Is a Staff Attorney position in biglaw worth it over Associate w smaller firm? Pay seems to be better but does “Staff Attorney” stain your resume if you try to lateral into Associate elsewhere

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Depends on your career goals. When I looked for jobs after graduation, a recruiter offered me an interview for a staff attorney position with a white shoe firm, but I turned it down to look for an associate position so that I could learn to practice law. I wound up getting an associate position at a smaller, long-standing, reputable firm where I was immediately thrown into practice and had my own caseload, which gradually increased in volume, complexity and diversity over time. I had the opportunity to work with excellent attorneys at a firm with an open door policy and learned how to competently handle all aspects of a case, which has been an invaluable stepping stone.

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I’ve heard associates treat their colleague staff attorneys like garbage

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The assumption starting off will be that you’re not as smart and don’t work as hard as an associate. I’ve seen a couple of staff attorneys turn the perception around and be offered associate positions after a couple of years.

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Lawyers are taught early on not to make assumptions.

Anecdotally, I’ve seen more associates at small or regional firms transition to associate positions in BigLaw than BigLaw staff attorneys transitioning into traditional associate roles. I think you’re more likely to receive substantive work experience as an associate in a smaller firm than a staff attorney at a BigLaw firm.

That’s not to say you couldn’t make the leap from Staff Attorney to associate but would recommend really understanding the staff attorney position you’re looking at and speaking with the others in that same boat. What has their experience been like? That would likely give you a good indication of whether a jump is realistic at that particular firm.

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I was an associate in a smaller firm and moved to staff attorney role in a v100. Looking to transition back to associate one way or another this year. Happy to chat about my experience if you'd like

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It may be better pay because it’s big law but you may have that stain. I think most big law firms use staff attorneys for doc review. You’re paid but may not develop skill set to lateral.

Also if you have ever become an associate at the firm, you’d be starting over as first year.

Yeah this isn’t true. You may be docked a year or something but it’s not an automatic back to zero.

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