Meh, tbh it’s my belief that for the most part, if a new position is what is best for you and your career then you owe it to yourself go for it. You don’t really owe your firm anything. That being said, if it’s possible to postpone your start date till after trial, it may be worth it to do so so as not to burn bridges
Real question, only you can answer, is: what was expected of you in the 60 day window on that trial? If the case is in shape — and maybe not very complicated — maybe no big deal. Do you reasonably expect that another attorney will come in and be able to handle whatever you were going to do? Am all for the virtue of selfishness and — in the end — the senior attorney is ultimately responsible for the case and will have to deal with whatever you decide, but I do think a heightened duty of care (never figured I’d use the words that way) does apply to you here. If you were the more senior attorney, would you feel like you treated you fairly?
Echoing this because it’s so dependent on the type of trial, whether you were the sole or primary associate working it up, etc. You also need to consider how small/tight-knit the legal community is in your area. If you leave someone in a crappy position (regardless of whether that’s actually the case or if that’s just how he/she feels), he/she will tell other lawyers outside the firm, and unfortunately, bad news always travels fast. Depending on how credible and likable the lawyer is, that could leave a really sour taste in someone’s mouth and make them think twice before looking at your resume. Ultimately, this is your decision and you need to do what is best for you, but throwing that out there for you to consider.
Depends on your role. If you’re a senior associate and have significant institutional and case memory, and have been working it since the early pleading stages, then yes. It would probably not serve you well, and that kind of rep follows people around. If you’re a junior assoc., third name on the pleadings, then no. You’re a glorified and completely replaceable paralegal. That you’re even asking the questions tells me that you’re pretty junior so you’re probably okay.
Maybe you should tell them youre leaving and ask what they want-- if they want you to stay (and your new job is ok with it) then stay, if they want you to seek a continuance and go ahead and leave, do that. That way, yes you are giving notice at a bad time but they can decide what to do
To those who say maybe not ok, if you’re a litigator though isn’t there always a trial on calendar? So theoretically you’ll never leave cuz there’s always another coming up
Depends on the practice and the associates role in the particular case. For simple trials like and employment or PI case, yes there usually are a bunch of cases calendared but they are easy to try and it would not be hard to replace an associate 60 days out. But with serious complex cases at 60 days out we are working 7 days x 15 hours/day and if the associate is in a standup role he or she is integral to the case and would be very hard to replace. Someone playing a support role on such a case, not as much. So before we can really answer OP we need to know more about the case and his or her role.
If you consider the client, your client, would you leave them high and dry before trial when you have all the institutional case knowledge? I think it depends on how much you know, how much you care, and whether someone else is able to get up to speed soon enough. But if your firm requires only two weeks’ notice, 60 days is plenty of time.
Meh, tbh it’s my belief that for the most part, if a new position is what is best for you and your career then you owe it to yourself go for it. You don’t really owe your firm anything. That being said, if it’s possible to postpone your start date till after trial, it may be worth it to do so so as not to burn bridges
Just my two cents: Look out for #1 because no one else will. If you think it’s in your best interest, do it.
No. Your life. Live it.
60 days is plenty of time for the firm to adjust and too long for you to extend your stay at a place you don’t want to be.
If you’re part of the trial team I’d suggest staying thru trial. Invaluable experience.
I’ve done trials before. Not experience that I’m missing.
Nope. Guess what? They will get a continuance. If the job is not for you, then its not for you.
No. Write quality transfer memos and they should be fine.
Real question, only you can answer, is: what was expected of you in the 60 day window on that trial? If the case is in shape — and maybe not very complicated — maybe no big deal. Do you reasonably expect that another attorney will come in and be able to handle whatever you were going to do? Am all for the virtue of selfishness and — in the end — the senior attorney is ultimately responsible for the case and will have to deal with whatever you decide, but I do think a heightened duty of care (never figured I’d use the words that way) does apply to you here. If you were the more senior attorney, would you feel like you treated you fairly?
Echoing this because it’s so dependent on the type of trial, whether you were the sole or primary associate working it up, etc. You also need to consider how small/tight-knit the legal community is in your area. If you leave someone in a crappy position (regardless of whether that’s actually the case or if that’s just how he/she feels), he/she will tell other lawyers outside the firm, and unfortunately, bad news always travels fast. Depending on how credible and likable the lawyer is, that could leave a really sour taste in someone’s mouth and make them think twice before looking at your resume. Ultimately, this is your decision and you need to do what is best for you, but throwing that out there for you to consider.
Havent read thread but never forget that your firm doesnt care about you. Do what's best for YOU and your family.
Exactly and we’re it any other profession or job. One would think twice. Why I’m the world do we even question it ourselves?
Yes
Mentor
If you have to ask ....
Depends in part in the complexity of the case and how hard it will be to replace you on the trial team. The more complex, the less ok it is to bolt.
Depends on your role. If you’re a senior associate and have significant institutional and case memory, and have been working it since the early pleading stages, then yes. It would probably not serve you well, and that kind of rep follows people around. If you’re a junior assoc., third name on the pleadings, then no. You’re a glorified and completely replaceable paralegal. That you’re even asking the questions tells me that you’re pretty junior so you’re probably okay.
Maybe you should tell them youre leaving and ask what they want-- if they want you to stay (and your new job is ok with it) then stay, if they want you to seek a continuance and go ahead and leave, do that. That way, yes you are giving notice at a bad time but they can decide what to do
No. You do you. They will find someone else to help out or get a continuance.
What year are you, what are you doing at the trial, and do you want to do the trial?
To those who say maybe not ok, if you’re a litigator though isn’t there always a trial on calendar? So theoretically you’ll never leave cuz there’s always another coming up
For sure some truth to this but, to me, not quite enough to end the discussion.
Mentor
Depends on the practice and the associates role in the particular case. For simple trials like and employment or PI case, yes there usually are a bunch of cases calendared but they are easy to try and it would not be hard to replace an associate 60 days out. But with serious complex cases at 60 days out we are working 7 days x 15 hours/day and if the associate is in a standup role he or she is integral to the case and would be very hard to replace. Someone playing a support role on such a case, not as much. So before we can really answer OP we need to know more about the case and his or her role.
If you’re that necessary to the case, the firm might ask you to stay on. See if they’ll give you a bonus to do so. Money talks, everything else is BS.
If you consider the client, your client, would you leave them high and dry before trial when you have all the institutional case knowledge? I think it depends on how much you know, how much you care, and whether someone else is able to get up to speed soon enough. But if your firm requires only two weeks’ notice, 60 days is plenty of time.
Depends on size of firm. If there are enough lawyers for someone to sub in you’re good. 60 days out is a good bit of time.
Agree with those saying stay if you can though, invaluable experience