Is it inappropriate to reach out to associates who recently left my new firm and who I have no personal connection? I’m a junior only a few months into this firm that seems to have a high turnover rate. Seems like many of them go on to bigger law firms, and I’d be interested to hear how they got there, whether they like their new firms, why they left, etc.

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Not inappropriate.

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Never inappropriate to look out for yourself. Just don’t let your current firm know about it.

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Ideally, you would have reached out before accepting the job. Not inappropriate. I have done it before (before accepting).

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Not inappropriate, but don’t be surprised if they’re not completely open with you. If I don’t know you, I’m not going to openly gossip about a previous employer. It’s a small world, and I have no way of trusting that you won’t tell other people and it won’t come back to hurt me somehow

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I am always open with people who reach out to me about previous employers. The gatekeeping is exactly what keeps certain employers abusivez

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I’ve done this and I’ve almost always found those people to be nice and helpful!

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People love talking shit about their old firms. I think it’d be fine.

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Focus on work as I can see your mind likes to travel where there is no business of yours
I can read between the lines that you would like to know if the grass is greener on the other side
It's not for you at this time as you can't focus on work

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