Has anyone taken the jump from a big law firm to a small/startup law firm? I’m a third year at a big law firm, but I definitely don’t see myself in big law and recently got an offer for close to my current salary at a new firm that’s about almost two years old. The managing attorney seems to be great and has prior business experience starting/running companies in other industries. The firm seems to be growing and claim to have a waitlist of clients requesting legal services (continued below).

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Go for it. Sounds like a dream come true. Big law pay - boutique culture. Thing is, you try it for a year or two and if you hate it you can always lateral out. You’ll probably get much better substantive experience at the boutique anyway.

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Yeah, I guess I’m weary since it almost seems too good! But the attorneys all said similar things so it seems like a much better place to be in. I guess I’m also concerned with how other big law firms would view my experience at the boutique if I were to decide to try and lateral back to big law? Hard to say definitively, of course, and I could always love it and never go back…

I did it as a fourth year, and was with the new firm from day one. Going on three years now and no regrets. BUT I do think there is truly an exceptional culture and there is real trust among all the attorneys. We are one big practice group with the same clients so our business interests are aligned. If you’re not confident about that then it would be a lot riskier to do

likesmart

That makes sense! I’m confident that the team is all aligned, and I think they all care to make it a great environment to work in. They all seem very supportive with each other and have the same clients as well. Thanks for your insight!

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I’ve met other attorneys in the firm (it’s less than 10 right now but growing, all from big law firms) and they all vouched for how good the “culture” is and the work life balance. Some have been there for a year, and others a few months. How’s your experience been if you’ve made that transition? How would you determine if you’ve properly vetted a firm like that before making the jump?

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