They would say business litigation, but really I’m the one who gets stuck with anything a client may need from shareholder dispute, breach of contract, product liability, consumer defense, even municipal. I’d call myself a general litigator.

I was forced into it after the housing market crashed over a decade ago and my life has been a living hell ever since. 🤣

I really don’t know any different. I assumed I’d do real estate but then the housing bubble burst and those jobs didn’t exist. It was either be a prosecutor or do civil litigation. And then I blinked my eyes and 12 years went by and I was dead 💀 inside.

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Ive been wondering this as well. I also got forced into litigation. I’m constantly wondering if I’d like my job more doing transactional work.

Same position and every day I wonder the same thing!

My firm has more than a few partners who made the switch and are very happy with the change. I'm guessing if you talk to partners at your firm they'll accommodate you bc they'd rather keep you to fill a gap rather than use a headhunter. Just be prepared to lose time in terms of making partner, but hopefully you find something that makes for a long and fulfilling career.

Yes. I did, and I’m so happy with the change apart from the much heavier workload. Feel free to message me if you’d like to chat.

The other nice change - there are no “right” or “wrong” answers in corporate. There’s no lying awake at night hoping you didn’t miss a case in your research.

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