I am looking to change my area of practice. I currently have 4 + years of big law and in house experience in a niche area of law. Anyone have experience changing practice areas and how did you go about it?

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What have you been doing? What do you want to do?

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This- we have no idea what you want to do…

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A lot of studying. I went from chapter 11/bankruptcy litigation to real estate private equity (to a firm I co-founded), but we can all read, so pick what area you want to do, and study. I’d say it took me 6 months of studying before I was comfortable doing purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, and pricing properties. But being a bankruptcy lawyer, I was exposed to a lot of different businesses, etc., especially representing landlords.

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This is very helpful. This is exactly what I was seeking with my post to hear about others experiences and how they made the transition. I don’t think my current area overlaps with what I want to do but I’m hoping to gain some opportunities to ensure my skills are transferable and it would be a good fit.

Seek mentorship from an attorney in the practice area you want to move to. You may need to be willing to accept a more junior role in the new area to get your foot in the door and start gaining experience.

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Thank you this is very helpful! I am certainly willing to accept a junior role and will make myself available and seek opportunities to get exposure. I appreciate your advice!

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Focus on transferable skills and achievements when you pitch yourself. As others mentioned it depends on what you practiced and what you’d like to practice. Credentials also matter, top tier law school and big law makes shifts much easier as firms and companies are more willing to take a chance or eat training costs to invest in you.

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Thank you for your advice! I do believe I have transferable skills and am a quick learner. I did not go to a top tier law school, but I did work for big law and currently at a very reputable company. My hope is to stay with my current company and make an internal transfer eventually, until then gain opportunities and build the right transferable skills.

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